June 2009, Commissioner's Corner

Office hours at City Hall have been pretty challenging lately. News of layoffs of firefighters, police, and office workers had everyone concerned and upset. The one thing I would like all of my constituents to ponder, it takes $7313.00 to educate a child in the Orange County Public School System, which ranks among the lowest funded in the nation. It takes $1,000.00 per person in the City of Orlando to provide Police and Fire Service. Take into account the costs of providing garbage service, repairing roads, fixing sidewalks, making sure your toilets flush, and numerous other services provided by the City of Orlando. We can do the best we can, but I will not tell you that I can do all of the above with less funding after Amendment 1.

And there is another Constitutional Amendment tax cut slated for next year. Please think about the cuts we have made before you vote, and realize that we can only spend what the public provides us in tax revenue. Crime rose dramatically after public safety funding was cut in COPS grants by the Federal Government. I have seen the impact of reduced revenue, and it has me greatly concerned.

Some ask how we could build a new arena or movie theater downtown when this is happening. Those taxing districts were put in place as a result of the Tourist Development Tax (the Arena) and the Community Redevelopment Agency (the movie theater). It is similar to any special assessment that is to be used for specific purposes. It is illegal to use them for any other purpose. It would be like asking a neighborhood to pay for brick streets, then raiding the fund to pay for something else when money is short. It is unfair, illegal, and unethical to do so. You have every right to hold me accountable for spending your tax dollars wisely. But I can’t tell you that as prices increase on goods and services, that we can continue to cut the cost of those services and reduce tax bills.

The only good news I can offer this month is that Federal Stimulus dollars have bailed out Orange County Public Schools, and we will not have to face Howard Middle School, Ferncreek Elementary, or Hillcrest closing next year. But when the stimulus dollars run out, we will be back in the same situation.