Possible tax cut coming
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — What some described as a resounding “no” from the public to franchise fees may have come across as a whimper.
The input at a special meeting Feb. 24 was not considered representative of most electric customers. Commissioners will continue to consider implementing a franchise fee, possibly seeking public input through the ballot box.
While a referendum would not be binding, the commission has used voter turnout to decide controversial proposals like special assessments in the past.
County attorney Will Sexton, seeking direction from the board on how to move forward, pointed out there are more than 5,500 Clay Electric customers in Bradford County. The cooperative said it wanted feedback from its members before negotiating a franchise fee with Bradford County. Approximately 80 people attended the special meeting last month, Sexton said, and less than a dozen spoke. There was not a large response to the cooperative’s survey either, he added.
Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said the board should proceed with negotiations. She said it should be taken into consideration that municipal communities in the county are already paying electric franchise fees that go to city governments. And while the opinions of those who spoke last month are important, she said it was not a statistically significant number.
“That’s not a good representation of what the majority of the people feel,” Spooner said.
Commissioner Kenny Thompson asked about putting the issue on the ballot.
They acknowledged this would be a survey of everyone who votes, not just Clay Electric members. County Clerk Denny Thompson said that would also give Florida Power and Light customers a chance to weigh in, although that utility has already expressed a willingness to negotiate with the county.
“Put it on the ballot. Let the citizens vote,” Commissioner Thompson said. “They’re the ones that put us up here, so we’ve got to survey them. I don’t want to shove nothing down nobody’s throat that don’t want it.”
Commissioner Diane Andrews said they are just starting the budgeting process for next year, and she didn’t want to consider any new taxes or fees until they look at how the budget can be cut.
“There may not be a need for a franchise fee,” she said,
Commissioner Danny Riddick said if they are going to drop the idea of any new taxes or fees, then — like Commissioner Chris Dougherty addressed in his letter at the special meeting — he wanted to prioritize fire rescue and law enforcement to receive existing funds.
“That way we’re not ever having any more arguments or discussion about fire. Fire rescue and police will be funded,” Riddick said.
That means cuts would come from other services.
Riddick went further and said when budget workshops begin, he doesn’t want to start at the 10-mill property tax cap approved this year. He wants to see the commission start at the prior tax rate, which was closer to 9 mills.
Dougherty said as they look at the budgets, even for law enforcement and fire rescue, they need to examine those budgets to eliminate excess and provide no more than the citizens are asking for.
Cuts could mean losing some of the things citizens ask for, he said, such as ditch cleanouts, mowing and trash pickup.
“People will have to decide at that time if that’s what they want to pay for to continue to get the services provided in this county,” he said. “Until we find other revenue streams to come in, we’re going to be strapped, and we’ll continue to try to make cuts the best way we can.”
The commission did set four budget workshop dates: 5:30 p.m. on March 17, 8:30 a.m. on March 24, and 6 p.m. on April 6 and April 12.
March sobriety checkpoints announced
During the month of March, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting sobriety checkpoints in one or more of the following locations: U.S. Highway 301 and Market Road, S.R. 100 West, S.R. 100 East and Southeast 109th Street, Southeast S.R. 21, S.R. 16 and Southwest S.R. 231.
