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Highlands Today

Voice Displeasure

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Cathy Hines

Published: September 2, 2008

"We the People" of Highlands County elected the county officials and "We the People" must voice our concerns as no state representative, governor, senator or president will act on our concerns for us. It is our duty to see that the elected officials of our county government spend our hard earned money appropriately.

As you all know, our property values increased over 75 percent in 2006 and never came down with the falling market. Sure, the overall property taxes didn't go up this year, but they did not go down either, as the property appraiser has to go by last year's sales (if any,) and the millage rate was not reduced in 2008.

Information I obtained from the most recent Highlands County Board of County Commissioners workshop indicated that the budget for 2008 increased almost $100,00 and the millage rate increased for schools, which adjusted the taxes to compensate for the additional $25,000 homestead exemption we voted for in hopes of lowering our property taxes.

The county also collected a surplus of $23,658,266 over the budget in property taxes during the past six years they call "reserve," which was never spent.

In addition, the new sheriff's office will be built at a cost of $11,122,966 for the first phase plus a $1.3 million sewer system for George Boulevard, and add to that interest costs, as they intend to finance this.

Citizens of our county also obtained statistics that show Highlands County as the second highest taxing district in the state.

The county commissioners also stated at this workshop that the state is going to put more responsibilities on the county government for 2009, resulting in higher taxes for next year.

Unless "We the People" attend the Sept 4 public hearing at 5:30 p.m., the Highlands County commissioners will spend our hard-earned money as they see fit, and we will just watch as our property taxes increase, eventually forcing us out of our homes, land and businesses.

So I urge you to attend this meeting and if you do not wish to speak, bring a poster stating your beliefs. If you cannot attend and you wish to be heard, I urge you to write a letter to Board of Commissioners at 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, 33870, or send an e-mail to HCBCC at webmstr@hcbcc.org or mwright@hcbcc.org.

Cathy Hines
Sebring

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