The statistics on the Osceola economy are looking dismal at best. The light at the end of the tunnel has been continuously fading. Unfortunately the CountyCommissioners have not paid any attention on job growth or anything else to boost the Osceola economy.
The problem lies on the Economic Development Department. They have been ineffective in job creations and the commissioners know this.
Can we blame Maria Toumazos for 100% of the problems? The answer is NO!
The commission is the culprit. Chairman Arrington of the BOCC should have taken the reins and addressed the economic issue our county is facing. Instead he's concerned about how we are going to pay for the infrastructure without collecting impact fees but yet, on the other hand he wasn't concerned how we were going to fund Sun Rail. He's very knowledgeable when it comes to burning the candle on both ends, with no solutions to the problems we the residents are facing today with no future plans in sight.
The ineffectiveness of Mr. Arrington as a chairman and as a commissioner are being felt throughout the whole County.
We need someone that can take us to the next level and address the economic issues. We don't need the same old rhetoric that has been fed to us day after day.
Mr. Arrington has had issues with listening to his constituents. He had a full house on the day the commission was addressing the issue of the funeral home to be built across the street from The Oaks subdivision. The residents were telling him not to vote for it and he did the total opposite. Putting a funeral home in between to restaurants McDonalds and KFC is not a wise thing to do. Imagine taking your children to McDonalds and while playing in the playground a coffin and grieving family members come out. What do you do? How do you explain that to children? They shouldn't be exposed to death at an early age, they should just have fun. I feel that the residents of the Oaks were NOT represented by their commissioner. I’m not against anyone opening up a business, but I’m sure there were other properties available that weren’t next to restaurants and a subdivision that was totally against it that could have been utilized.
I also believe that business at McDonalds and KFC will most likely have sales decline when the funeral home is in full operation.
Next, look at the library situation. The county thought that if they privatized the library system that they would save the taxpayers $2.5 million annually. All of a sudden we find out that the savings would be a mere $800,000 annually. Originally it was going to be a savings of $12.5 million over a 5 year period. Now they guesstimate $4 million over 5 years.
Why wasn't the study done earlier? What is the BOCC doing, playing a guessing game? They should have done the study a lot sooner looking into LSS.
Bottom line is do we need 4 more years of ineffective leadership?
Tony Ferentinos
Osceola County Commission Candidate
District 3
Tea Parties, Sierra Club Come Together to Fight Tax Hike
By: Kenric Ward
Published: August 9, 2010
Here's something you don't see every day: the Sierra Club agreeing with Tea Party folks.
Their respective reasons may vary, but the two groups are urging voters to reject the upcoming "Road Tax Referendum" in Central Florida.
The Central Florida Group of the Sierra Club noted that the proposed 1-cent, 10-year sales tax hike in Osceola County would raise rates there to 8 percent -- on a par with the nation's biggest cities.
The group blasted County Commissioners for refusing "for years to make growth pay for itself and the county now faces a glut of homes without the infrastructure to carry the growth."
Not surprisingly, Tea Partiers don't like the tax, either. Just on general principle.
In a semi-related development, a group called "Ax the Tax" announced today that it will oppose a sales tax referendum in Hillsborough County. The tax hike would help to pay for a rail project there.
A news conference will be held at 11 a.m. at the Hillsborough County Commission Building, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Florida Taxpayers Union President John Hallman and Tom Gaitens of FreedomWorks will be among the speakers.
Sierra Club Opposes Osceola Road Tax Referendum
By: John Puhek (407) 766-8988
Published: August 6, 2010
Orlando, FL: The Central Florida Group of the Sierra Club opposes the referendum for a one cent sales tax, for the next 10 years, in Osceola County to fund new roads. The county already has the highest foreclosure rate in the state, along with the highest unemployment in the region, This tax would have residents paying the highest sales tax in the state. The 1-cent tax would take the county's total sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent, the same as the nation's larger cities such as New York and Philadelphia. Kissimmee and St. Cloud are not quiet the same in terms of New York and Philadelphia population size! This is because the County Commissioners have refused for years to make growth pay for itself and the county now faces a glut of homes without the infrastructure to carry the growth. Sierra Club says “Sprawl Cost Us All” and Osceola County is the poster child for urban sprawl--and sprawl costs us all!
Other transportation elements, such as buses, would not benefit from the increased tax revenue. Instead, Osceola County should provide a dedicated funding for mass transit to enable residents to get to work and reduce air pollution. LYNX desperately needs to be expanded in Osceola County and run route more frequently. The current once an hour schedule is not enough. In addition, Osceola County needs to figure out how it will pay $23 million to the State of Florida for its share of SunRail. The 17-mile southern portion of rail corridor will run from Sand Lake Road to Poinciana Blvd in Osceola County.
Sierra Club challenges Osceola County to look at what caused their urban sprawl. We do not want to see more poorly planned runaway developments in Osceola County, like the proposed NE Corridor. Instead, we think Osceola County needs to promote smart growth communities that increase transportation choices, reduce air and water pollution, and protect our natural places.
Ax the Tax Will Oppose Osceola County Property Tax Increase.
Osceola County Businessman Tony Ferentinos To Lead Osceola Effort.
(Kissimmee) The grassroots anti-tax group; Ax the Tax, has announced it's opposition to the proposed sales tax increase being supported by the Osceola County Commission.
"The Osceola County Commission has lost their collective minds," declared Ax the Tax Founder and Chairman Doug Guetzloe. "The voters of Osceola County are already under siege from rampant government spending at all levels. It's time to say 'enough is enough' to these tax and spend zealots," Guetzloe concluded.
Ax the Tax is a statewide grassroots political committee that has successfully helped taxpayers defeat over $47.5 billion in proposed taxes over it's 28 year history of fighting tax referenda issues. Ax the Tax successfully led the opposition in several proposed tax increases in Osceola County, the most recent was a rejection of the proposed 1 cent increase in the sales tax for fund the Osceola School bureaucracy. The 2004 referendum issue was decided with a landslide vote of over 61% of Osceola county voters 'Axing the tax.
Local businessman and GOP activist, Tony Ferentinos will help to direct the local opposition to the tax increase. Ferentinos has served as Ax the Tax Osceola Chairman since taking over for former Kissimmee City Commissioner Steve Burke who successfully led Ax the Tax during the 2004 anti-tax effort.
If passed, the 18% increase in sales tax revenue would make Osceola taxpayers the most 'taxed' taxpayers of any county in Florida. Guetzloe and Ferentinos say "no way!"
(END)
STATEMENT BY AX THE TAX OSCEOLA CHAIRMAN TONY FERENTINOS:
FOLLOW THE LEADER
President Ronald Reagan once said “Well, there you go again." Unfortunately the Osceola County Commissioners have lost touch with reality and the people. This economy has taken a toll on all of our residents. Must I repeat myself again? Foreclosures are at their highest level in history. If you think foreclosures are bad now, wait till the second wave hits, it’s going to be devastating. Businesses are closing their doors in record numbers with no relief in unemployment.
Monday August 2nd the commission voted 4-1 to add a 1 cent sales tax on the ballot.
A 4-1 vote within the Commission is mind boggling. Do these commissioners have blinders on? Can’t they see what’s happening around the County?
I can understand the tax and spend liberals like "Choo-choo" Arrington and Commissioner "75% of my people want to be taxed" Harford. I can also understand Smith. He only has a few months left and I personally feel that he just doesn’t care anymore. But, Hawkins; what were you thinking off? Clever political move on the part of Quinnones, with his election right around the corner. He secured some voters for himself by pretending that he’s anti tax and conservative. (Just for this election cycle.) The commission seems to feel that this will give a boost to our economy.
How in God’s name is this added sales tax if passed will help our economy? The only thing it will do is give you all more money to spend for out of county contractors and vested special interests.
If the commissioners feel that it’s no big deal to increase the sales tax by 1 penny, then why not decrease it by that same 1 penny. Put them both on the ballot and let’s see which one would win. The next thing Arrington and the tax and spend Mongols of Osceola County will try to do is bring the 5 cent gas tax. That will really help the economy just like the additional 1 cent sales tax.
Remember take care of our own first. (what ever happened to that?) We all know that’s not happening while these commissioners are sitting on the 4th floor.
We are going to be the highest taxed county in the state if this passes. Instead of the commission tightening its belt like we all are, they are deciding and hoping that we the ignorant people of Osceola County will fall for their trickery and lies about how it will help our economy.
Commissioners, the Obama spin is not going to work. Our voters are educated and are wise to you. As far as I’m concerned this is your political suicide. We will not forget.
Tony Ferentinos
Chairman, Ax the Tax Osceola
