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No matter what it's called, "consolidation" is still a form of charter government. But why has charter government already been rejected eight times? In a Supreme Court ruling (Volusia vs. Dickinson), the court has ruled that "charter government" is automatically granted broader taxing authority. In other words, a charter government can increase and/or add new forms of taxation without any oversight of the legislature or the general public. Should it then be called "home rule" charter? Some may argue that ad valorem taxes are lower in a charter government city such as Jacksonville. However, charter proponents neglect to tell you about charter government's ability to create special districts and add special assessments. Should leaders want to finance such as a Maritime Park, they do not need a special election. Another objectionable point is the subject titled "recall." Charter proponents always like to suggest a simple recall system is in their charter. But how simple is it? The recall referred to is state statute 100.361. With this statute an an office-holder can only be recalled by choosing one of seven reasons stated in the statute. You might note that violation of Florida's "government in the sunshine" is not one of the seven. Therefore, you cannot recall an officeholder for committing an action out of the sunshine! The statute also requires not one but two petitions in order to make a recall effective. You might also know there are time limits for the petition signatures to be gathered as well as you must pay to have each signature validated. Read FS 100.361 and ask yourself if this should not be renamed, "Florida's Incumbency Protection Act!" While some money savings may be had by a consolidation of services, one must be careful that if a service is consolidated, all debts and encumbrances of that service must be accepted. Every previous outstanding debt must be met by the new government. In the case of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) consolidation promoters desperately want it abolished. *** NOTE ***It must be abolished in order for the new government to be able to add franchise fees to ECUA customers water, sewer and garbage bills. If you consider charter government can indeed add to your taxes, not really provide a simple "recall" system, saddle you with any debt foolishly incurred and add franchise fees to your utility bills... then is it really a money saver or a money grabber? |
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