Please correct me if I am wrong, but:

1. Florida Governor Crist was overwhelmingly elected to office on a platform of tax reform. In his inaugural address he stated: “Run-a-way property taxes threaten the standard of living of millions of homeowners and renters and the bottom line of businesses, big and small. We must pass meaningful, comprehensive and immediate tax relief this session.”

2. The Florida Senate and House leadership in a joint statement said: “Taxpayers have been overcharged for far too long, and it is time for them to get a refund, government needs to go on a diet.” The executive and legislative arm of our state government did their part, every single member of the Senate and House (except one) passed the Tax Reform Act in June 2007 that dictated Marco Island roll back the tax burden on Marco residents 9 percent from the 2006 year’s tax rolls.

3. Every city, county, school board (government entity) in the state of Florida – that I have searched on the Web is cutting spending, reducing jobs, freezing hiring, offering early retirements, not filling vacancies, laying off part time employees and many are reducing job positions entirely. For example: See news articles:

A. Moss: 21 Naples Employees Eliminated in Effort to Balance 08-09 Budget (at naplesnews.com).

B. Collier School District fires 45 employees (at naplesnews.com).

Except Marco Island! Alternative Revenue Sources May Be Answer to Marco’s $1.8 Million Property Tax Shortfall (at marconews.com).

Marco Island is looking at the following additional revenue sources – that proverbial rose again – which are not tax deductible (every time the dollars are shifted from ad valorem tax to some other assessment, fee, utility surcharge, etc it is no longer a deductible expense from your taxes!

1. Fire assessment – To be put on your tax bill like trash pickup; not tax deductible!

2. Sewer assessment (Pilot) – To be put on your utility bill not tax deductible (estimated at 6.5 percent).

3. Storm water runoff – Not tax deductible (estimated $6 per month on utility bill).

4. Possible “rollback” in millage to increase our taxes?

The city has also talked about having a Parks & Recreation Assessment to move that department out from under the Ad Valorem tax base also! Not tax deductible!

Did you know ?

1. The first year of tax reform 2006-2007 budget year, Marco Island hired 17 new employees!

2. The second year of tax reform 2007-2008 budget year, Marco Island hired five new employees! The city has 197 employees!

3. Marco’s general operating budget was 10-million dollars in 2006, 14-million dollars in 2007 and 18-plus million dollars in 2007!

I agree with state lawmakers that “taxpayers have been overcharged for far too long, and it is time for them to get a refund. Government needs to go on a diet.”

Unfortunately, Marcoites are being forced off our paradise every week due to rising government fees, assessments, taxes, etc. – those pesky roses!

I ask the members of the Marco Island City Council to:

– Please embrace tax reform.

– Please keep all expenses to Marco taxpayers transparent and deductible ad valorem taxes.

As a taxpayer of Marco Island, I request that you:

– Reduce spending in all areas of city government.

– Reduce or delay non essential projects, contracts, land procurement and expansion.

– Freeze hiring, do not fill vacant positions, replace employees, fill retirement positions, etc., unless that position is deemed an essential position. All existing positions should be reviewed to meet that same criteria..

– “Do More With Less” – the military and business community are more than familiar with this axiom. The economic climate requires Marco Island to be operated like a business.

Please listen to your constituents – the shareholders\stockholders of Marco Island.

Respectfully submitted.

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