LEO!

Article for Avalon Park News
Why Incorporate?
John Tenney, Leaders of East Orlando

To the residents of East Orlando:
Have you noticed that our roads are being dug up and repaired during the holiday season? Have you noticed this seems to happen every year?

Why is that?

Here is a possible reason: We are not represented properly at the county level. Our immediate contact in the county government system is our commissioner. It has been said that contacting the commissioner about small problems out here is like the janitor at Florida Hospital asking the president if he can go buy another jug of soap.

It is true that we have little or no control over our services out here. The same is true for how our tax money is spent. Even if our commissioner supported us, that is only one vote out of seven.

So what are the alternatives?

1: We can do nothing. We can continue to let the county take care of us when they see fit, or not at all. We can voice our opinions to the commissioner’s office and hopefully if enough people complain something can be done about it.

2: We can be “absorbed” in to the county in a consolidation effort. This is similar to what Jacksonville did. There is only one county and one city there now, all run by the same government. Unfortunately this doesn’t fix any of the problems, as we are basically in the same place, dependent upon our commissioner’s office.

3: We can be “annexed” in to the City of Orlando. At first glance, this seems like an attractive proposition. The city enjoys excellent services and an above average police force. However, the original problem of no representation still remains. Even if we get a city commissioner out here we still have one vote in a multi-commissioner board. Also, we would immediately see a significant increase in taxes. We currently pay an Unincorporated Tax District (UTD) assessment of 1.804 mills. The city millage rate is currently over 8.5, plus they have additional assessments for police, fire, ambulance, 911, etc. Upon further review, this is not a good option

4: We can incorporate in to a new city. What does this give us besides another layer of government? Well immediately we have control and accountability over our own tax dollars. We can remove the police and fire assessments and negotiate directly for these services and save a significant amount of money.

For example: In the area defined by a recent incorporation effort, there is currently $36 million plus going for sheriff’s services. At all times, there are 6 to 8 officers in 3 to 6 vehicles in that area.

The sheriff’s department currently leases COMPLETE deputy services, including uniforms, vehicles, dispatch, etc for $150,000 per deputy per year to the city of Bell Isle.

We could lease 60 officers for $9 million dollars, and save $27 million in taxes.

Similar increase in service, with savings, exist in the other service departments.

Why is this possible?
Well, it has long been known that the East Orlando area is a “credit area” when it comes to taxes vs. services. Even by the county’s own numbers, which have not been verified by independent sources, we pay 117% over what what we receive now.

This may be the time to start a new city. The group known as the Leaders of East Orlando thinks so. They have teamed with an incorporation group known as EOCIE – the East Orange County Incorporation Effort. You can find out more about them at their website – EOCIE.com.

Why hasn’t it happened yet?
A sad but simple here is reduced to one word: Apathy. People who live here are either transient or so new to the area they do not feel a sense of community yet.

What can I do?
You can get involved. Go to the local incorporation websites and sign up for the newsletter. Attend an event. Get out and VOTE. Make your voice heard.

What if we do nothing? Will anything change?
Yes and probably not for the good. All four leading candidates for County mayor currently support consolidation and are not in favor of incorporation. If we do nothing, nothing good happens.