To: Clearwater Mayor and City Council
Subject: Tax Increase
I recently received my proposed 2009 tax estimate which show a 9.2 % increase in Clearwater taxes on my homesteaded house. Just be aware. People don't forget. Mistreat citizens once and always be remembered. I've voted in every Clearwater election since 1985 and it's been my observation that people will show up to vote in numbers when they have had enough. It doesn't even work to try and sneak things through an off-date election. we have enough citizens who do pay attention.
As I understand it, Paul Gibson and Frank Hibbard opposed the increase while George Cretekos, John Doran and Carlen Petersen voted for it.
Paul will get my vote in March. Frank still has my future votes.
I will not forget George, John and Carlen and should they run for ANY local or state office in the future, they will not have my support.
The small changes made by all the other taxing authorities shows their courage. Too bad our city council can't get up the courage to say no to every little group that wants their own library, pool, rec center, etc. Or to employee groups that are under worked and overmanned.
Pools, Recreation centers and libraries should be allocated by geography, not to influence peddling areas like Clearwater Beach, Morningside, Downtown, Greenwood, and Countryside. Spread out the resources by the mileage between them and the population. We don't need a cluster of three libraries so close (Greenwood, the Main library, and the beach). The Main library and the East library are centrally located to the population. The Long Center is close enough to Countryside and Morningside to serve those areas well.
Maybe it's time we look into "Clearwater City Amendments" passed by citizens, (similar to the necessary amendments to the Florida state constitution when it became apparent that our elected officials were more focused on increasing tax and power bases than serving citizens).
- Gene Egan
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