$53.98

I received my PROPOSED Property Taxes today. The tax rates could go down but they can't go up. More than likely, the rates published will be the rates adopted by the different government bodies. This year my TOTAL tax bill was $2537.86. The prior year my TOTAL tax bill was $2771.96 and the PROPOSED TOTAL tax bill is $2413.66 for next year. Of all the taxes that make up my TOTAL Tax bill the ONE I'm happy to pay is my local tax. How about you?

In 2009 my local tax bill was $601.47
In 2010 my local tax bill was $569.97
In 2011 my local tax bill is likely to be $515.99

So for three years I've seen a reduction. I've not seen our leadership in any year work to increase our tax base or invest, really invest, in opportunities. Look what Newberry has done - they are receiving MILLION's of dollars to support their long-term vision to be a City funded by Sports Tourism. What has our leadership invested in?

As a local property owner I'm concerned. Will my property values continue to fall because my City Government continues to CUT and not invest? Where is the investment in infrastructure? Where is the investment in bringing in new business? Is saving less than $5,000 (probably more like $3,000 but for the sake of discussion lets say $5,000) by closing the building currently used to house our inspectors, City Planner and Building Department a good move? We are going to put these staff in a small office behind a locked door at City Hall and still claim to be "economic development friendly"? Will we retain our qualified staff?

But hey, I get to keep an extra $53.98 this coming year. Wait, let me be clear - whether it is Codes Enforcement, a Policeman, Fireman, Janitor or someone trained to support a Parks & Recreation Program I'd be happy to contribute $53.98 as an INVESTMENT in my community. I'd also like to know that our City is moving forward, making up for lost time, regarding the City Well Field...... (There are some dark secrets in most towns about "infrastructure".....) So, rather than just be satisfied with offering my $53.89 I'm planning on donating $107.96 to our City during this "hard economic time". Times are tough, but of all the taxes I pay the ones I pay to the City of High Springs are the best-spent dollars I share with any Government.

Want some "homework"? Visit www.iso.com This is the official website for the Insurance Service Office. This is the organization that will be evaluating the capabilities of our Fire Department. They rate communities on a scale from 1 - 10. Ten is the worst and we currently have a rating of 6. With the hard work of the staff of the High Springs Fire Department we hope to have our rating dropped to a 5 and possibly a 4. Don't think this means much? Well a drop from a 6 to a 5 will result in many residential property owners seeing their Homeowners Insurance drop $80 - $100 and a much larger drop for Commercial Property owners and for "mansion" style homes. Talk about investment - dropping our ISO to a 4 would save our citizens a lot more than $53.98. Instead, rather than INVESTING in our Fire Department we are cutting at least one position......

Please, ask our leaders to look further into the future. Please ask our leaders to act boldly and with a vision of a sustained community that offers residents services and a quality of life that is unique to High Springs. Please ask our leaders to be less concerned with saving property owners $5 or $6 dollars a month and more concerned with what our community may loose.

Also, remember, anyone that does not OWN the property only sees a reduction in community value and not a "savings". A great many people simply rent and work here. These people are important to our community so, please, lets ask our leaders to remember them also as they consider the issues we face. Lets all focus more on what we feel is important and are willing to work to keep as a part of our community and focus less on the negative - unless we are offering a solution; we are simply noise.