Mayoral travel pays off — Where?
To the editor:
Here we go with another explanation on why Mayoral Travel will benefit Cape Coral and its citizens. Madam Mayor, it isn’t that I am against lucrative travel opportunities which will enhance the presence and prestige of our wonderful city – I applaud the efforts to get out there and be noticed. I applaud the ability to bring industry and commerce to our city. I applaud the effort to obtain grant monies to assist our city civil servants to learn and train prior to a disaster occurring – and yes, here is the “BUT” – where does all this assist the local government in lowering its costs and relieving the tax burden being placed on the residents and citizens of Cape Coral?
Yes, I did read with great interest the efforts of our civil servants to prevent the State of Florida from collecting another tax from our citizens (SB 896/HB 391). Good job! But here is the rub, if SB 896/HB 391 were passed, they would have been added to our ad valorem tax. This way, you saved us from the state so the city could pick our pockets in another manner. (Cute trick).
Will this travel provide a method for the city manager to recommend the abolishment of the “Public Service Tax?”
Will this travel provide relief from the “Fire Assessment” that was levied upon us last year? And, by the way, I do remember that assessment was challenged in court and from what I’ve been told the city won this, but should not these increases in taxes upon the citizenry be a ballot initiative?
Now, we have another levied fee upon us in the form of “Ran Water..
Madam Mayor – are you noticing something here – the more you travel; the more NON-AD VALOREM Assessments are being levied upon the citizenry of Cape Coral, Florida.
Hey, do you think, if you stopped all your travel, the additional assessments might stop? Just wondering – it is an interesting observation, you have to admit.
Richard W. Peppe, Jr.
Cape Coral