Mosquito board OKs 11% tax hike

Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Mosquito board OKs 11% tax hike

District wants to reverse years-long trend of dipping into reserve funds

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

Facing a 11.3 percent property tax hike, Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board Commissioner Phil Goodman is calling for the end of a retirement perk that has all but disappeared among government agencies -- lifetime health coverage.

The Mosquito Control District tentatively agreed Tuesday on an 11.3 percent increase in its property tax assessment. The tax rate, which...

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Can they legally do this?

Submitted on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 8:35am by taxpayer

Can they leagally stop the retiree health benefits that were part of contract when these people were hired?

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They are very cavalier about taxing those who themselves, do

Submitted on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 12:46pm by *.* CLEARLY the original

not have these benefits. It's time for ALL government agencies to be held accountable for their poor decisions and egregious spending habits. Goodman really nailed it when he said "We are asking taxpayers to pay for a benefit that most people don't get." Fact is, most taxpayers don't get nearly the benefits that government workers get, and that continues to create a great deal of distrust and anger amongst taxpayers towards these people.

As for 'merit increases', I would suggest that they come up with a program where as quantifiable improvements attributed to employees who help cut costs, would be paid a one-time bonus. If a suggested improvement could be verified to save, say, $20,000, then pay the employee 5 or 10% of the savings in a one-time payment. That program works for many corporations.

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Apply for a

Submitted on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 7:01pm by Sal Gutierrez

government job!!!! then you too can get that government milk.

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Mosquito control tax hike...

Submitted on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:57am by *#*

Philly pop corn, and I don't care; Philly pop corn, and I don't care; Philly pop corn and I don't care...Go drink tea in South Beach.

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Wreckless Budgeting

Submitted on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 7:03am by Chi Chi

Add this to the other wreckless tax increases and we will continue the downward slide. What happened to the Republican party of Monroe? This tax and steal mentality has to end.

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Um, I believe these ARE Republicans.

Submitted on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:24pm by *.* CLEARLY the original

What you don't seem to understand is that party affiliation is meaningless in local elections. Just look at those like ole Sal, who's been a Republican all his life and running as a Dem. Here they're anybody's dog that'll hunt wid 'em.