Letter to the Editor for February 27, 2010

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Letter to the Editor for February 27, 2010

Opinions

Friday, 26 February 2010 08:49

Very annoyed
To the editor:
I am writing this letter to express my opinion of the front-page article written about the county’s pending budget deficits.
While I’m sorry that they have improperly planned on the budget needed, I’m quite annoyed at their solutions. It’s no surprise that this county has had to cut its budget. That’s been happening all over.
For months and weeks, I’ve seen Osceola County improve its parks and propose spending all over the place. Then suddenly, the light bulb dawns on the county that because the value of homes has dropped, our taxes have dropped and thus the budget will be hurting.
Well, I’d like to say, “duh!” You can’t spend money that you don’t have, and then wonder how you’re going to pay for it. It seems to me that this type of mentality is what continues to get the leaders of this country in trouble.
So, mistakes in budgeting have been made, and cuts have to be done. I hear that statement, but your best solution is either take it out of museums and libraries, or a 5-cent gasoline tax hike? Please, don’t insult our intelligence in this community.
Why does it always seem that the easiest solutions will be yet another slap on the wrist of the working poor, and not where it needs it the most? Like hmmm, mass spending where we don’t need.
The middle class is disappearing in this county, community and nation. You, Osceola County, have just waved the flag that you are no different and continue to encourage taking the deficit from the hard-working people in this county instead of cutting unnecessary spending.
While you pretend this is a difficult decision to make, your fake indifference is showing. You’re more concerned about the numbers and getting re-elected than the actual people your deficit is going to affect.
Anna M. Aquino
Kissimmee
Poorhouse
To the editor:
Am I being too sensitive, or do our local leaders really think we are stupid? First, the leaders in Kissimmee have nothing better to do than worry about “human signs” on the side of the road.
These folks are working – trying to earn a living, and advertising for their company, so the company can make more money, and pay more taxes to the city of Kissimmee. Hello? Why is that a problem for those running Kissimmee when a homeless person can stand on a street corner and walk in and out of the traffic, causing traffic hazards to all the motorists, and no one says anything? If one of them gets run over, who is at fault? Where is the logic in this? One person is working, making a contribution to society, and the other is creating a road hazard, and contributes nothing except problems. Great call, Kissimmee!
Next, in the Osceola News-Gazette, on Feb. 18, we find the collective brains of the county government working hard to stick it to the taxpayers and the working people – again!
I don’t care if you are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or a Martian – these people have got to go, before they run us all into the poorhouse.
Michael “$217,000-per-year” Frei-linger, highest paid and fastest gun in Central Florida, (at least for a county manager) is making recommendations as to the best way to extract, I mean, raise revenue, since property values are down, and the amount of taxes generated will not satisfy the spending habits of our elected leaders.
He makes all kinds of recommendations for cutting funds – like the local Boys and Girls Club, and a list of others. Some of these items he lists are very acceptable. We are in a financial tailspin, and we need to cut all extras. But, the Boys and Girls Club may not be a good first line item to cut since the club does work with children – including low-income children – and they are instrumental in helping get kids involved in things other than trouble.
He also mentions a gas tax of 5 cents more per gallon. How about raising the cost of riding the Lynx bus, so the bus riders can also make a contribution?
He also mentions all county employees taking a 5-percent pay cut. I mentioned that last year when he butchered the jobs of more than 150 county employees. That was not good enough for him then, but it is now! Tell me something, Mike, are you and the county commissioners going to take a pay cut also? Oh, I forgot. Mr. Harford needs the money to “feed” his family, and you say that you are worth “every penny you get.” You and those commissioners make me sick! Hypocrites – every one of you!
Brandon Arrington stated, “I’m not in the mood for firing people.” Well, Brandon, where was that mood last year when you guys let Freilinger slice and dice his way through 150-plus county employees? Those people were “feeding their families,” right Mr. Harford?
Commissioner Ken Smith said he did not think that the taxpayers would “stand still” for a millage rate increase. You guys better hope that the voters have very short memories. Otherwise, you have until the next election to get it right. In case you have not noticed, we the people are fed up with government that has no ears. Start listening to us, or get another job! And stop acting like you think we voting taxpayers are too dumb to find better representatives. All we have to do is get the homeless people out of the intersections and we will be far ahead of what you are doing to us.
As for Commissioner Smith, if you try closing a fire station, or cutting our law enforcement protection, before you commissioners take a hefty pay cut, I will replay this letter every time one of you runs for anything. How dare you try that kind of scare tactic on hard-working, tax-paying voters. You hypocrites need to start earning your pay.
Steve Gonnella
St. Cloud