Just another tax

To the editor:

Government-provided fire and rescue service is a legitimate government service. It is something that the citizenry, individually, cannot reasonably provide for themselves. It should be paid by regular tax revenues. To take the fire and rescue service out of the general appropriations and call it a fire fee simply is a sleight of hand that politicians, not statesmen, use to impose additional taxes on their constituents.

Not being called what it is, a tax, also has consequences in that it results in even greater taxation as it reduces tax expenses that can be claimed on one’s federal income tax return which, in turn, results in even higher taxes at the federal level.

If more money needs to be found to provide essential services that are legitimate purviews of government, then take this money out of discretionary funds that, however worthy they may be, are not basic responsibilities of government. Examples are contributions of tax dollars to various civic groups. These groups may have worthy causes. They may offer various types of help to particular groups of less-fortunate citizens. It is their choice to exist. Where it does not cost the taxpayer funds paid to the government as taxes, and is within the power of government to assist, such as allowing a fundraising activity, it is certainly appropriate for government to allow the activity. It is not right for the government to tax the people to support these civic groups or to take taxpayer funds meant to provide services that are legitimate responsibilities of government to support private civic organizations.

To paraphrase Romeo’s declaration to Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “What’s in a name? That which we call a fire fee by any other name would smell an odious tax.”

Houston and Irina Briggs
Kissimmee

Taking advantage

To the editor:

I am confused by a requirement and fee that the Osceola County Zoning Department has for small mobile business owners.

I rent a modest home to a man who does drywall work; he has been laid off by a company for almost two years, He decided to try to find small jobs that he could do on his own and wanted to pay his taxes. He went to the Tax Collectors Office to obtain an occupational license, which costs $45.

As the property owner, I had to complete an affidavit for him to use the home address as a business address. Because he is using the home address as his business address, my tenant is now required by the Osceola County Zoning Department to complete a 10-page application, which includes a “Letter of Authorization” that the property owner has to complete.

This authorization gives Osceola County government staff permission to do a site inspection of the property. This application has a fee of $160, which has an annual renewel fee of $160. This is a relatively new ordinance with associated fees for home businesses.

My neighbor does not perform drywall work at his home – he travels to where the work is. I believe the Zoning Department does not distinguish a mobile business from a home occupation business merely to collect the fee.

Due to the high number of occupational licenses being sought, I believe that the Zoning Department is taking advantage of the small mobile business owners and private property owners in Osceola County.

Michael Reeves
St. Cloud