Despite crowd, W.S. votes to raise overall tax bills

WINTER SPRINGS - City Commissioner Sally McGinnis motioned to approve the tentative property tax rate at 3.0338 mills Monday night, a tax increase for most, in front of a crowd full of angry potential voters. What happened next was a little odd.

Absolutely nothing. As seven seconds dropped off, Mayor John Bush said the motion died. Another excruciating 40 seconds passed without a single commissioner making a different motion.

"How do I make them make a motion?" Bush asked the city's attorney, looking just a little confused. Krebs then posed the question: "How can I make a motion on something when I don't have all the figures or the knowledge to make that motion?"

Commissioner Robert Miller said they've been wrestling with the budget line item by line item for months.

"I'm going to make the same motion," Miller said, moving to set the tax rates at 3.0338, which is about $3 in taxes for every $1,000 your home is worth. "If it fails, I expect we'll be here all night."

The motion passed 3-2, with Commissioners Krebs and Rick Brown voting against the tax rate - but not before Krebs and Miller got into a verbal sparring match.

"My vote is going to reflect that I don't feel we've been given enough information," Krebs said.

Miller and Krebs went back and forth before Miller seemed to get angry.

"Don't play games," Miller said. "This is not a time to play games."

The City Commission passed the preliminary budget and the preliminary tax rates Monday. On Sept. 22, they will finalize the tax rates and the budget.

Of course, property tax wasn't the only issue the city addressed Monday. Visit SeminoleChronicle.com for a complete recap of Monday's meeting._