The Little City
That Shouldn't -- Didn't -- But Did !
With so many chances to remain a stable, and friendly City in Seminole County, the City, under the guidance of the current mayor took on a cast-off of Martin County to run a financially sound City of Winter Springs. From a debt in 1996 of approximately a little over 6 million dollars to the current debt of probably (if one could get correct total figures) well over 100 million dollars -- the largest city debt in Seminole County --- this city manager and his "lapdog" commissions have ruled.
This, along with more than doubling the salary of any previous city manager in the history of the City with golden parachute clauses that would make a corporate raider look second class, has resulted in becoming one of the most taxed cities of Seminole County. Maybe even Central Florida if real scrutiny was taken at the hidden money generating revenues, such as the uncalled for add-on of the garbage monthly bills. For nine years this revenue has never been publicly accounted for, and the reason behind the actual charge itself is as bogus as it's implantation.
The Big Bad & Ugly --- Winter Springs' Taxes !
Discussed above is the garbage charge tack-on during the past nine years of $2.03 a month that was mostly overlooked by citizens who didn't even know the false pretenses behind that revenue. Every household contributed $24.36 per year, and with roughly 20,000 residences that would amount to almost a half a million dollars a year.
This initially was dreamed up by the city manager as an incentive bonus to be given yearly for performance to BFI. Although the performance standards were met, BFI nor their employees ever received this "bonus" money. It was a "HIDDEN" charge/tax by the city manager, and approved by his commission. The City never PROVED the standard was not met, so therefore the City pocketed the unjustified income revenue.
Other taxes taken lightly by the citizens would be such as the services taxes on utilities. That would be power, phone, cable TV, cell phones, and anything else the tax-mauling City Manager and his "lapdog" commissions could latch on to as slight of hand revenue. Now, most all cities have such taxes, but do to the spending habits of the commissioners they have gone to the max as allowed by State law. The HIGHEST in Central Florida.
The City is always bragging about the "Grants" they obtain. This has to be one of the best hidden propaganda ploys ever used. They NEVER tell you how much of YOUR tax dollars are used in matching funds. Have you EVER seen a published figure of such usage --- NO ?
The Zoning Schemes -- The Financial Gains -- The Blunders !
(ALL can be found on the various pages within this web site in full detail.)
In the last few months of his reign on the dais one commissioner was able to sell a piece of property within the commission ruled towncenter for 4.2 million dollars. It's no secret that he owned, or had an option on this property until he was able to have it rezoned (why not -- the commissioners were the only zoning factors of the towncenter fiasco) to comply with the zoning he desired. The he in this incident is ex-Commissioner David McLeod who has publicly stated he will be running for mayor. Maybe there's more money to be made in the continued land schemes of City Manager Ronnie McLemore.
He than sold the property (he being Highlander Investment LTD -- of which only he is listed as the RA & principal) to Levitt and Sons of Seminole County. This was very profitable for Commissioner Dave McLeod -- it sold for 4.2 million dollars. His time on the dais was well compensated --- to the tune of a $3,467,154 million dollars.
However sweet though is that the property was listed at the County Taxpayers Office as a assessment value of 235,000 dollars. During the time he was working the property though City zoning laws he paid a minimum of taxes on the parcel.
Oh yes, the City was so grateful to this ex-Commissioner they're going to build a road on City property in the towncenter, maintain it, and name it after this commissioner with your tax money. Another favor returned I.E. Gary Hillary Way in Tuscawilla to one of their cronies. Heaven help them if they ever decided to do something like that for a meager salaried City employee such a Mary Norton, who had more integrity under her fingernails than you could find on the WHOLE dais.
This is about a "grant" that cost the taxpayers more than double, and in fact required the City to back down on their blundering idea called the "Village Walk". Oh how the people were conned in this well planned grab for money to be used elsewhere. Just ask the business people in the real towncenter of the original City.
The City Manager, once again spending thousands in the planning of this pipedream, had to settle for the disaster, which can now be seen as the SR434 medium from SR419 to western side of 17-92. You see, out of the initial $350,000 dollars for this project ex-commissioner Gennell conned her dais buddies to spend $186,000 dollars to bury overhead lines on ONE SIDE of SR434 from SR419 to Tuscawilla Road. What a blundering idiot goal -- the lines remain on the other side of the same highway!
There will be more news to follow. The City has to meet again just to figure out what they voted on when they set the tax millage rate. Obviously the City Manger did not even present a plan for the taxing future of the City. He's still stuck on trying to figure out how to salvage his disastrous "strip mall" known as "Tiny Town" --- aka towncenter.
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