PFGG ran across the below letter written by the mayor to the citizens of Winter Springs.     We presume ALL the citizens at least received a copy of the below, or the mayor ASSUMES all the citizens have a computer, and daily monitor the city's website -- if you went to their instructional class on how to use that website.

                    After reading the letter we found the content to be quite amusing with the mayor's cry of "wolf".    One has to understand this is another guise to scare the citizens --- we've GOT to cut your services.   The only really big cut needed is in the top-heavy salary-laden management, and elected politicians.    Read the below to realize what the REAL TRUTH is!

         The below letter maybe altered in it's paragraphed formatting due to the comments applied within the letter structure, but the bold black type is verbatim per this letter as presented on the City of Winter Springs website.   One has to wonder if the mayor went to the expense of mailing the rambling below to ALL citizens of Winter Springs, or did he ASSUME all his serfs in the City have computers, and daily review the city's hard to manipulate website.    It is the HARDEST of ANY governmental website to manipulate and search.

            If you remember -- the city paid  Bush's buddy George Colombo $5,000 dollars to run a city HELD classes on how to use the city's website.    It was mostly attended by CITY EMPLOYEES  --- gees --- you mean they need educated in how to use the city's website?    If mailed as suggested above -- this mayor crying WOLF --- would have spent over $13,530 (@regular postage) dollars to mail it with YOUR money.   Read the letter below -- the writer is talking out-of-both-sides of his mouth!

            Now -- if he didn't mail it, the mayor must have assumed that over 34,000 people in the city of Winter Springs have, or access to a computer, and regularly visit the city's website.   Another aspect to consider is --- wonder if the members on the dais running the city ever thought of taking a cut-out-of their OWN exorbitant incomes -- paid by the taxpayers -- ESPECIALLY that city manager with his THREE tax paid retirement funds?

Read the letter below, and comments by this writer.    Should you have opinions of your own, do not hesitate to email PFGG at -- winterspringsfl@cfl.rr.com -- and voice your concerns/opinions.

            I am John Bush, Mayor of Winter Springs (Yep - that's how it's signed).   My fellow elected officials and I agree that the property tax system in our state is broken and needs to be fixed (can you be sure -- you had to appoint a committee to look at your city budget - guess you all weren't qualified either).   We believe this can be accomplished without draconian (cruel) reductions in the levels of municipal services our residents desire, if the Governor and Legislators will just listen to us (your not able to do your own budget?).

            Unfortunately the rhetoric I have heard from Tallahassee suggests that our Governor and some Legislators have forgotten that cities are  voluntary   (the mayor has got to be kidding) organizations of people who chose through the ballot box to create local government  corporations  (hey mayor -- it's a GOVERNMENT -- but Winter Springs IS a corporation -- CEO McLemore runs it) through which they can decide for themselves the type of community they want to be, the quality of life they desire for themselves, and the level of governmental funding they think is appropriate.  

           It is our belief that the funding of services in our cities represent a contract (you don't have a 'contract" -- you have a developer financed government) between the residents of our cities and locally elected officials, and that this contract between the people and their local government officials should be preserved (the citizens can wish all they want --- but the city management has it's OWN plans). 

            Of course. In our city we can leave the doors to our new senior citizen therapy pool closed after construction is completed (you can't justify the real costs) .   We can close some of our award winning (from the suppliers of the sod you used) parks.   We can quadruple youth participation rates in our youth sports programs (you mean charge more for the OUT-OF-CITY users) , we can eliminate our July 4th Celebration and cultural events program (where's McLemore going to showcase his own family) , we can close one of our three fire stations and reduce our police department (that wouldn't be new -- you've held them down for years) by a third of its work force (the city is already hiding the crime statistics in the Sentinel).   

            However, all of these services are what makes out city unique and the reason people want to live in our city (what -- the city went from the great finding of McLemore/Khemlani -- from #1 to #31). It is important to understand that this is not a threat (doesn't need to be -- the dais does what it wants anyway) .   These are the kinds of budget reductions we will be facing if some of the current proposals are approved.

            Additionally, I am offended by the Governor’s and Legislature’s refusal to make any findings regarding the negative impacts their proposed legislation will have on local services (hard to face the truth -- isn't it mayor).   Not only are they silent on this side of the issue, some legislators have proposed legislation to prevent local governments from advising their own voters (you never did tell them the truth anyway) of these negative consequences.   This is truly amazing in light of the fact that our very form of democratic government is based upon an informed electorate making informed decisions (from your CONSULTANTS -- you people couldn't function without a consultant).

            In closing, let me remind the Governor and the Legislature of this important point.   My city, Winter Springs, incorporated in 1959 because the people in our area wanted to be different from the county and surrounding cities (you are -- the city government is out of control).   Our citizens wrote a charter telling the elected officials what type of government they wanted (how about the changes they wanted -- you threw them out -- even though the required signatures where obtained), the level of input they demanded, and their expectations of the way in which the City should be run (why -- the management/politicos run it as THEY WANT).

            Before we launch new spending initiatives we utilize focus groups (you didn't pay attention to the 21 people on a "Budget" focus committee), advisory referendums, and other input mechanisms in addition to traditional public hearings before we make final decisions.   In other words, we are (are NOT) listening to the people continuously.   Do the people of Winter Springs want a fair tax system?   They do (Winter Springs has the HIGHEST services taxes in the State).   Would our residents like their property taxes reduced?   Why certainly they would.  (They'll NEVER get it out of this government/management!)

            Also, let me remind the Legislature that the promise of Home Rule as approved by the people of Florida was based upon the simple concept that local citizens would be able to run the affairs of their local governments. (Maybe mayor you better go back and read Florida Statute 166.021(4) -- then rewrite the last sentence, although that's typical baloney from the city of Winter Springs to invent their own laws).  The current property tax reforms are contradictory to that promise.   That contract between the state and the people must be preserved.   That promise must be kept.   (That would be NEW for Winter Springs).

(If the above letter shows any spell check questionable areas, it was left as is since it is VERBATIM.)

        So -- after crying wolf about all the services the city was going to have to possibly cut --- what does the city do?     This has to be one of the most ARROGANT moves by a CASH STRAPPED city to further con its citizens.    Remember in previous pages PFGG told you about the commissioner -- ( now EX ) -- made $2.4 million dollars on a "Towncenter" zoning deal, and his also involvement (while on the dais) in approving the "Vistawilla" office complex with some other partners.

            Now the mayor is investing $200,000 dollars of YOUR money into ANOTHER PRIVATE VENTURE in hopes of years down the line of producing revenue for his cash poor city.    And yes -- the mayor cast the deciding vote on this yet to be even designed project to give his developer buddies the $200,000 dollars.     No one can't say he doesn't back his financial backers/contributors  in his political campaigns --- that's a given!   Just read the below Sentinel article -- AFTER he cried WOLF ---

Yep -- the good 'ole Winter Springs "good 'ole boys" ---- still conning the citizens !

That project will bring money into the city coffers when ---- POSSIBLY five years from now?

The same developer hasn't even filled that first Vistawilla office project !

In fact -- drive around the city ---- see ALL the empty CONDO PROJECTS ?

Even that GREAT fiasco Keewin/Dittmer (Allen Keen) project ---- in floundering stages.

Look behind the high school -- WEEDS -- where's code enforcement ?

Get out of the bushes mayor --- look at the  "sunshine "  --- (an evasive law by the city).