NO NEW TAX INCREASES

Impact Fees can be our salvation.
Please read the following from the
official online publication of the
Florida Home Builders Association.


Osceola County Wins Impact Fee Challenge
A circuit judge on August 6th struck
down the HBA of Metro Orlando's and
Florida Home Builders Association's
challenge to Osceola County's school
impact fee - the highest in the state.
The HBA/FHBA lawsuit alleged that
the method used by Osceola County
School District consultants was flawed
and had never been used elsewhere in
Florida. Further, it claimed this
overcharged new-home buyers by
failing to give them credit for a
capital improvement tax they also
would pay. But in his 20-page ruling,
Circuit Judge R. James Stroker
dismissed those arguments. He said
that while a fee must directly benefit
those who pay it, that is not required
of a tax. He also said the method used
to calculate the impact fee was
"reasonable and not arbitrary."
Stroker ruled that the county had met
a twofold test in proving that its higher
fee was justified. First, there must be a
reasonable connection between the
anticipated need for new schools and
the growth generated by new development.
Second, he said, there must be a similar
connection between the spending of
impact-fee revenue and a benefit to the
home buyers who ultimately pay the fee.
The judge ruled that the county's impact
fee ordinance passed both parts of that test.
In 2004, Osceola County increased its
school impact fee by 243 percent to
$9,708 for a single-family home.

Imagine if we (as part of the new
Master Plan) Implemented a version
of the above. We wouldn't have to
raise taxes for years to come.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
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Denise R. Taylor writes about C.

I only wish C. had allowed name to be
printed so that I could have given a
Proper salutation.

Those of Camden County who know me or
has come in contact with me have a good
since of who I am. All others, such as
yourself, base your opinion of me on the
distortion of others or the misinterpretation
of what I write. Therefore let me give you
a synopsis.

Everything that I have written/said is
100% true. There isn't one elected/
appointed official that can refute any of
what I have informed the taxpayers of.

One thing that those who know me
"The System" understand is I am
absolutely right. And if those who are in
a position don't take their heads out of
the sand our community will continue
to suffer. My only purpose is to make
things better. We have an awesome
opportunity here in Camden County.
But we must rearrange and get our house
in order so that we can move forward
and take advantage of the opportunities
before us.

We are in a very critical season and
this is our opportunity to make Camden
County path straight. We need to
immediately correct the problems in our
County Government. This will set the
course straight.

Secondly, we need to initiate serious
plans for improvement in the following
areas:

* Comprehensive Master Plan

* Diversity in all areas of
community/planning

* Per Capita Income Gap

* Affordable Housing

* Student Achievement

* Lowering the Dropout Rate

* Taxes

We must come together as a community.
We all need each other. The BRAC
Commission just told us that. We cannot
continue with things the way that they are.

But if people who are not informed of
all of the facts attack the messenger then
how do we correct and move forward?
We have been told basically by the world
"Get your house in order." All I want is
for us to do that. You can't allow illegal
deals that are so obvious; a taxpayer
realizes it, to continue taking place.
You cannot allow your County Government
to misappropriate Federal money and
sweep it under the carpet. These are
examples of what we must all work to
correct.

So if I offend you and others that have
bountiful similarities with you, by
working for FREE for the betterment
of the community in which I live. I refuse
to apologize! Psalms 78:72

Robert G. Becker writes accidents:

I keep observing accidents at the entrance

to Wal-Mart on GA. 40, especially east

bound. For one thing many people who

use the Murphy gasoline station like to

make turns at this intersection, when

there is no turn lane. They stop there

to make a turn, causing traffic moving

even at low speeds let alone at the speed

limit to stop in their lane, without

warning in many cases. Both the Cities

of Kingsland and St. Marys should ask

DOT to put up a "No turn" sign there

and police it. This should stop some

of the accidents. These people are a

danger to themselves and others.

Especially whn it is wet. There is a turn

lane at the light, a short distance ahead,

use it. No one likes to see an accident,

especially those involved. It's

dangerous enough out there. Use

common sense.

Sandy Sez:
Let us all bow our heads and pray for

the victims of KATRINA. There but for

the Grace of God go you and I. Open

your hearts and be generous to whatever

charity will benefit our neighbors.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"