Letters

Letters to the editor, July 13

Hernando Today
Published: July 13, 2012

Where do I start with these five commissioners who couldn't lead a Cub Scout troop, nevermind the county.

We have a $5.7 million budget deficit this year again, which they knew about all year. Just like they know we'll have a $4 million one next year.

They really start to look at how to fill this deficit about 60 days ago. Why not all year? The few suggestion on ways to cut that could never be realized by July 15th due date, or be enough. So they propose minor cuts and of course raising our taxes, same as last year.

We all could come up with 10 ways to reduce the general fund costs and 50 ways to reduce a $400 million budget.

This year's general fund budget is $67 million we have $24 million in our general fund reserves or over 35 percent in reserves of total budget. Commissioners have a self inflicted mandate to hold 18.5 percent in reserves. Most counties hold 8 to 12 percent in reserves. Now take $7 million out that's held for courthouse renovations that leaves $17 million, which is 25 percent of general fund.

They have closed the budget deficit to $3.5 million now by using funny math to me, but none the less they could just take $3 million from reserves and bring it to $14 million which would leave reserves at more than 20 percent of budget.

As they will say, "We don't want close the budget with a one-time fix by using reserves." We had the flood of the century and didn't touch the reserves.

As always three of them will vote to raise taxes same as last year and two will vote it down. I think the two who vote it down bothers me more, because you can't vote it down without leading and showing us your solution. So welcome to them keeping a war chest of cash that doesn't belong to them.

I've been going to these meeting for years trying to help and have gotten the same blank stares from these empty suits, who wouldn't take an idea from the taxpayer if you paid them.

I'm so done frustration is way to high for me to waste my time and breath ever again.

Michael Barsanti

Brooksville

Ron Paul never stood a chance from the get go. The spotlight was on him as little as possible. I know people who never even heard of the man. He is the only candidate besides Gov. Gary Johnson who got their lights punched out for running outside the box.

What I'd like to know is how do they get away with keeping third parties out election after election. Is America really that stupid? Or maybe our water and food supply is spiked to get people to let it be.

By the way, the Republicans and Democrats divide and conquer by pitting people against each other on issues, while they pass bills behind closed doors in the middle of the night and pay U.S. Supreme Court Justices a visit instructing them on how to make it stick.

What do you think the two party system is doing at the end of a hard days work? They are toasting to their achievements.

I would love to see "none of the above" on our ballots, but I know the government is afraid of the outcome

Jane Kukla

Spring Hill

An open letter to all political parties

I know that political telephone and media messages are allowed by the Federal and state "Do Not Call" restrictions and protected by our valuable free speech provisions, but know this:

First, I have Caller ID on my telephone and I do not answer any calls from sources I do not recognize. This includes "Out of Area," and "Not Available" or some other underhanded ploys to disguise the real caller.

Second, for the next four months I will do everything possible to avoid watching or even listening to political advertisements, especially attack and negative advertising.

In short, all of your negative advertising, opponent bashing, and telephone solicitations are a waste of your time and money.

I can't stop you from doing it, but I sure can stop paying any attention to it!

G B Leatherwood

Spring Hill

Commissioner John Druzbick has stated that a millage rate increase may be inevitable. Nobody likes to hear about a tax increase especially me who always been an advocate for no tax increases.

What we want to hear and what is reality is two different issues. We need to face the fact that a tax increase with n reason may be the only answer. Commissioner John Russell has stated that Druzbick has a lot of guts to mention tax increase especially when he is up for re-election in 2012.

John sure does have guts but remember he is not telling you what you want to hear he is telling you the facts and the fact is a tax increase is in the wind if we want to keep our essential services in Hernando County.

I don't have a problem with a reasonable tax increase as long as Commissioner Wayne Dukes keeps wringing out the rag. I am confident that the majority of our present county commission will do everything in its powers to maintain our taxes within reason.

Any politician can make promises we have seen that happen on numerous occasions but we really need to face reality, times are rough and funds are getting lower. A minor tax increase today is acceptable as long as the county doesn't build a pool tomorrow.

Bob Kanner

Spring Hill

Whew, every one who cares is sweating bullets over the SCOTUS ruling on the individual mandate in "Owebozocare." They are actually going to make us buy insurance. Well no they can't.

They can only impose a tax on you if you don't. Now here is the rub. Even though the IRS is tasked with collections there are no punitive measures if you do not pay the "tax" or buy insurance.

I repeat the "Infernal" Revenue Service can not send you to jail if you don't obey nor can they garnish wages nor attach bank accounts.

This bill was passed to put into effect the highest tax increase in our history like 3.8 percnet tax on sale of a house or reduce the deductable amount of a Health Savings Account from $10,000 to $2,500 not to mention the mariage penalty to name a few.

So Obama wants to raise taxes on the middle class who, by the way, will be the hardest hit. So much for his protecting the middle class. Remember what killed Bush 41s re-election the read my lips thing.

My friends relax the IRS will not hunt you down if the "tax" is not paid they must sue and we all know how long it takes a law suit to wind its way through the courts. This "Obomination" of a law will not only be unfunded by those who do not pay the "tax" but buy the House of Representatives who will refuse to fund it because "we the people" do not want it.

I forgot one other point. Since you can't be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions just put a down payment on a policy get whatever you need to survive, then cancel. Oops that will raise rates or is that what Obama wants?

Mike Stansbury

Spring Hill