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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
What are other local city residents paying for Taxes compared to Polk City?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Canvasing the City
Volunteers have been working on distributing petition forms to many local businesses. If you will not be able to make it to the signing at Freedom Park on September 11th & 12th, you may sign at the businesses who will be forwarding these signatures back to us, or you may print the form off this blog, as mentioned in an earlier post, and mail the original signatures back to us.
Volunteers are in the process of distributing literature to residences in the area to bring awareness to our cause and educate the public. Additional volunteers are needed to help in various projects. Supplies and money are needed as well, to cover expenses in printing, postage, and the possible cost of a special election.
Volunteers are in the process of distributing literature to residences in the area to bring awareness to our cause and educate the public. Additional volunteers are needed to help in various projects. Supplies and money are needed as well, to cover expenses in printing, postage, and the possible cost of a special election.
Why should we sign the petition requesting to abolish the city?
Actually, the petition is not to abolish the city. It is to request a referendum for a special election so the registered voters of Polk City can voice their opinions on whether or not they feel the extra layer of city government is needed, or should Polk City residents be governed by the county as part of unincorporated Polk County.
The way we look at it, the city government has outgrown it's purpose. The city has collected millions of dollars from it's residents through added taxes and fees to your water and sewer bills, garbage pick up, electric bill and other utility expenses. What additional services have been provided by the city, as the middle man, that the county would not automatically provide?
If there is no more Polk City Government:
Taxes - All the moneys listed on your recent tax bill under "Municipalities" will go away and will be replaced by an assessment tax (explained below).
Police - Maybe even better coverage from the Sheriff's Department which is helping out already
Post Office - will remain due to it's location so far away from other post offices in this area.
Library - will remain due to it's location so far away from other county libraries.
Roads & Sidewalks - will be better maintained because the county has the proper equipment.
Fire Department - County currently provides it, so there will be no changes
Garbage - County uses the same 3rd party, Florida Refuse, so there will be no change in service, plus the additional 25% surcharge to the city will be eliminated.
Water - County will provide at MUCH lower fees
Sewer - County will provide at MUCH lower fees
Street lighting - County will provide
Various Zoning, Land Use, Building Codes/Permits, Code Enforcement, Etc. - will all default back to the county, which we have to follow right now anyway.
Polk City, the name, will remain, just as Kathleen's name remained when they dissolved their city several years back.
The Assessment Tax, as mentioned above, will be the remaining debt of the city once all assets have been sold. This debt will be divided equally among the former city residents over a period of time, for instance 10-15 years. This tax should be much less than what the additional costs are for continuing to run the city as is and incurring additional debt. Current city officials are working hard to reduce overhead and existing city debt as we speak, so this number will hopefully go down even further than what it is today. How this will affect each individual household will be different. We are working on getting solid numbers so we can show roughly how you can expect your bills to change. Check back on our blog for updates. We welcome any comments that will help us put these numbers together for everyone.
The way we look at it, the city government has outgrown it's purpose. The city has collected millions of dollars from it's residents through added taxes and fees to your water and sewer bills, garbage pick up, electric bill and other utility expenses. What additional services have been provided by the city, as the middle man, that the county would not automatically provide?
NONE
Taxes - All the moneys listed on your recent tax bill under "Municipalities" will go away and will be replaced by an assessment tax (explained below).
Police - Maybe even better coverage from the Sheriff's Department which is helping out already
Post Office - will remain due to it's location so far away from other post offices in this area.
Library - will remain due to it's location so far away from other county libraries.
Roads & Sidewalks - will be better maintained because the county has the proper equipment.
Fire Department - County currently provides it, so there will be no changes
Garbage - County uses the same 3rd party, Florida Refuse, so there will be no change in service, plus the additional 25% surcharge to the city will be eliminated.
Water - County will provide at MUCH lower fees
Sewer - County will provide at MUCH lower fees
Street lighting - County will provide
Various Zoning, Land Use, Building Codes/Permits, Code Enforcement, Etc. - will all default back to the county, which we have to follow right now anyway.
Polk City, the name, will remain, just as Kathleen's name remained when they dissolved their city several years back.
The Assessment Tax, as mentioned above, will be the remaining debt of the city once all assets have been sold. This debt will be divided equally among the former city residents over a period of time, for instance 10-15 years. This tax should be much less than what the additional costs are for continuing to run the city as is and incurring additional debt. Current city officials are working hard to reduce overhead and existing city debt as we speak, so this number will hopefully go down even further than what it is today. How this will affect each individual household will be different. We are working on getting solid numbers so we can show roughly how you can expect your bills to change. Check back on our blog for updates. We welcome any comments that will help us put these numbers together for everyone.
What are the advantages of the City Audit?
Collecting signatures for the City Audit petition for the State Auditor General's office, under state statute 11.45(5), will generate a request to that office for them to come in and open the city's financial records to look for irregularities in how our money has been spent. This audit will be at no cost to the city, it's residents, or the individuals signing the petition. If irregularities are found, the state will step in until these issues can be resolved.
Forms
On previous posts we have uploaded copies of the 2 petition forms and the Public Notice poster. Please use these forms to print and distribute in your local areas to help spread the word. You can use the petition forms to start collecting signatures early, especially for individuals who are unable to make it to Freedom Park on September 11th & 12th between 8AM - 4 PM.
The original signed petitions can be brought to Freedom Park on the 11th & 12th.
To print a form:
Open up the post so you see the document.
Left click on the document to open the viewer.
Right click on document to get a pop-up menu.
Select "Print Picture" from pop-up menu.
Choose your printer and number of copies
Click on the "Print" button in your printer window.
The original signed petitions can be brought to Freedom Park on the 11th & 12th.
To print a form:
Open up the post so you see the document.
Left click on the document to open the viewer.
Right click on document to get a pop-up menu.
Select "Print Picture" from pop-up menu.
Choose your printer and number of copies
Click on the "Print" button in your printer window.
Dissolution Petition Form
This form has been removed since we are no longer accepting signatures. The petition has been turned in to the city as of 10/12/10.
Audit Petition Form
This form has been removed since this petition has been canceled due to additional information we obtained from the Auditor General's Office about audits in process already would be duplication.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Welcome to our blog
Thank you for visiting our blog and showing interest in helping our cause. The majority of our group believe that it is necessary to take action to eliminate an unnecessary layer of government which adds undue financial burdens through higher taxes and utility fees without adding community services. Our goal is to dissolve the City of Polk City, and have the State Auditor General investigate the city's financial records for any discrepancies or mismanagement.
We are going to need your help in signing petitions which will be available at local businesses starting today, and at Freedom Park on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. We need volunteers to help. If interested please contact our e-mail Please check back on a regular basis for any updates.
We are going to need your help in signing petitions which will be available at local businesses starting today, and at Freedom Park on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. We need volunteers to help. If interested please contact our e-mail Please check back on a regular basis for any updates.
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