Mayor Pleads For Tax Collector To Return

June 12, 2009

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Century Mayor Freddie McCall appeared before the Escambia County Commission Thursday to urge them to convince Tax Collector Janet Holley to reopen her Century office.

Holley closed her office in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century at the end of May, citing low utilization and a chance to save $200,000 per year.

“We are pleading for Mrs. Holley to reconsider,” McCall told the commission at a budget workshop. “I understand that she plans to turn about a million dollars back (to the county). It’s well needed, but the service is well needed in Century also.”

McCall said that while Century residents without transportation could take a bus to Cantonment to do business with the tax collector, that option is not real practical. He said the bus departs Century at about 6 a.m. for Cantonment, but does not return until about noon. He said a person that rode the bus to Cantonment would spend five minutes doing their business with Holley’s office and hours waiting for the return bus.

McCall presented the commission with a variety of resolutions and petitions from North Escambia residents and organizations requesting Holley to keep her office open. The Escambia County Commission, the Century Town Council, the Century Lions Club, the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club,  the Tri-Cities Rotary Club and the Century Chamber of Commerce have all asked Holley to keep an office open in Century.

The tax collector’s position is a constitutional office in Florida; Holley’s budget and management practices are governed by the state, not the county commission.

Pictured above: Century Mayor Freddie McCall addresses the Escambia County Commission Thursday morning in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Mayor Pleads For Tax Collector To Return”

  1. Jason Smith on June 13th, 2009 10:36 am

    The same people who probably complain this office is closing are the same ones who don’t want to have extra county government services because they believe it’s a waste of tax money. You can’t have it both way people.

  2. Jay on June 13th, 2009 6:29 am

    What do you all think the Billy G. Ward complex is? It is a multi-use fcounty owned facility that has a court room and office spaces for the other users (Tax Collector, Clerk of the Court and Sheriff. We don’t need to re-invent the wheel here, and by the way if you look outside I don’t think you’ll find three different power meters, water meters or sewage hook-ups for each user of the building either.

  3. Homefry on June 12th, 2009 8:09 pm

    Their is several suitable buildings in Century that could house multiple venus. It’s time for all of our tax payer dollars be used more efficiently. Our end of the county should be more of a priority due to the fact that all the travelers come off the Interestate and travel through our town to reach Pensacola. Why would you want to make it better in any way possible???

  4. wanderinghoo on June 12th, 2009 11:38 am

    I wonder if it would be possible to have a single facility that all the constitutional officers used – sharing in the costs (and cost savings)? I am a resident of the city but would be very interested to hear what folks up that way think of such a concept.

  5. Taxed to death on June 12th, 2009 9:09 am

    If she did not care why close it in the first place? Thank you tax collector for tightening your budget as we all have to do in these times.

  6. guest on June 12th, 2009 8:32 am

    Lame Duck she does not care

  7. TR on June 12th, 2009 8:24 am

    Just like a politician to create a problem,without a solution.