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Government Consolidation: North Escambia Effects; Some Members Against
November 19, 2009
The Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission is continuing to develop a consolidation plan that could, with voter approval, combine Escambia County, Century and Pensacola into one entity.
Today, in part two of a series here on NorthEscambia.com, we’ll take a look at some of the commission’s latest activities and recommendations and what they might mean to residents of North Escambia, including the residents of Century. To see part one of this series, click here.
If the consolidation issue is to be presented to voters, the study committee must create a plan to be presented to the Florida Legislature in January. Several months and hours of meetings into the process, not all of the committee’s 25 members are in favor of creating that plan.
At a recent meeting of the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission, four of 19 committees did not vote in favor of the commission continuing the task of developing the consolidation plan.
“There were those that came onto this commission with preconceived notions on both sides, both for and against,” Commission Chairman Kenneth Bell told NorthEscambia.com. “Four votes against continuing is not dissension in a group of that size. I think that, overall, the group is fairly solid.”
“I do not know if I am for or against it,” Jimmy Cunningham of Molino said. Cunningham holds one of the 25 seats on the commission as a representative of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. He addressed some of the major concerns of consolidation recently with the Century Town Council.
“There will be special taxing districts with taxes proportionate to the services provided,’ Cunningham said. The plan calls for the creation of urban and rural districts. Urban districts, for instance, that have more access to law enforcement and faster response times will pay more taxes than a rural district with slower response times and fewer deputies. Current city residents would pay more fire tax because of a higher density of fire stations manned by paid firefighters, while rural areas would pay less fire tax to support volunteer-staffed fire departments.
As for the fire departments, he said the consolidated government model calls for the continuation of both paid and volunteer departments.
Another major point, Cunningham said, relates to existing debt obligations.
“Pensacola’s indebtedness can not be transferred to us in rural Escambia County,” he said.
The existing liabilities of the city, such as their pension plan and the Maritime Park, would remain within the boundaries of the present city. Persons that live in Pensacola now would be responsible for the taxes and fees needed to pay for the city’s pension plan and debts like the Maritime Park, while residents outside the current city would not.
If the voters in Century vote against consolidation, Cunningham told the town’s council, “the town of Century will stand just like it is”. If Century’s voters vote for consolidation, and it is approved in Escambia County or Pensacola, the town of Century would be dissolved into the consolidated government.
In theory, if voters in Pensacola and Century should approve consolidation and Escambia voters disapproved, Century and Pensacola would be combined under one government while Escambia County could operate as it does now.
“That would be an interesting scenario,” Bell said. “But I don’t see that happening.”
Comments
22 Responses to “Government Consolidation: North Escambia Effects; Some Members Against”
Come on people!!! We have to wake up and stop waiting on someone else to handle the problems coming our way!!! What happened to “united we stand”!! I live in Oak Grove, fl (between Bratt, fl and Walnut Hill, fl). Although, I have a Century fl address but live 20 miles away. See, it doesn’t matter where you live in the north end they are coming to take from all of us.
Many in the politcal Pensacola politcal areas consider ALL of us the “Hicks from the northend” Doesn’t that make you mad!!!! I hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD SAID “HE WILL HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES”
Each and everyone can do something even if it is just getting the word out!!!!!!!
VOTE NO! ITS TIME FOR ALL TO UNITE TOGETHER IN THE NORTHEND!
I agree with Robert Hudson, vote No to consolidate.. What really bothers me is a lot of folks do not understand (or maybe not even care) about what this will do to all of us. Many of you complain about your bills now, but if this passes you AIN”T seen nothing yet!
Does anyone remember that the Florida State Lottery money was going to Schools?
Well yes it is going to the schools but after removing other funds from our schools. The money removed from school funding goes in to the general fund to be squandered by your elected officials.
The county’s taxes may not go to Pensacola’s ball park, etc. but instead make up the difference in other areas.
There seems to be no cost accounting involved in this consolidation plan. Change we can Believe in, Trust me, A little Change will do you Good! Pig in a Poke?
I have lived in Pensacola, Jacksonville and Century. I can tell you that if I was living in Century now, I would definitely vote against . You will lose your say, your sense of community, and your money. There would only be one winner in this situation if it passes…The City of Pensacola. Do not allow yourselves to be steamrolled by politicians only looking to further their own agendas. The north end of Escambia County is unique..don’t turn it into a giant “Pensacola”.
I like the idea of combining the utilities. Molino utility charges 4 to 5 times the going rate for a meter tap. Hiway robbery is what it is.
To L. Stevens:
I love your statement “Don’t tell me to vote for something without telling me what I’m voting for”. Sounds like good advice for our country’s government while they are trying to pass the 2000 page no information health care bill. Why does anyone think we will vote yes for something when they are unwilling to tell us the details. They evidently think we can be lead around by a ring in our nose (talking livestock – not young people). We are far from stupid. Sounds like local politics mirrors big government politics.
JUST SAY NO TO CONSOLIDATION AND VOTE AGAINST GREG EVERS!!!
REGARDING:
“The existing liabilities of the city, such as their pension plan and the Maritime Park, would remain within the boundaries of the present city. Persons that live in Pensacola now would be responsible for the taxes and fees needed to pay for the city’s pension plan and debts like the Maritime Park, while residents outside the current city would not.”
A judge will SURELY rule all citizens have to be treated equally within a political entity under the 14th Amendment. Charging higher taxes on some and lower taxes on others is unequal and will be discontinued. Then we will have the privilege of paying off the various debts others have run up. (Do it with pride!)
On the flip side, any of you (except Pam, of course) will be able to run for mayor.
David voting for Cousin Donnie Joe Bass for mayor
Thx Water Lady..you are correct.
Yesterday I posed the question of whether the consolidation committee will recommend that all rural utility services be taken over by the new consolidated government. I sent an email to the chairman of the subcommittee for road, parks, and utilities, but have not yet received a response. I went to the website http://www.eccsc.org (Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission) where the subcommittee has posted minutes of their meetings, along with their final report dated 10/6/09. That report states that our utility systems should be consolidated into one central system because they are a “deterrent to future and present
economic development.” WHAT? They would have us believe that the same rural utilities who took the financial risk of bringing services to citizens in outlying areas that nobody else would serve, are somehow holding back economic development? HOW? It seems to me if water and electric services are available in rural unincorporated areas, it would encourage families to move into those areas, as well as small businesses. Does this committee really expect us to believe if our utilities are consolidated into 1 central authority that the services we actually receive will not decrease but in fact will increase and at a lower cost to the consumer? We have only to look at how the county and city have managed other services to see how that will turn out.
To Pam Wood: I agree with most of what you said except the following comment.
“Look what the cnty has done to Century…left it to wither on the vine while spending money to revamp Byrnville Elem…duh ! ”
Please check your facts. Byrneville Elementary has been a charter school for many years and certainly has not been “revamped” in any way. Perhaps you were referring to Bratt Elementary.
What is so great about this blog, is that every one reads it. And that we now have a voice in which we can be heard, without PNJ. C.C’s read it , EAFO reads it, and I bet from these blogs , that they (EAFO) is not happy about what they read that is posted. We need to vote this down , and send a strong message to those who wish to push this, that we do not wish to be rule or governed by the city or their strong mayor. (or what ever they pick). We will gain nothing in this , but new ways to be taxed. Our voice in government will be diluted, and I do not care to ever have coffee with a pensacola mayor. I make one phone call, or go to the C.C’s meetings and my voice is heard. It may not be perfect, but it is a sight better than being run by a city that stays broke. VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION!!!!!!!
. “The only way to ensure that Pensacola’s debt is paid for by Pensacola is to VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION!!! And VOTE NO for GREG EVERS for putting us in this situation to begin with!!!”
Agreed. This is a power grab to tax county residents to pay for city debt. Please VOTE NO!!!
Well, after living my entire life in Escambia I finally gave up and moved across the river to Santa Rosa so I have no dog in this fight….BUT, spent my entire career working with the idiots running PNS and Esc Cnty…they lie, they self serve, Centurians and all North Escambians, do not join with these people. Look what the cnty has done to Century…left it to wither on the vine while spending money to revamp Byrnville Elem…duh ! They take your sales tax money and give to the elitists in PNS..who do NOT need another tennis court pd by you. They intentionally abandoned the west side, Town and Country Plaza area so they could widen the beach road and pay to replenish sand on a shifting island. They def do not feel the need to do what is best for the ones paying their salaries. They feel their job is to bribe businesses to come to PNS to fatten their pockets, not serve the public. They employ out of town people to come tell us how to run our business. Gulf Breeze residents materially run government across the bay. They can’t keep businesses. The DIB is a literal joke, the Chamber is self serving and should be disbanded. Ya’ll have got great residents and a lot of talent…stay separated from those people and develop your own plan for your own people – emphasize that diff – it is your greatest strength…and yes, I agree they will find a way to stick the Maritime money on your bill because they certainly can’t afford it but they are doin it anyway…duh !!!!!!
Here is an Idea. Lets just elect people who dont carry false promises and none of the joining two evils will happen.
Abolish the County Commission, City Council, and all other elected entities involved. Scrap every existing County and City department. Hold a general election where each district elects 1 representative and 5 at-large seats to the new consolidated council. Allow the new concil to appoint a person to be responsible for daily operations (call them a mayor/ administrator/ whatever). He/she reviews resumes and performance evals for all competing position holders and select the best qualified candidate to fill the department directors. Have the newly hired dept directors do same thing and select department staff.
With a 10 member council (5 of whom are at-large), no one area could dominate another. The north end could count on their 1 district rep and would only need to sway the at large members to block bad legislation or advance the good. Same for the suburbanites and city dwellers.
The committee should just be figuring out what the consolidated government would look like. What departments will there be and what will their duties be?
The way they are going about this it’s doomed to failure. There is too much incentive for turf war and power mongering. Every elected official has motive to protect their little enclave, every employee has motive to protect their job, every citizen has motive to protect their wallet and freedom. What the committee is recommending does absolutely nothing to streamline government, make it more efficient , fiscally responsible, or more accountable to the citizens. I give the whole process a big fat F. It’s been a total exercise in futility and nothing has been nor will be accomplished this way.
Anyone who would vote “Yes” on this, the way it is being presented is out of their mind ignorant! This committee isn’t really presenting ANYTHING. All the important specifics about HOW consolidation would occur and who would be in charge of what are missing. They are either “yet to be decided” or planning to let the “council” decide that at a later date. Recomending consolidating specific departments without saying HOW they’ll be consolidated misses the mark. Will the County or City department director become the new unified department director? Will the Sheriff or Police Chief become the new Public Safety Chief? These are the particulars I want answered. Don’t tell me to vote FOR something without telling me WHAT I’m voting for. I believe some of these things should be consolidated, but my support depends upon who is in charge of them. The City and County have already proven they can’t properly manage themselves, I’m not about to give them MORE!
I agree with bama54, we can’t afford anymore “change”. Vote NO!!!
Have you notice, that the county can balance its budget, But the city can not? And EAFO and the other pro-consolidation force want to make us believe that City can run the county? And I believe that they will say any thing to try and make their point. Now image , we will all live in the city limits of pensacola. Do you want the city folk coming out to your place and telling you what to do? Do you think the city knows anything about county living? Pensacola need to learn how to ANNEX just like Mobile and other cities do. Let those who wish to join the city do so. But no one wants to join because the city is so mismanage. A lot of us do not give a tinkers darn about what the city does. So it needs to stay separate. And we sure do not wish to pay for Sturders ball park or maritime park, which is being built in a FEMA declared flood zone, on the bay front of a hurricane prone city. VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION!!!!!!!!
With this consolidation, how many jobs are going to be lost?? Example: The Molino utilities department, you have local office personnel, the work crews that maintain the water lines, what happens to these jobs? With consolidation comes job lost, there is no way of getting around it. The ECUA would take over all the utilities in the county? The consolidated government would run all that is true and dear to your hearts. No more individual thinking for what your local community needs, it would be what is best for the “whole” county!! Is this what we really need?? We have people in the north end of the county (9 mile rd north) that are capable of stepping up to the plate and serve our communities to make it a better place to live, (without consolidation) will that person/persons please come forward.
There was a campaign slogan I remember not to long ago. “CHANGE, CHANGE FOR AMERICA”. Now just how much “Change” can we afford?
I agree, as soon as it is passed , they will find a way to spread the debt. Remember, what they say and what they do are two different things. They sure found a way to do it in Jacksonville and this will be no different . We do not need more government, and we do not need to be run by some one who has proven that they can not manage their own affairs. VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION
I’m still not convinced that a new consolidated government council couldn’t power block vote and change and spread the payment of Pensacola’s debt to everyone across the county. You have to know that this new government entity won’t stand by and just let one small segment of the whole carry the burden of having to pay millions for pensions and a folly of a maritime park, which are surely going to fall into bankruptcy. The only way to ensure that Pensacola’s debt is paid for by Pensacola is to VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION!!! And VOTE NO for GREG EVERS for putting us in this situation to begin with!!!