Senior citizen living on a tight budget

As a senior citizen on a very tight budget living in Miami-Dade County, I am shocked that our Commissioners are trying to burden us with more taxes, fees, and government debt! Of course they realize that if a city is created or if a citizen is annexed into one, higher costs will be the inevitable outcome. 19 cities in Miami-Dade County can't afford to give seniors a 2nd homestead exemption based on low-income and years of ownership in their home. That is over half of the cities! But the county has it for all unincorporated residents that are seniors. In a county that has become quite unaffordable, seniors need the help. New cities don't have to provide this and if one is annexed into a city, they may not have it either.

A second layer of government won't help one bit because the county will still provide the majority of services. So do I need another building department charging me more fees when the county is still going to review the same job? Do I need a city attorney making $250,000 when the county has their attorneys handling legal issues? Do I need another Mayor when we will still have a county Mayor? It sounds like a horror movie where politicians are cloning each other for your $$$$.

Cities create overdevelopment because developers find it very easy to get approvals from 5 council members versus 13 Commissioners. I don't want more concrete around me. How about you?

Now there is a plan to create special taxing districts if you live near Metrorail corridors, and you think that won't increase your property taxes?? The county will use the funds to build more corridors to improve traffic. More taxes! And maybe an increase in the sales tax too.

I certainly don't need more politicians so I can pay for their pensions, expense accounts, and dry cleaning. That is right, one Opalocka commissioner actually stated in the Herald that they needed a $600 expense account from the city to pay for their dry cleaning.

The horror show continues. We need a cure for politician cloning. Say No to more Cities and Annexations!

K Hatzi

Kendall