Last week the City made an attempt to ban the public from attending the annual lighting of the Christmas tree that was paid for with their tax dollars. I commend the citizens of Okeechobee for speaking out and reminding the city government that they are employees of the taxpayers. They are elected to serve the people and not rule the people. I can speak from personal experience that this is something that they seem to have forgotten. I have heard this over and over from people who own commercial property or live inside the city limits. I strongly urge the citizens of Okeechobee to consider the consolidation of the city and county governments. The money that is saved could be directed to projects that benefit the entire community rather than a few bureaucrats elected by only a few of the total number of legal voting citizens in the county..

Our county only has one city and it serves as the county seat. The court house and other county buildings are located inside the city limits. Two of the candidates for city council had no opponent on Nov.3 so they automatically won their seats. One of those unelected candidates has already resigned requiring a special election which will be paid for by the taxpayers. The lack of candidates speaks for itself. This is a perfect time for an initiative to get the consolidation referendum on that special election ballot.

Consolidating the city and county would solve the blatant problem of “raxation without representation” in Okeechobee County. The elected members of the city council do not individually represent any district. They are the individuals who received the most votes out of a group of candidates. Only the people who live inside of the city limits are given the privilege of voting on who out of the group becomes our city council. Once elected, they vote on which one of themselves will be the mayor. I live only one block outside of the city limits but I, like many others, own and pay taxes on commercial property inside of the city limits. I pay more taxes inside of the city limits than I pay in the county but I am not given my right to vote for the people in positions who represent the area in which my property is located.

THIS IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

The city council directly or indirectly hires and fires the city employees. Ultimately, it comes back to them. They hire the heads of departments who fill the positions that are not voted on by the citizens. ie… the building official, code enforcement officer, administrator, police chief, etc …

Our city is supported by and belongs to all of the citizens of Okeechobee County no matter where in the county they live. We should all have the privilege of voting on our local government officials who choose people to fill positions that affect the progress of what is literally the heart of our community, “the city limits.” We need people in these positions with integrity and competence not prejudice or personal agendas for our community to thrive. We, as citizens, have the right to vote in people without bias who will meet with their constituents and listen to their questions and concerns, not brush them off with no answers. And, to vote out people that we feel do not properly represent our rights and our interests.

District 5 is the only district in Okeechobee County that does not extend into the city limits. There are already commissioners who were elected by the citizens of Okeechobee County that can represent anyone who has concerns about something in the city limits that falls in their district. There is no need to have two government bodies in a county with only one city that serves as the county seat. If the city and county were consolidated, every citizen in Okeechobee County could have their rightful privilege of TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION like it should be.