Bob Hudson
Beach Fanatic
In 1994 the Board of County Commissioners imposed a 1% sales tax dedicated "to pay for ALL or part" of the cost for garbage removal. Since inception, this 1 cent small county surtax has produced $120.1 million dollars in revenue. Only $66.8 million has been spent on garbage removal. The balance was spent for anything but garbage pickup, usually for unbudgeted pet projects of some of the Commissioners.
There are approximately 10,900 condominiums in Walton County. The Solid Waste Contract that Walton County has with Waste Management for free residential garbage pickup paid for by the County excludes condos with more than 5 units from garbage pickup even though the condo owners have paid for it through the surtax, too.
Many condo complexes pay more than $30,000 annually for garbage removal above and beyond the ordinance that was implemented to collect a 1% sales tax dedicated "to pay for ALL or part" of the cost for garbage removal.
Since the beginning of the garbage sales tax, a condominium complex with 170 units has paid approximately $255,000 to Waste Management for garbage removal at their complex. All other residential dwellings except condos of more than 5 units have paid nothing. Is that fair?
Walton County collects so much money from this garbage tax that today only 53% is being used for garbage collection annually. It is very obvious that the 1% Sales Tax is capable of paying for ALL residential garbage removal.
The Walton County Taxpayers Association (WCTA) believes this inequity in "who pays" and "who doesn't pay" MUST stop. WCTA challenged the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to study the cost of providing garbage collection to all condominiums in July. Consequently, the BCC tasked its "Special Projects Coordinator" to analyze the costs for treating all residential property owners EQUALLY without raising taxes.
When the Commissioners "Vote For Tax Equality", the average savings to a condo owner would be approximately $166 dollars per year.
WCTA believes that the Commission will address this issue prior to its formal adoption of the 2013-2014 budget. That could mean a savings for every condo association over 5 units.
The WCTA is requesting that every single condo owner write each member of the Walton County Board Of County Commissioners to "Vote For Tax Equality" in GARBAGE PICKUP.
Request that the BCC put a stop to this unfair and egregious policy by clicking the link below and sign our on-line petition to ask the Board of County Commissioners to "Vote For Tax Equality".
We will present this petition at the first public hearing for adoption of the 2013-2014 budget.
Without you making it known that you insist on equal treatment, this will not happen.
Please sign the petition TODAY !
There are approximately 10,900 condominiums in Walton County. The Solid Waste Contract that Walton County has with Waste Management for free residential garbage pickup paid for by the County excludes condos with more than 5 units from garbage pickup even though the condo owners have paid for it through the surtax, too.
Many condo complexes pay more than $30,000 annually for garbage removal above and beyond the ordinance that was implemented to collect a 1% sales tax dedicated "to pay for ALL or part" of the cost for garbage removal.
Since the beginning of the garbage sales tax, a condominium complex with 170 units has paid approximately $255,000 to Waste Management for garbage removal at their complex. All other residential dwellings except condos of more than 5 units have paid nothing. Is that fair?
Walton County collects so much money from this garbage tax that today only 53% is being used for garbage collection annually. It is very obvious that the 1% Sales Tax is capable of paying for ALL residential garbage removal.
The Walton County Taxpayers Association (WCTA) believes this inequity in "who pays" and "who doesn't pay" MUST stop. WCTA challenged the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to study the cost of providing garbage collection to all condominiums in July. Consequently, the BCC tasked its "Special Projects Coordinator" to analyze the costs for treating all residential property owners EQUALLY without raising taxes.
When the Commissioners "Vote For Tax Equality", the average savings to a condo owner would be approximately $166 dollars per year.
WCTA believes that the Commission will address this issue prior to its formal adoption of the 2013-2014 budget. That could mean a savings for every condo association over 5 units.
The WCTA is requesting that every single condo owner write each member of the Walton County Board Of County Commissioners to "Vote For Tax Equality" in GARBAGE PICKUP.
Request that the BCC put a stop to this unfair and egregious policy by clicking the link below and sign our on-line petition to ask the Board of County Commissioners to "Vote For Tax Equality".
We will present this petition at the first public hearing for adoption of the 2013-2014 budget.
Without you making it known that you insist on equal treatment, this will not happen.
Please sign the petition TODAY !
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