The truth is today taxpayers serve their government, not the other way around. The truth is the average government worker in Orlando makes double the wage of the average taxpayer. The truth is our civil servants are retiring in their 40s while the taxpayer is working into their 70s to make that possible. The truth is hundreds of thousands of second homeowners are leaving Florida because of high taxes and they are not coming back.
The problems within local government have evolved over the last five decades, so it is not the fault of any current elected officials. But the truth is our elected officials know these facts but they lack the courage to stand up to the government labor unions and reform our broken government. I am here to give them a dose of political Viagra.
Last week I spent 15 minutes listening to someone try and convince me Florida is a low tax state. My answer is three words; bull****, bull**** and finally -- Bull****. Florida is simply more creative in extracting revenue from taxpayers than other states making it appear we are a low tax state. Looking at the state of the next size, Florida government spending is more per capita than Illinois. Taking a state with a similar average wage, we spend more per capita in local and state government than Georgia. Property taxes on small business are three times higher per square foot than in California.
I spent nine months studying all 14 local governments in Orange County to find waste and duplication of services. What I found is taxpayers spend a total of $7 billion in local governments within Orange County annually. Worse, we are accruing liabilities and passing them onto our children. My analysis shows taxes on small business will double every six years unless we make structural reforms to local government. It is a mathematical certainty pension shortfalls, rising healthcare costs, and never ending pay raises will increase the cost of government until one by one each small business will fail; unless we reform the system.
I need to make a decision shortly regarding my role in reforming local government. The question I need to ask is; are there any leaders or candidates for office who are proven reformers? Has anyone in local government done any more than give lip service to getting greater efficiency with our tax dollars? Who has the vision to save small business in Florida? And finally; is anyone happy with their government today?
Most people I know are disgusted with poor services, high taxes, fees, and the corrupt political process in local government. The hardworking taxpayers in Orange County and across Florida deserve better.
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