TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County residents will be able to make their voices heard on the possibility of consolidation this election season.
The Leon County Commission voted to add a straw poll to November’s ballot which would ask residents whether or not they support the county and city consolidating to one government.
The straw poll is not binding and would only gauge Leon County voters’ thoughts. To actually consolidate, the legislature would have to pass a bill, create the newly proposed structure and go back to voters again.
The commission discussed different options for language that would go on the ballot. One option offers up consolidation generally, not specifically putting the county in charge.
Commissioner Carolyn Cummings said she doesn’t support consolidation, worrying that people will lose jobs; however, she said she trusts voters to decide and would vote for the straw poll.
Commissioner Rick Minor said the language of general consolidation is cleaner. “It’s a neutral, pure question to voters of Leon County,” he said.
However, the second option discussed at Tuesday’s meeting includes language that asks voters if they want to operate under the county government.
Leon County Commission Chair Christian Caban supported the second option.
“This has come to the ballot in the past, but it’s never been asked this way,” he said. “This protects our rural communities.”
Ultimately, the commission voted 6-1 to conduct a straw poll for voters to decide if they want Leon County’s government to become the only local government, superseding the City of Tallahassee.
The vote in November will be advisory only.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the commission voted 6-1 to propose a ballot measure to unify street renamings across all of the county. If passed by voters, the City of Tallahassee would have to follow Leon County’s rules to rename streets.
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