APOPKA, Fla. \u2013 Apopka residents packed a special city meeting Monday night, airing frustration over flooding and poor road conditions as commissioners debated a proposed 32% millage rate increase.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually when you look at a situation you cut from the top,\u201d one resident said during public comment.<\/p>\n
Some residents acknowledged long-standing infrastructure problems are impacting daily life, including neighborhood flooding, damaged roads and missing sidewalks. \u201cOur community continues to face significant infrastructure challenges including flooding\u2026 roads, sidewalks \u2014 we have children walking to school in the ditches because the sidewalks aren\u2019t there,\u201d one speaker said.<\/p>\n
The city says the proposed increase is aimed at shoring up struggling infrastructure and preparing for what could come if voters approve a property tax cut in November. But some residents questioned the city\u2019s financial priorities, arguing other budget areas should be reduced before raising taxes.<\/p>\n
\u201c$300,000 salary for a Chief of Staff \u2014 let that sink in,\u201d one resident told commissioners.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Nadia Anderson \u2014 the lone \u201cno\u201d vote days earlier on a proposed 0.75% millage increase \u2014 also raised concerns about several salaries during the meeting, citing positions she said total hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n
Anderson said she\u2019s hearing from residents who say they can\u2019t afford a major increase. <\/p>\n
\u201cDozens of residents call me and say, \u2018Listen we can\u2019t afford to put food on our tables. We cannot afford this massive tax increase,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another resident, speaking emotionally, said the decision could determine whether some people can stay in their homes. \u201cI got out of my sick bed because I wanted my voice to be heard\u2026 the choice you make today might mean me keeping my house or not,\u201d the resident said.<\/p>\n
City leaders said one area they are actively working to cut back is overtime. They say if plans move forward, the city could save about $3 million to bank.<\/p>\n
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