Comments on: County and City Fire Service Fee Hits Low Income, Black Residents the Hardest

By: whit

whit — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:45:55 +0000

I’m okay with the $210 fee/tax per residence provided the corresponding amount was reduced in city taxes. Everyone should have some skin in the game. I also would like to see every resident pay property taxes on the first $25K or so of value. A lot more people would become tax hawks.

By: Joe Shiver

Joe Shiver — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 22:15:38 +0000

My friend it’s not just Blacks it’s all of us.This city has gone TAX Crazy.Russell you are right they are killing us.I have the same warehouse or rental space that you have.We have to find a way to fight these Tax nuts.

By: Edward Holifield, M.D.

Edward Holifield, M.D. — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:12:54 +0000

In reply to Alex. It was Desloge who referred to black infants as "million dollar crack babies" during a discussion about black infant mortality on Gary Yordon's television show. Desloge apparently regards Red Hills horses as more valuable than black babies.

By: brad

brad — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:49:21 +0000

I wish everyone would call it what it is, a TAX. Money given to the govt in any form is a tax and these fees should be treated as such. But I c an certainly agree with one thing the city of Tallahassee is as corrupt as any of the worst it just happens to be run by democrats. Blacks and whites below middle class are the ones getting hurt the most and I hope that the uninformed voters our there wake the hell up.

By: Stanley Sims

Stanley Sims — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 22:31:46 +0000

In reply to Hope & Change. Hope & Change I will have more respect for you and your opinion if you had to courage to sign your name to it. Black Lives Only Matter When You Can Criticize Elected Black Leaders?

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 19:39:16 +0000

In reply to bob. Along with Commissioner Bryan Desloge...don't forget to hold him accountable too!

By: Russell Price

Russell Price — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:46:45 +0000

Unfortunately, “fees” do not attract the same scrunity as taxes.

I own a 6000 SF warehouse that has been a challenge to rent since I built it during the good times. It’s assessed for $265,000 with taxes about $4,200. The utility bill runs about $140/mo. The fire services tax runs $100 per month or $1200 per year which is about 25% of property taxes.

When I lease the building, a tenant will start paying the tax. The tax/fee is just one more disincentive for startup businesses and established new business doing business in Tallahassee

Politicians learn fast. They have learned that a bunch of small taxes and fees draw less attention that do big property tax increases.

By: bob

bob — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:12:14 +0000

Now Mayor Gillum was the person that spear-headed the City/County fire service fee.

By: Danny

Danny — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:48:10 +0000

Poor people always get screwed when taxes go up. It’s howash to here people always claiming the rich can afford more taxes. The rich don’t pay them. They pass them down. There is no real money raising taxes on the rich that’s why politicians hit the middle class and the poor. On the other hand a mobile home should pay a higher fire fee. Think about it, it will dawn on you sooner or later.

By: Hope & Change

Hope & Change — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:26:54 +0000

Dr. Holifield you are exactly right. The Black Residence of Tallahassee have been screwed by their own black politicians in conjunction with their white democrat commissioners. The middle class of Tallahassee, black and white, have been getting hosed in this City for years. City Hall is totally corrupt, and we keep electing the same people over and over again. The Black community is getting what it vote for in electing Marks, Gillium and Richardson. You only know half of what is going on.
We need to start electing new people to office. We have an opportunity to elect a new State Attorney in the next election that will put a spot light on the corruption. I thank TR for reporting this issue and other issues. Yes, Tallahassee deserves better.