NorthEscambia.com reports that State Sen. Doug Broxson has broached a topic that many have wondered – Does the Century have the tax base and leadership to survive as a municipality?
During a meeting of the Escambia County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Doug Broxson, State Rep. Alex Andrade and State Rep. Michelle Salzman — Thursday night in Pensacola, Broxson said,
“We are praying for you, we know you have a big challenge, we want you to do well, but we know you are in tough circumstances. I would hope that at some point if things continue where it’s a challenge to meet your budget, that you would consider de-chartering Century so you could come under the umbrella of Escambia County and let them take their resources and help you with some of your major problems.”
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Jay is half the size of Century. Jay has one third the population of Century. Why would the municipal challenges in Century (in Escambia County) be any different than in Jay (in Santa Rosa County)? Is Senator Broxton who lives in Santa Rosa County also calling for a “de-chartering” of Jay too? Senator Broxton should attend a meeting of the Century Town Council. I’ve been to three. They are shocking. He’ll immediately see that the problem in Century is not Century or the people who live there or its tax base but the poor caliber of the people who run for office and are elected in Century. On the “tax base” issue, all of Century is “in” Escambia County just as all of Jay is in Santa Rosa County. All people and businesses pay taxes to Escambia County and get little in return. Nothing prevents Escambia County from spending real “county” money in Century. As example, instead of Escambia County giving $1.8 million to support the “for-profit” Roger Scott Tennis Center the BCC could have built a county sports complex in Century.