On WCOA this morning, I spoke with District 1 County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and State Rep. Alex Andrade about the referendum to incorporate the Perdido area.
“I think both sides of the matter were well-represented,” said Bergosh. “Each had compelling speakers who put their case forward for it going onto the ballot. There was an equal number on both sides, and they just laid their case out, and I think it was enough for our delegation to determine that it needs to move forward as a local bill in Tallahassee, which will pass it, at which point next year, it will go on the ballot for the people in Perdido to decide.”
Rep. Andrade said the bill will go through multiple committees before a floor and being put on the 2024 ballot for voters to decide. There are still some questions regarding taxes and the density requirement, but it is expected to be on the ballot unless there are unforeseen circumstances.
The focus should be on the services provided and the taxes collected to pay for them. The decision should ultimately be made by the voters in the community.
BERGOSH
ANDRADE
CJ, you’re missing the point. They didn’t and don’t have to worry about it, because from the very beginning they knew that the delegation was going to run it for them, whatever shape it was in. All the rest is just a dog and pony show. They’ll get help cleaning it up in Tallahassee, then the ballot language will be written “Do you like puppies, do you love your mom, and is the United States the best country on earth? If so please check the yes box for incorporation.”
Why would the delegation put their finger on the scale while protesting they are the very picture of neutrality? (As if.) Because it’s just another way to try to weaken the BCC, along with home rule. They also realize that if Perdido incorporates, it will be every bit the hot mess as the example of “Government Lite” grand successes they herald. That helps out Tallahassee in their autocracy, too.
Andrade does what he’s told, pure and simple. Broxson was ready with the answer to the fact that the proposal doesn’t even meet standards–“well you know with all those wetlands in play” (what a load of hooey). Salzman jumped in to gush about what a fantastic lawmaker Andrade, who gets all his stuff handed to him by the real power broker lawyers to run, is, how much respect etc. The whole thing is a set-up and a the now typical travesty of proper process. Just like about everything that happens on a State level these days.
If Rick’s Blog has a copy of the most recent version, please soon post it. The only version posted to the We Are Perdido website is from August 2023. It is full of errors to include even spelling and formatting errors. It’s hard to believe that anyone proofread it. I’ve only seen the August 2023 version but it would have greatly benefited from review by someone who is an expert in municipal operations and then a separate review by an attorney board-certified by the Florida Bar Association to practice City, County & Local Government Law. There are only three in Escambia County, two work for Escambia County. If Alison Rogers was not given a chance to review the document, she should have been allowed to do so. A “formal” operational staff review by Escambia County, ECUA and the Sheriff would have been appropriate. The We Are Perdido approach could have been to ask to make their proposal better and more workable for everyone. If that was done, it is not reflected in the document. Fort Myers Beach is held up as the gold standard for Government Lite. Fort Myers Beach is specifically mentioned on the We Are Perdido website. People in Perdido on both sides of the issue should take a field trip to see how things have worked out in Fort Myers Beach since its incorporation in 1995. Its FY 2022 Budget shows a staff of 76 FTE. Its FY 2022 budget was $52 million. Not “Lite.”