Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore.
By Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore
This rainy holiday weekend forced me to stay home. So, I studied both the county and city budgets. The county budget is over $8 billion and easy to read. Determining yearly changes is made simple with year-over-year comparisons and justifications for deviations. Revenue sources are specific while presented simply. Mayor Demings' priorities, as our strong mayor, are easy to follow. Organizational charts are abundant, and staffing increases are clearly listed.
Because I know data from professional cost estimators precede all major capital work, I trust staff estimates. Confidence is vital for all elected commissioners. If I had any criticism, it would be that the citizens want more tax dollars spent on transportation infrastructure.
There are three deputy county administrators. The Public Safety Administrator (Danny Banks) supervises corrections, emergency management, fire rescue, and health services. Carla Bell Johnson administers administrative, community, family, fiscal, and business services. The third administrator is Jon Weiss, who oversees public works, planning, environmental, and development services, and utilities. I never had to call for a sunshine meeting with Mayor Demings. These leaders are empowered to provide answers and justifications to me personally.
My goal is to ensure that your and my priorities are adequately addressed in each budget. I don’t have to worry about departmental operating expenses like stamps, office supplies, etc. because I can determine that they are not overspending by observing comparison data. I focus on locating big-ticket items and the inclusion of my constituents” wishes.
The City of Apopka Budget was sprung on commissioners without any individual departmental briefings. The City Budget reads more like a checkbook register. It appears the Apopka Mayor prefers lengthy council meetings that focus on budgeting stamps, donations, office supplies, vehicle repairs, and memberships. There are no clear departmental flow charts, no year-to-year comparisons, and many large ticket expenses left without accurate line items.
It appears the goal is to focus on the “weeds” rather than the “bushes” or “heritage trees”. I have no confidence in the cost of his large capital projects. Nelson is not one to hire an estimator or a preliminary engineering assessment. Taking his Border Lake long-term solution, he sent a cost-share demand letter to the county before he had certified engineering plans or cost estimates. There is no estimate for the much-needed new sewer plant, accurate costs for the ozonator for the new lower aquifer well on Martin Street, and full repair estimates for the Golden Gem debacle. He doesn’t list the streets planned for sidewalks. There is no line for routine, regular maintenance of lift stations. There is no budget item for more street lighting.
At least there are millions planned for the forty-year-old master lift station next to the new pump track along Forest Ave. Thank goodness for that. However, there is no mention of how this rebuild will be funded. How many more water meters still need replacing? Inquiring minds would like to know.
It will be up to the four city council members to demand a better budget, require an improved process, and get answers to these questions. Finally, I do not know how they can set a mileage rate with such practices. It is a sad time for the City of Apopka.
We can and must do better.
This political advertisement was paid for and approved by Christine Moore, a candidate for the position of Apopka mayor.
