Another Letter to the Editor

I recently visited CK, and, personally, believe that this city possesses
some of the best island living in Florida! The geography, waterscape and
wildlife are beautiful especially when compared to other nearby coastal
communities. Just as wonderful, were my encounters with some of the
residents, especially the resident natives, e.g. those born, raised and
making life happen on CK. Also, the few transplants that I met to-date
appear to have successfully adapted themselves, families and businesses to
CK that they too can be considered official CK island stewards.
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I just started researching available CK island real estate with the
possibility of relocating from the Florida Keys. Having looked at a few
homes on CK island, like most prudent individuals, my next steps included
taking a retrospective look at annual real estate and related taxes in
relation to the proposed 2006 taxes for a couple of these houses. I was
surprised at the percentage increases in the proposed real estate and
related annual taxes proposed by Levy County for 2006. The proposed annual
percentage increase for one CK island property that interests me is over
well 40% versus 2005. Sure, the homestead exemption
makes a small difference, but the cost of a great CK house, insurance
premium increases coupled with the proposed annual taxes is contributing to
my current "sticker shock." Although I could manage the respective costs
associated with relocating to CK, this may not be an optimal economic
strategy versus somewhere else.

Besides counting the costs of a possible relocation to CK, from an
infrastructure perspective, one question especially intrigues me and what
the current residents will do to address it before the September 11th
proposed tax hearings at Levy County: In the future, assuming further varied
tax increases, how can the individuals staffing the police, fire department,
and other necessary CK social services be able to afford to remain fiscally
comfortable and continue to live on CK? The general cost of living will
surely increase well beyond the consumer price index. However, it is
reasonable to assume that the taxing authorities will, on their own
volition, quantitatively justify the proposed tax increases for 2006 to CK
residents. Or will they?

My parents always stressed to "never complain or state an issue without
coming up with some possible solutions." My only suggestion is for CK
residents to emphasize the positive and downplay the negative prior to and
during the September 11th tax hearings to assure that that a resident
taxpayer consensus exists to warrant an accounting and justification of the
2006 proposal. The bottom line is that (from what I hear) CK residents
perceive that a level playing field between CK and Levy County isn`t
apparent or doesn`t exist with regard to the proposed 2006 taxes. Perhaps an
RPF for a third party to review and comment on the methodologies used by the
Levy County tax assessor be one possibility. I`ll have to wait until after
the hearings to determine my next steps and the possibility of moving to CK.

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> Andrew Bulla
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