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year$. Over those years his taxes have increased almost 50%, and <br />he expressed concern about the future and whether he could <br />continue to live in this county because of the tax situation. <br />Mr. Burkhart urged the Board to reverse the trend of tax <br />increases that we have seen in Indian River County over the past <br />6 years. This statement received great applause from those in <br />attendance. <br />Chairman Scurlock pointed out that the Sheriff's and Jail <br />expenses account for $1.5 million of the $2.8 million increase in <br />the General Fund. Added to that are the other mandated law <br />enforcement activities that raise the increase even more. He <br />expreissed his frustration in that his taxes increased $200 this <br />year on his home which is valued at $100,000, and he believed the <br />other Commissioners feel the same frustration. However, where do <br />we cut? The items where we have control is not where the big <br />increases have occurred. The Chairman encouraged Mr. Burkhart <br />and those in attendance to take the time to put the pressure on <br />our I'egislators in Tallahassee and tell them that we can't take <br />any more tax burden. He emphasized that if the County was to <br />take the taxes back to what they were last year, it would result <br />in a, decrease in services to the community, such as <br />transportation for the Council on Aging or other agencies where <br />we have control over their budgets. He asked those present for <br />specifics of where to cut expenses. <br />Jack Orr, 109 Palmetto Court, asked if the Commission has <br />considered contracting out certain services to private firms, and <br />Chairman Scurlock stated that we are doing that now and have <br />reduced the size of Fleet Management for maintenance of vehicles. <br />We a�e considering privatization in several areas, but have found <br />it p eferable to operate the Jail ourselves rather than contract <br />d� <br />it o t. <br />Bill McGilpin, Hobart Landing, complained about paying a huge <br />tax ilncrease when the area he lives in receives so little in <br />County services, such as street lights, water and sewer, road <br />E 2 11100i 1 BOOK 69: PAGE 242 <br />SP -17 <br />