People are ticked off. They're angry over the resolution passed by Palmetto Bay commissioners charging the public a fee for using Coral Reef Park.
The resolution passed last month and parents lost no time letting Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugine Flinn Jr. and the commissioners know how they felt about it.
Palmetto Bay now charges organizations that use the park a $15 user fee per member per season. Use of the park used to be free.
There are many youth organizations and sports leagues that use Coral Reef Park. One such group is Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading. They're a non-profit group that has used the park for the last 4 decades.
Critics of the resolution argue that funding for use of the park is already in place in the form of property taxes. With the new fee they are, in essence, paying twice to use the facilities.
Village commissioners see things slightly different. They claim that groups such as Palmetto High School and the YMCA already pay a usage fee, so why not everyone else? Especially Pop Warner, since many of their members don't live in Palmetto Bay.
When CBS4'S David Sutta asked the Mayor if residents would get a tax break now that a user fee is in effect Flinn replied, "I don't think it makes that big of an impact. It's a very minor impact."
And to think this is all because of reduced funds due to the tax relief efforts started up in Tallahassee. The tax relief which has been waylaid and seems to be in need of resuscitation efforts. I haven't seen any tax relief. Have you?
The result?... kids and their programs suffer.
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