Let the voters decide how tax money is spent………

You may be wondering why I decided to initiate a petition drive with the hope of collecting approximately 30,000 signatures in time to place this issue on the January 29th, 2008 election ballot. It all started when the County Commission voted 5-2 against a referendum which would have permitted Orange County voters to vote on the three venues. The voters would have been given an opportunity to vote yes or no for the Performing Arts Center, the Arena and the Citrus Bowl. However, only two commissioners, Commissioner Brummer and Commissioner Moore had the courage to do the right thing and support the referendum.

Soon after the vote, we decided to initiate a petition drive requesting registered voters to affirm that anytime tourist taxes were to be used for expenditures of more than $25 million, the County Commission would have the obligation to ask for a referendum. Demonstrating an arrogance unparalleled in the history of Orange County, five of our commissioners stole our right to vote. We are now attempting to restore this right...

You may notice that the petition does not include the Performing Arts venue. This is because the Center has already raised $80 million from the private sector, dramatically reducing the need for tax dollars in order to complete the project. Further to that, the Performing Arts venue will be of value to all of the youngsters in the community by providing them with opportunities to participate in an assortment of arts and cultural initiatives, available at this fine facility. Only the Citrus Bowl and the Arena remain on the petition.

We are therefore requesting that your signature reaffirm your desire to make sure that any expenditure over $25 million will require the county to defer to the people who shall decide whether or not to support the expenditure.

Let us be the Minutemen of 2007 and fight hard to reestablish our full rights as American citizens.

For further information, or to obtain a petition please click here or call Steve Braun at 321-558-9196.

Harris Rosen