YOUR OPINION: Brevard Residents Should Never Be Forced to Fund Select Charities Via Local Property Tax

'select group wants honey pot of more than $100 million of taxpayer money to redistribute to friends and programs'

In regard to your recent article, “Q&A: Brevard County Commission Chair Kristine Isnardi Moves to Abolish Future Property Tax Hike,” I think this is a great story about why we elect leaders that protect the citizens they serve.

This is about fairness and the core functions of government.

I know there will be pushback on this from a select group that wanted a honey pot of more than $100 million of taxpayers money to redistribute to friends and programs the way they want.

However, the fact is, the same argument could be made to tax homeowners for any cause.

We can push out fancy slogans like “put Brevard children first” but I could substitute the word children with “Brevard elderly,” “Brevard homeless” or “Brevard addicts” and say the same thing.

Folks, it’s not about the need – the needs are there and real. It’s about accountability and the core function of local government. We don’t tax citizens to support charities of choice.

Having run a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and also raised millions of dollars for charity to include being honored as a Central Florida Humanitarian of the Year, I know charity efforts and government mandate don’t mix.

In fact, I’ll say it opens the door for excessive spending and no oversight, much like we saw with the Clinton Foundation. Charities stand alone and succeed, or fail, based on the need, mission and leadership.

Taxpayers are not, and should never be, the funding arm of charity via a local property tax.

Americans are the funding source of charity based on the choice they make for a cause they support.

I applaud the county commission for addressing this head on.

– Victor Luebker, Melbourne, Florida

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

Similar Stories