APOPKA, Fla. – Apopka residents packed a special city meeting Monday night, airing frustration over flooding and poor road conditions as commissioners debated a proposed 32% millage rate increase.
“Usually when you look at a situation you cut from the top,” one resident said during public comment.
Some residents acknowledged long-standing infrastructure problems are impacting daily life, including neighborhood flooding, damaged roads and missing sidewalks. “Our community continues to face significant infrastructure challenges including flooding… roads, sidewalks — we have children walking to school in the ditches because the sidewalks aren’t there,” one speaker said.
The city says the proposed increase is aimed at shoring up struggling infrastructure and preparing for what could come if voters approve a property tax cut in November. But some residents questioned the city’s financial priorities, arguing other budget areas should be reduced before raising taxes.
“$300,000 salary for a Chief of Staff — let that sink in,” one resident told commissioners.
Commissioner Nadia Anderson — the lone “no” vote days earlier on a proposed 0.75% millage increase — also raised concerns about several salaries during the meeting, citing positions she said total hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Anderson said she’s hearing from residents who say they can’t afford a major increase.
“Dozens of residents call me and say, ‘Listen we can’t afford to put food on our tables. We cannot afford this massive tax increase,’” she said.
Another resident, speaking emotionally, said the decision could determine whether some people can stay in their homes. “I got out of my sick bed because I wanted my voice to be heard… the choice you make today might mean me keeping my house or not,” the resident said.
City leaders said one area they are actively working to cut back is overtime. They say if plans move forward, the city could save about $3 million to bank.