NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE? - Gaylan's Corner! - Opinions, comments and Notes from the field - by Gaylan King - BED TAX/CONFERENCE CENTER HISTORY OF EVENTS - The Freedom Committee's goal is to repeal county ordinance 89-23 that has spawned the Tourist Development Counsel (TDC) and bed tax (increase), and is also designed to fund the proposed conference center.  The TDC was created with this ordinance and therefore, by law, will be disbanded with OR 89-23's repeal. In order to do this, a referendum must come to a vote before the people. There are four major areas on this website that are designed to do four things: 1. Present the FACTS supporting our case that the Conference Center will be a financial burden to the taxpayers of Okaloosa County. 2. Provide a HISTORY of the entire Bed Tax increase/Conference Center and give an historical scope to the issue. 3. To present OUR POINT OF VIEW as an opponent of the Bed Tax Increase/Conference Center and it's supporters. 4. To provide a FORUM in which others can share their point of view.

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, Still Can't Shoot Straight - This piece contains a document that was sent to me anonymously.  The document is important because it perfectly illustrates several facets of the TDC/Conference Center issue.

First of all, this document is an arrogant and vicious piece of work, traits that have characterized their opposition from the beginning. They are Clintonesque in the way in which they've attacked us personally and anyone else who doesn't agree with them, and ignore the issues and the numbers of us shouting, "No!" This is not a case of, "I say tomato, you say to-mah-to"; this is a case of, "Since I say tomato, I am a no-count, lying, worthless, Commie SOB". They are, apparently, used to having their way. After 10 years of uninterrupted heaven-knows-what, they no longer care about the wants of "the rest of us." They act as if they were ordained by God and have some Divine Right to rule our tourist industry; that they "know better".

[CLICK HERE FOR THE SCANNED DOCUMENT - wide, hi resolution graphic GIF format]

There are several features of this document worth noting. First of all, the author, who works for the TDC (which works for the BOCC), felt empowered enough to berate an elected official (Commissioner Sansom) like a child, for not supporting them. The very fact that the author signed it with Tourist Development Council in the signature element and sent it out to be publicly distributed shows, again, how arrogant and out of control they are. Notice to whom info copies are sent (lower left). The author apparently feels comfortable in this and I wonder if this isn't normal fare between them. Since the Chambers are on the TDC dole, this doesn't surprise me - but you seldom see this alliance so clearly illustrated.

She vilifies me at every opportunity. I clearly have the same right as all citizens to run for political office and to work towards a goal (referendum) clearly outlined in County Ordinance 89-23.  She clearly states, several times, that our county citizens are too stupid to understand the facts "by people who don't know what they are voting for." She also states that we (The Freedom Committee) are misleading the voters; it's never that we disagree with them. I'm also sure that we're all aging, and at an identical rate.

Notice her remark in the first paragraph: "We are having to spend bed tax funds to buy advertising to support ourselves against Gaylan……! County Ordinance 89-23, Par. 8, specifically allows our petition drive. I wonder which of the specific categories of  CO 89-23 -authorized spending allows them to spend ANY of their $1M fund to fight anyone who disagrees with them. Those categories are:

1. Beach Maintenance and Beautification.
2. Beach Access and Recreational Facilities.
3. Cultural Arts/Historical Facilities/Museums.
4. Future Facilities Planning.
5. Chambers of Commerce
6. Tourist Development/Advertising.
7. Festivals.
8. Administration.

Obviously, NONE of these categories authorize such expenditures. Fighting those who challenge the TDC via CO 89-23 does not qualify as a legal use of the tax funds, and, if they haven't already, at some point they'll be breaking the law!

This TDC is out of control and must be dissolved. We then must change the appropriate laws to provide for bed tax funds use to improve the county infrastructure, stricter oversight and review, a referendum every 2-3 years, and regular audits (in 10 years, they've never been audited!). After these changes, the whole county should be allowed to vote on this issue, winner take all.

Cheers!
Gaylan

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