One of the top experts in the state of Florida has been called in to shed light on the controversial proposal for implementing a Law Enforcement MSTU (Municipal Service Taxing Unit) in Hernando County. Brooksville mayor Robert Battista told The Sun that Ken Small, formerly of the Florida League of Cities and a specialist on local financing, has agreed to share his expertise at a City Council workshop Tuesday, Nov. 22.
The workshop will also feature reports from the new Brooksville city attorney and the new Brooksville city manager on the possible effects of the proposed MSTU. The workshop is open to the public and will follow a 1 pm closed or executive session by city council on a separate matter. The final decision on the MSTU rests with the Hernando County Commission.
The Hernando County Sheriff is strongly opposed to the MSTU concept which one Brooksville city council member says could go a long way in determining whether or not Brooksville disbands or retains its city police force.
“In my opinion, the mayor and the vice mayor ( Battista and Betty Erhard) voted last week against sending a request to the county commission to form the limited MSTU because they want to discuss disbanding the Brooksville Police Department,” maintains city council member Natalie Kahler, adding “the proposed MSTU would make it possible for the city to keep its own police department by allowing the city to be exempt from patrol and investigative services from the Sheriff’s Office which would save the city about $1.6 million.
“We (the city) are in a budget crisis and cannot afford to pay for both the Sheriff’s Office and the city police department for patrol and investigative services,” claims Kahler. “It is going to have to be one or the other. And I favor this MSTU which would let us keep our city police.”
“This MSTU is a strange and backdoor way to reduce taxes on city residents,” says council member and mayor Battista, completing the final days of his one-year mayoral term. “This (MSTU) issue is extremely confusing. We are hoping that this workshop next week will help us decide whether or not to request the county commission to form it (the MTSU).
“My biggest concern is the unintended consequences that could develop if the MSTU is enacted by the county,” points out Battista. Following the workshop, city council will take action on this issue in a special meeting or at its next regular meeting on Dec. 4.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis responded to the most recent MSTU discussion which he continues to oppose, saying that he is not aware of the County Board of Commissioners’ position on the latest city overture for a MSTU.
“Of course, the city of Brooksville is unable to implement an MSTU on their own,” according to the Sheriff. “The concept of an MSTU for the funding of law enforcement has come up about seven times before the Board of County Commissioners over the past few years.
“Each time the concept has arisen, it has been either voted down or pulled from the agenda all together.
“The position of the Sheriff’s Office remains consistent,” emphasizes Nienhuis. “HCSO believes that the creation of an MTSU would create additional costly layers of government and bureaucracy that do not currently exist. These additional layers will offer nothing in the way of enhanced service or law enforcement presence however.
Continuing to express his opposition and reasoning, the sheriff adds, “We know of no benefit taxpayers would receive countywide, especially in the unincorporated areas of Hernando County which is where 96% of all citizens live.
“In fact, this (MSTU) will cost taxpayers more money to maintain the same level of law enforcement service.
“The MSTU would also shift the current cost for law enforcement services exclusively to property taxpayers,” opines Sheriff Nienhuis. “Currently, between 20% to 25% of the cost is absorbed through the collection of sales tax and other state revenue sources.”
The strongest proponent for the MSTU is Brooksville City Council member Kahler who claims that the MSTU would be a huge savings for city taxpayers on their county tax bill, as well as retaining the city police department which she says is effective, less expensive (than the Sheriff’s Office) and “of great value to the city.” She says, “People are feeling misled as to the way city council is handling this ( MSTU proposal).”
She has also pointed out inconsistencies in the Sheriff’s Office notion that it will cost taxpayers more money, stating that the only way that would happen is if the city is currently subsidizing the rest of the county.
Amid all the negative talk about the city’s financial condition and the city being near bankruptcy and getting rid of the city fire department and city police, mayor Battista says this is all “unbelievably exaggerated.” He says he does not know the origins of such rumors, and adds, “none of this is coming from city council.”