Council’s position on consolidation plan stands
An attempt to bring the proposed consolidation plan back up for discussion at tonight’s meeting of the Pensacola City Council failed. The Council’s Committee of the Whole previously voted not to endorse the proposed consolidation plan developed by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission.
Mayor Mike Wiggins, who favours sending the proposed consolidation plan to a referendum vote, encouraged a motion to reconsider the issue, a move that would require seven affirmative votes to pass. Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn made such a motion, but it failed 6-4.
Voting to reconsider were Mayor Wiggins and Council members Cannada-Wynn, Jerralds, Johnson, Pratt, and Townsend. Councilman Johnson told Progressive Pensacola after the meeting that he had made a mistake and intended to vote no.
Voting not to reconsider were Council members DeWeese, Hall, Mack, and Wu.
City Manager Al Coby said he anticipated a letter would go out to the Northwest Florida legislative delegation next week to communicate the Council’s disapproval of the plan.
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Thank you to all the council members that stood up to this ill conceived plan. We need an intellectually honest and unbiased consolidation study, not one predestined from the beginning with “ALL FOR ONE” financing and orchestrating the result!!!
Consolidation is a ruse to expand the city limits to the far reaches of the county, and it is a bad plan for county residents whom don’t want to become what Pensacola is: deeply in debt with no future. The bait and switch baseball park and unfunded pension fund for city workers is more than enough to convince me that Pensacola may have to file bankruptcy to protect itself in the near future. ESP, no matter how high the rates become, can fund all of Pensacola’s follies.
Angry County Resident — Actually, I live in the City & I have a much different view. I appreciate the high quality services that the city provides. I want a paid, professional fire service that responds in minutes to emergencies. Same thing with my police protection. I value the parks and recreation services the city provides & much, much more. What I resent is having to subsidize the services you receive. I don’t support consolidation because my services would be reduced to the level of those you receive & yet I’d still be paying city & county taxes. Forget it.