Tax talk starts with a whisper

Back in my newspaper days, we had these things called deadlines.

This was way before Al Gore invented the internet. Folks got their news from TV, radio, and newspapers.

Citrus County was a newspaper town. Morning newspapers. That meant nighttime stories had been written and edited in time to make production deadlines, so that your Chronicle would be waiting before daybreak.

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Normally, not a problem. Working on a breaking story at deadline is a reporter’s rush — trying to write while an editor is barking at me to hurry it up. Man, I miss those days.

Well, sometimes we would bank on the lead story before it happens. This is often related to nighttime government meetings. Some big zoning hearing or budget vote, we’d plan on slipping that story into the lead slot right on deadline.

I’d say it worked about half the time. Meaning, whatever happened would happen as planned, and we’d have a story in the next day’s paper.

Then there were the duds. The meeting where I expected 100 people, and 10 showed up. The meeting where I anticipated divisive action, and a vote was delayed. The ones I think will be lively, and I don’t have a single quote.

Such as Monday night.

I guess it’s a good thing that the kickoff of the local option sales tax town hall series was somewhat tame. About 50 people spread out through the Central Ridge Community Center as Don Taylor and Patricia Thomas provided factual, concise information about sales tax and how it could work in Citrus County.

There were a few questions about the county budget and how financial bonding might work. It was all fairly surface stuff. Not a single county official was in the house.

Look. I’m going to say something and it’s not an insult, OK? It may be a little bumpy along the way. None of us has done this before. Not the citizens, not the Chamber of Commerce, not this County Commission. I give both Don and Trish credit for taking on that facilitator role.

I got the sense Monday night that something is on the move, but we’re not sure what it is yet. I applaud the folks who came out wanting to know more about their community and the challenges that exist.

Three more town hall sessions are planned this month: Thursday at the Redemption Point Assembly of God, 4201 S. Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness; Thursday, June 19, Stillwater Preserve Clubhouse, 2862 S. MacArthur Terr., Homosassa; Tuesday, June 24, Citrus Springs Community Center, 1570 W. Citrus Springs Blvd. They all start at 5:15 p.m.

I realize it’s easy to cast doubt, but geez, try not to, OK? This is a sales tax referendum process that has never been tried here. NEVER! So, let’s not pour cold water on it right out of the gate. 

I say we trust the process until we’re given a reason not to trust it. The people running these town hall sessions are solid community leaders. They’re only aim is to provide basic information and answer questions. That’s it. No one is trying to sell or dissuade anything.

Lots of folks suggested providing information online, and I think the organizers are looking at that. Stay tuned.

This is the most significant community conversation of our generation. How this ends up will set the direction of our county for decades.

We’re all about the conversation at Just Wright Citrus. I hope we’re not all about whining. This sales tax issue is an opportunity for real talk that goes somewhere. Maybe that’s a 2026 referendum. Maybe not. But it’s a decision for us, not the politicians.

OK, so Monday wasn’t front-page type stuff. But it’s the start of something that WILL be Page One stuff in a few short months.

The discussion has begun. It continues Thursday, then again, the next two weeks. Join in, won’t you? All hands on deck.

Have a great Tuesday, friends.

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