PAGE 8 - May 2, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
From Dawn's Front Porch
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
Hard Times – The fall in property values really hurts homeowners but it is also a
challenge for governments dealing with the reduced income they get from taxes. The 2012
preliminary taxable values are out and they show significant drops for both Yankeetown and
Inglis. For Inglis, in 2011 the taxable value for the whole town was $70,095,360, it’s easier
if you just think 70 million. For 2012, the value is projected to be $58,734,776. That’s a
change in the bad direction of approximately 16 percent and translates to a loss of about $57
thousand at the current millage rate. Yankeetown doesn’t fare much better. In 2011 Yan-
keetown’s taxable value was $61,619,323 but the projection for 2012 is only $54,495,773.
That means that YT will be looking at a property tax revenue loss of about 11 percent. It’s
even more impressive if you look back over a few years and YT’s total for the whole place
was around $98 million. So YT is worth about half of what it was worth. Luckily, property
taxes are not the only source of revenue. YT gets revenue from taxes on phones and cable
service. They also get revenue sharing from gasoline sales and other sources. The water
department is completely run on user fees but our community leaders will still have their
work cut out for them to do some things with less. Hope the economy improves.
Hundreds of kids showed up for the Sheriff’s Youth Expo held at the Citrus County Fairgrounds last
Where Have All the People Gone- As if there weren’t enough bad news, the census num-
Saturday for a day filled with fun and learning about how to stay safer. At the YMCA booth working
together was the theme and although made to look easy, keeping a ball inside the parachute was dif-
bers for both Inglis and Yankeetown are down. Yankeetown had a census count in 2000 of
ficult. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
629 but has been using intermediate estimates which put YT at about 700 people. However
the 2010 census reported only 502 souls, a stunning drop. Inglis also lost population with
the 2010 census reporting 1,325 people down from 1,491 people in 2000.
Temporary YT Zoning Official – According to the Yankeetown Town Hall the
temporary Zoning Official will be current town employee Chris Howard. The town is now
actively advertising for a permanent new official. Look for the ad in the Newscaster of
check out the town’s website for the requirements of the job if you’re interested
Sadness in the Swamp – Former Zoning Official Kurt Woerner has passed away. I
shall miss him as he was one of the nicest people that I worked with as mayor. I enjoyed
talking politics with him as his opinions were 180 degrees out from mine but I never got his
goat, in fact I never found out where he kept it tied. My sympathy to his family and friends.
Good Night and Good Luck
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE TOWN OF YANKEETOWN
INFORMATION ON THE 2012 SPECIAL ELECTION
ELECTION DATE/TIME: Tues., May 8, 2012 7:00am - 7:00pm
ELECTION LOCATION: Inglis / Yankeetown Lions Club
22 59th Street, Yankeetown, Florida
ON THE BALLOT:
Proposed Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) based
Amendments to the Town of Yankeetown Comprehensive Plan
A copy of the proposed Ordinance 2012-01, containing the ballot summary questions
and the text of each Comprehensive Plan Amendment(s), is available for public inspec-
tion at the Office of the Town Clerk, located at Yankeetown Town Hall, 6241 Harmony
Lane, Yankeetown, Florida, Monday through Friday, during regular Town Hall business
hours (9:00 AM till 12:00 Noon) as well as the Town’s Web Site at http://yankeetownfl.
govoffice2.com
TO VOTE ABSENTEE, YOU MAY:
Go to our Web Site at:
http://yankeetownfl.govoffice2.com
Email us at:
yankeetownth@bellsouth.net
Call Town Hall at:
352-447-2511
Any handicapped or person with disabilities requiring reasonable accommoda-
For
in Us  ayo
tion to participate should contact the Yankeetown Town Clerk at (352) 447-2511
Jo
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so arrangements can be made pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 286.26.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
TOWN OF YANKEETOWN
Per Florida Statute 101.591 (1), Immediately following the certification of each election,
the local board responsible for certifying the election shall conduct a manual audit of the
voting systems used in randomly selected precincts.
Notice is hereby given that an Audit on the May 8, 2012 Election is Schedule for:
Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 2:00 pm
At the Inglis / Yankeetown Lions Club
22 59th Street