Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch

Great time supporting my good friend and our NEXT County Commissioner John Fleming!

Last week I was proud to stand with our Mosquito Control team as the Board proclaimed National Mosquito Control Awareness Week in Charlotte County.

Florida has more mosquito species than any other state, with more than eighty documented here- and over forty of those species call Charlotte County home.
They breed in our salt marshes, swamps, wetlands, ponds, floodwaters, and even in everyday man-made spots like containers, water features, and tires.
Mosquitoes remain among the deadliest creatures on earth, capable of transmitting serious diseases including West Nile, Zika, Dengue Fever, and several types of encephalitis.

Our Mosquito & Aquatic W**d Control Division works year-round using an integrated pest management approach that follows the law and is guided by principles of public health, vector control, environmental safety, and fiscal responsibility.

They partner with the American Mosquito Control Association and the Florida Mosquito Control Association to protect our community.

I’m grateful for the dedicated professionals who carry out this important work every day.

Thank you for helping keep Charlotte County safer and more comfortable for all of us.

Residents can help by removing standing water around their homes.

At our recent Commission meeting we spent time looking at a proposed state referendum that could change a lot more than just property taxes.

If this measure passes in November, it wouldn’t just cut into funding for our schools, sheriff’s office, and essential services.
It would also hand over more control of zoning and development decisions to Tallahassee.

Some projects could move forward with administrative approvals instead of the public hearings we have now, which means fewer opportunities for residents to have their say on growth in their own communities.

As I said during the discussion, it looks like the state Legislature is getting to the point of completely neutering our local zoning regulations.

Charlotte County should be able to make decisions about how we grow- not have those calls made from the state capitol.

I believe we need to protect both our local control and our ability to properly fund the services our residents rely on.
These are big issues that deserve a real conversation before any vote.

Read the article: https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/charlotte/tax-relief-referendum-could-reduce-local-government-control/article_6de6f378-209b-4381-b0f6-5959b8f056a5.html

At Tuesday’s Commission meeting we had a solid discussion on property taxes, the proposed homestead exemption increase, and the future of our 1% local sales tax.

After weeks of residents reaching out with genuine concerns about locking the county into a 20-year extension, I made a motion to bring the term back to the original 6 years voters approved back in 1994.
The 1% tax has funded a lot of important work in Charlotte County, but with the state moving forward on major property tax changes that will affect local budgets, I believe a shorter, more flexible term is the right call right now.
It lets us keep delivering results without overcommitting the future or risking public support.

My motion didn’t receive a second, so it didn’t pass this time. Still, I’m glad we had the conversation in the open.
Listening to the people who live here is the most important part of the job.

If you have thoughts on the sales tax extension or anything else we discussed, please reach out to me directly. Your input matters.

-Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch
941-830-5585
[email protected]