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Article Courtesy of Channel 6
-- ClickOrlando.Com
By Erik Sandoval
Published August 25, 2018
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OVIEDO - Homeowners protesting an assessment fee to pay for streetlights in the
city of Oviedo turned out at a City Council meeting Thursday night to make their
voices heard.
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Ultimately, council members approved the
fee, saying they would review it each year to see if the
amount could be adjusted.
Their comments came during a public hearing on a resolution
designed to raise $1 million for a new streetlight district.
According to city records, $800,000 would go to maintaining
the existing lights, and $200,000 would help pay for
additional lights.
During the meeting, council members admitted there are
budget problems, and the city has been taking money away
from street maintenance in order to pay for the
streetlights.
"This is a piece of garbage," said one resident during the
public hearing. "Your people are angry."
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She said she was angry that homeowners would be leveled
with a $78 year fee tacked onto their city taxes.
Many voiced frustration, claiming they were already paying for the
streetlights through the taxes they were paying.
"This is an undue stress," said one of the residents.
Council members told the residents that the new streetlight district was a
sign the city is growing and needs more resources to keep the infrastructure
maintained.
Some of the residents offered to give up their streetlights altogether to
save the money.
One woman took it a step further.
"Remember, we are residents," she said. "But we are also voters."
Residents living in gated communities will pay $34 per year since their
homeowners associations pay for their own streetlights, council members
said.
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