I have been on the board of Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe for the past two years. I have learned so much about our home insurance crisis and the root cause of why our insurance rates are so high.

It’s July 1st and that means the 2025 budget meetings are about to begin. I’m hearing that there will be no tax or budget increases, even though consistent, large increases have become the expectation. Why do I think this will be the case? It is because WE are shining a very vocal light on these expenditures.

At this month’s BOCC meeting County staff proposed a tentative increase of the non ad valorem tax for residential solid waste collection, distribution and recycling rate for the fiscal year 2024-2025 of 10%, or $45.71, for a total cost of $502.86 per household. This was the amount the staff felt was appropriate for the increase in costs for Waste Management.

At the April BOCC meeting the topic came up regarding creative ways to use TDC funds going forward. 40% of all TDC funds collected must go towards promoting tourism in the Florida Keys, and the 3rd and 4th pennies are reserved for DAC projects, and brick & mortar spaces, such as parks, museums and public facilities.

We have 6 months to go until November’s election, but there is a lot of work left to do. This campaign is important to me because I know I can make the change that is necessary in our local government to better the lives of our residents.