Governor’s audits seek wrong answers
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is taking deep dives into city and county government spending along with state university programs (“Florida DOGE seeks information on every course taught at universities,” Nov. 21).
I want to know: How much is our governor spending on audits? How effective are they?
They audited local government and what did they find? Six thousand dollars spent on a poet laureate. In the meantime the Orange County Convention Center is losing millions. No mention of that in their audit report.
Now they want to review universities for diversity, equity and inclusion. In the meantime the universities are spending millions or even tens of millions on football coaches who are no longer coaching for our universities. That should be the focus of their audits. They should quit chasing DEI and focus on the real money.
Samuel Smith Clermont
Careful with property tax reform
The Florida governor and Legislature are conspiring to lower your property taxes. You should be very afraid.
Everyone would like lower taxes, but to think you can run a society and the vast array of services that we take for granted with no incoming money is absurd. The bills being proposed by the Florida Legislature would do away with homestead taxes except for those funding schools. But they also require no cut to law enforcement and provide no plan to pay for everything else. Where will police and emergency services money come from if not taxes? What about libraries? Who will pay for our parks and tennis courts? Who will clean up the streets and ensure good sidewalks? How about voter services? Who will run services for the poor, elderly, and disabled? Who will cut the grass around town and maintain trees or provide salaries for all the officials who are doing away with taxes?
You will, that’s who.
There will be a never-ending barrage of unpredictable fees and service charges for things paid for through property taxes now. You want to take your kids to the park and use the swings — that will be ten bucks, please.
Property taxes can be deducted from federal income tax, fees cannot. Lower income individuals will be negatively impacted and will pay a greater portion of their income to the government in the form of fees and service charges than wealthier people. Be very careful what you wish for.
Patricia Wilson Sanford
Animal welfare reforms needed
Orange County residents have an important opportunity to support long-overdue improvements to our animal welfare system. As an at-large member of the Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board, I’ve seen firsthand how urgently these updates are needed and how directly they will benefit the pets and families in our community.
The proposed ordinance modernizes rules that haven’t been updated in more than 20 years. One key change would adjust stray hold times only for animals with no identification: dogs from five days to three, and cats from three days to one. Pets with microchips or tags are not affected — owners will continue to be contacted immediately and may reclaim their animals at any time.
Why shorten the hold for completely unidentified pets? The data is clear: nearly all actively searching owners contact the shelter within the first 24-48 hours. Animals with no ID who go unclaimed after that point almost never get reclaimed. Meanwhile, prolonged holds create overcrowding, increase stress and illness, and delay rescue or adoption opportunities. These changes allow animals to move into safe outcomes faster while still preserving every opportunity for families to reunite.
The ordinance also strengthens microchipping and expands spay/neuter efforts — both proven tools that reduce shelter intake and prevent future neglect, abandonment, and avoidable euthanasia.
These updates aren’t about reducing owner rights. They’re about giving more animals a chance at life, health and a home.
I urge Orange County residents to support these crucial animal welfare reforms.
Brian Christopher Henley Orlando
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