WOKC Local News – July 09, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Budget discussions begin with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. A 4% hike in spending for the county this year proposed. The property taxes would go up 8.5% if they keep the millage the same at eight mills. Tax base is up 200 million to 4.8 billion this year. County Commissioner Mike Sumner says he’s not for increasing taxes. My only thought with the trying to build up the reserves to cushion that first year with the lower amount. That would only cushion that one year. So I’m a bit of a band-aid puller. Commissioner David Azaleeve says a non-data center project could benefit the tax base soon and taxes still have to be paid. We will have to do a tax shift and the tax shift will go to the businesses which means it trickles down to the working people that are doing and living in rental units because that’s what they can afford. The rent’s gotta go up because the taxes go up on that. They’re also looking at an increase in garbage of $22, fire rescue $8, and EMS assessment $12 increase. Some changes to the spring turkey hunting season in Florida. They limited the number of out-of-state hunters and they’re not able to hunt during the first nine days of the season. Jules Oflad is with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She says this impacts places like Big Cypress and the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. This proposal addresses recent concerns from resident hunters regarding non-resident hunting pressure during the early part of the spring season. Osceola County Commissioners decrying the state putting on the ballot a property tax reform initiative raising the homestead exemption. County Commission Chair Brandon Arrington says he doesn’t think there’ll be a lot of slush funds to help Osceola County from state funds. He says he’s not sure how much revenue Osceola will ever get from the state. We may be a decent community. We’re not a rich community, but we’re not a poor community either. And then they have a trust fund that they’re gonna set up that has no idea of where the money comes from, nor how the money will be distributed. Martin County Fire Rescue had a brush fire near the Yogachubi County line last night near the Lakeside Ranch stormwater treatment area. It started just about 6 p.m. and grew to about 75 acres. No structures were endangered. A mobile home fire in the 200 block of Main Street in Pahokee sends one person to the hospital with serious injury. It breaks out Monday morning in the 200 block. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue able to evacuate another resident unharmed. A 30-year-old Indian town man is facing cocaine trafficking charges. Khalil Thompson allegedly set up a drug deal with an undercover deputy at Big Mound Park in Indian Town in May. He was arrested on a $500,000 bond. A reported hate crime as a man wanting to audition to work for lawn care. Apparently got into it with the lawn care provider in the 300 block of South Parrot Avenue. Jamie Douglas accused of disorderly conduct and battery, allegedly arguing with the man verbally and threatening him with a bottle. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).