Leon County Commission Chair Bill Proctor doesn’t think its fair that some county residents are paying for city utilities, but don’t get to vote for city commissioners. County residents who live within the urban services area pay for utilities. Part of that money goes to supporting programs and amenities within the city limits. Proctor thinks that’s wrong.
“That’s the problem. The city can make money, rip these people off, but at the same time these people can’t get a damn thing out of the city," Proctor said.
During a Tuesday commission meeting, staff explained residents must live within city limits if they want to vote for city commissioners. They said a homeowner within the urban services area can ask to be annexed into the city, but that doesn’t happen often because city costs, such as property taxes, tend to be higher.
Proctor has repeatedly raised the issue amid city discussions to expand the boundaries to include newer developments in predominantly white areas. County and city commissioners are looking into proposed land use changes that would further expand parts of the Urban Services Area including in the county’s South Side.
