by Sid Wallace
There is a group pushing for consolidated county government for Escambia County, Florida. They continue to stress the services to the citizens will improve to a higher standard. These supporters are spending tax dollars from the city and county to conduct studies to find the best methodology for accomplishing the change to one county government. This is a typical government as usual approach to a nonexistent problem. Over the years Escambia County has increased in population while Pensacola has decreased in residents.
If these all knowing individuals think that a consolidated county government would be the best for Escambia County, then there is an exceedingly simple and cost effective way to accomplish it. There is no need for a voter education campaign as to the “benefits” of consolidation. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on surveys and data collection. Slick radio and television ads do not need to be produced and unread newspaper ads do not have to be printed.
What is this very cost effective nongovernment way of obtaining consolidated county government? It is very simple and you might say that it will not work because it is a very simple and common sense solution to a very complex problem.
The solution: Simply un-incorporate the City of Pensacola. Escambia County already has a government structure to cover every single square inch of the county. This county government is consolidated from the Alabama State line on the West and North to Santa Rosa County on the East and the bay on the South.
If the city of Pensacola ceases to exist then the county government will provide police and fire protection to the residents like all the other citizens of the county. Gulf Power is already providing electricity to every citizen willing to pay for it. ECUA is already providing, or building to provide for water and sewage services to every resident in the county. ESP will provide natural gas to every citizen willing to pay for it. The county maintains hundreds of miles of county roads for the residents. The hospitals do not discriminate on patients that do not live in a geographical area. The county school system provides schools, books, teachers, and buses to all alike. The judicial system will hold trials for city residents and county residents alike.
If the city of Pensacola ceases to exist there will be one consolidated county government. The residents of Pensacola will not have to pay taxes for current governmental actions and regulations.
Will this happen? No
Why not? Because some people in local government are just interested in building a bigger fiefdom to manage. Sort of like the tail wants to wag the dog.
