YELLOW JOURNALISM AT THE POLLS

November 1, 2008

Yellow Journalism.  By definition it is journalism that “exploits, distorts or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers”.  Deltona voters are being introduced to a form of yellow journalism through literature being distributed at the polls by some who support a Deltona Police Department.

For anyone who has not been following this issue, The City of Deltona paid $70,000 to Willdan Homeland Solutions for a feasibility study to determine if Deltona could start its own police department.  The Study cautioned that the numbers and opinions it contained were not to be used for budgeting purposes, but simply as a guide.   After 3 revisions, the final study estimated that the minimum start up costs for such an endeavor would be just over  $12 Million.  This figure does not include overtime, the salary for a Chief of Police, a building, liability coverage for police actions or a full time attorney, among other costs.

The City of Deltona allocated $50,000 of taxpayer dollars for mailings to our homes, media ads and various signage for the stated purpose of educating the citizens about the issue.  Significantly, in none of the City’s attempts to educate is it mentioned that the referendum is BINDING.  Simply stated, we are bound by law to move forward if the referendum passes regardless of the condition of the economy and the actual costs we may incur.  The start up cost of $8.8 Million touted in the mailings and ads assumes the City will be able to secure first-year  financing for 5 years at a rate of 4.5%.  The Willdan Study specifically estimates that second year costs will escalate to $9,253,545 - slightly more than current contract costs with the VCSO - due to training and on-going costs.  Applying for Grants is mentioned.  Please remember that a Grant must be applied for, and is not a guaranteed or ongoing source of funding.  Think of it as waiting for a birthday card from your favorite aunt and hoping it contains money … sometimes the card arrives empty.

Deltona voters are being handed literature at the polls, by proponents of the police department, which contains a disturbing message.   The message suggests that politics is at the root of the opposition to the police department, suggests that there is an organized effort to impede the current Mayor from accomplishing anything during his term in office, and implies that VCSO has not been “forthcoming with information”.  The message is written in the first person,  but the author never identifies him/herself.  Why not?   This same handout contains numbers that differ from the numbers provided by the Willdan Study.  Why?  Just how many people are trying to educate the citizens of Deltona about the estimated basic costs of starting a police department?  We elected 7, but others not elected seem to have increasing input into the workings of the City’s business. 

The Willdan Study states quite clearly on page 40 that they “met with various representatives of the VCSO on a number of occasions.  In all cases we found the Sheriff’s Department to be helpful, courteous and extremely forthright”.  Did someone miss that part of the study?

This issue is about cost.  The City has seen a decline in revenue for the first time in our history to the tune of $4.9 Million from 2007 to 2008 - it’s in the City Manager’s Budget Message if anyone cares to read it.  The decline is expected to continue into the 2009-2010 Budget, according to the City Manager.  We used $1.5 Million from reserves to purchase the Thornby property.   We need to put $1.8 Million plus interest into the Firefighter’s Pension Fund.   Morgan Gilreath, Property Appraiser, stated that Deltona took the largest hit of any city in the Volusia County as our tax base shrunk by more than 19%.  The passage of Amendment 1 has exacerbated an already difficult financial situation.  The foreclosure numbers in Deltona are staggering, and there are many more to come.  Many of our neighbors are struggling to pay basic expenditures like water, electricity, food and fuel costs.   For the Budget year which began October 2, 2008 the City of Deltona cut 47 full time positions.  Those are your neighbors.  Where will the money come from if this binding referendum passes?

Credit has tightened, unemployment is on the rise, and investments are losing value.  This is not the time for the City of Deltona to even consider such a major financial undertaking!  The people of this City which I have called home for 22 years deserve better.  They deserve honesty.  They deserve respect.  They deserve a fiscally sound city government.  They deserve elected officials who work for the benefit of the community and are not concerned with leaving their own legacy.   This is not the time.  Please vote NO to a Deltona Police Department. 

Helen Sanders