Two additional county commissioners will increase the cost of government and your taxes. There is nothing in this referendum that triggers a tax increase. More government is less representation. Today all five county commissioners are responsible to every citizen. With seven proposed commissioners only three will be elected by all of our citizens.
More government is more dealmaking.
With seven commissioners, county resources will be allocated by political boundaries regardless of need and would jeopardize the Penny for Pinellas. Plans for spending the money have been laid out, and the cities' share has been decided. The current commission or any future commission, regardless of how its members are elected, could change the county's spending plans, but it would risk the wrath of voters. More government is unnecessary. There has been no citizen demand to increase the size of Pinellas County government.