CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES OF MARION COUNTY with an appeal TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATORS OF FLORIDA'S 2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEREAS, Marion County citizens and businesses are suffering severe financial setbacks and economic hardships; and WHEREAS, Marion County is experiencing high unemployment, record housing foreclosures, business closings, manufacturing shutdowns, bank solvency problems; and WHEREAS, citizen taxpayers need relief from an increase in government taxation, fees, and levies; and WHEREAS, we believe the role of County government includes the protection of private property, including income, savings, and assets; and WHEREAS, our government needs to focus on ways to become more efficient, more productive, and more accountable to the taxpayers: and BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Marion County Commissioners are sensitive to our citizen's difficult financial conditions and do not want to add to their financial burden; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we hereby respectively request that our Legislature and Governor reject the creation of any new taxes, tax opportunities, fees, or levies upon the citizens and businesses of Marion County, during Florida's Legislative session, beginning March 2, 2010.