The Indian Trial Improvement District is once again trying to incorporate the Acreage. Do not be fooled residents…this is not a good thing for us!   How do they think they can support their own municipality when they can barely maintain the parks, roads and canals now…and these are their only functions? According to ITID budget message (on their website) "the District legislative boundaries encompass 110 square miles area with 17,000 agricultural residential and limited commercial properties along with large-scale agricultural production and private equestrian farms." This is proof alone that we can not support our own government.

45,000 residents cannot support a government. The cost to us will far outweigh the benefits of incorporation. The Acreage does not have a large commercial base to help subsidize tax revenues. Do you want Walmart as your neighbor? ITID would have to permit more commercial and business in order to subsidize costs, which contradicts their “keeping the rural, equestrian character of the area”.

A town needs Police, Fire Rescue, a Building Department, Engineering, Finance, Information Technology, Public Works, Business Tax Licenses, Code Enforcement and a Manager---these employees require salaries and benefits. These services are currently being provided by Palm Beach County and the cost for such services are divided up among ALL of unincorporated Palm Beach County from Jupiter to Boca Raton; incorporation just increases these costs. Incorporation would require these services contracted from the County, “Palm Beach County services a’ la carte”, or other private provider.  We would have another government body making up rules and regulations for our property. Loxahatchee Groves took this same approach and look at them!

Incorporation allows ITID to control density and intensity of land; just as Westgate did. They would now have the authority to change land use and zoning regulations to allow for higher and greater density on land. Things to consider for incorporation are tax base – can we support with current taxes – probably not! Intergovernmental issues – schools, police, and fire – these services already controlled by PBC – if we incorporate we will pay more for these services! The only reason for incorporation is for LOCAL CONTROL. ITID wants to CONTROL the Acreage. We know far too well that politicians are supposed to represent the people – we do not elect politicians to rule or lead us, we elect politicians to serve us! However, this is not the case and we have lost sight of this concept.

We will continue to pay all the Palm Beach County Ad Valorem Taxes, for most of us this is in excess of $3,000+, incorporation will add another tax district layer with more going to ITID to maintain what is currently being maintained by PBC. ITID will argue that if we incorporate, part of the population-based funding that goes to PBC will now go to ITID. This is not enough to sustain a new government! ITID does not have the manpower or resources to adequately maintain what we have now….incorporation will just add more roads and infrastructure to maintain!

Incorporation will add another layer of taxes, assessments or fees, and another layer of government to control the Acreage. Remaining Unincorporated Palm Beach County is the best for the residents of the Acreage. We will continue to get the same services without increased costs to us! Do your homework before you support incorporation.