The response of the voters was due to the same seen elsewhere - taxes go up, counties have a little surplus, counties overcommit for the following year or two beyond the surplus, taxes go up again.

When the county governments fail to run the counties like the business it is, and instead spend county money to satisfy special interests, eventually the voters get tired of it. When replacing commissioners doesn't change the pattern, the voters stepped in and locked the budget.

Having the county commissioners cry "foul" because they can't just freely tap the property owners so that special interest (especially those that endorse or subsidize campaigns) groups get special treatment - what goes around, comes around.

Hey, it could be worse. I still own a house in Montgomery County, Maryland where the County Executive was elected because he promised to increase help to illegal aliens and have the county pay for "day laborer centers" so the illegals could have a place to seek work (illegally, of course). Says a lot for the voters here. Also, taxes this year are going up 13% because of the special interst subsidy game.

Florida voters got it right - place a limit on available funds and force the system to work. The alternative is what I'm also paying in MD.