Civic Issues

Topics getting the most attention in Monroe County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.

All Last 30 days Last 6 months|critical high medium low|Public Safety Zoning Development Environment Taxes Budget General Roads Business Jobs

Filtered to Taxes Budget

Filtered to High

2 issues in taxes budget with high priority

HighTaxes Budget

Building permit fee restructuring

A long-overdue cost study produced a new fee schedule with some appeal fees more than tripling — a ROGO appeal would jump from $820 to $2,853, and a DOAH administrative hearing appeal to nearly $8,700. Critics say it prices ordinary residents out of their right to appeal; commissioners countered that applicants, not all taxpayers, should cover those costs.

2 mentionsLast discussed Sep 14, 2026

HighTaxes Budget

Residential solid waste rate increase

Residential solid waste rates go up $27.13 to $604.24 a year — a 4.7% CPI increase — and commercial franchise rates were also finalized. Commissioners noted residents ranked trash service as the county's best-performing service.

1 mentionLast discussed Aug 19, 2026