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Residents press council on disclosure, taxes and fire coverage during encumbrance annexation hearing
Summary
Hundreds of residents spoke at a June 12 public hearing opposing encumbrance-based voluntary annexations, saying recorded developer encumbrances were not disclosed at purchase and warning of higher taxes and uncertain service transitions. Council approved the annexations after staff presentations and public-safety briefings.
Dozens of residents told the St. Cloud City Council on June 12 that they felt blindsided by developer-placed encumbrances that allow future voluntary annexations, and they asked the council to delay or deny the annexations until disclosure, tax and service-transition questions are resolved.
At the hearing, resident after resident described a lack of notice at the time of purchase. “This is kind of a a bigger bump, and I just don't understand why if the agreement was made with the builder to annex in the future, why he wasn't required to disclose that information,” said Phil DeBevo, one of several speakers who said they purchased on a fixed income and cannot absorb higher taxes.
Other residents made related legal and record-title claims. “I searched the Osceola County clerk… there's no agreement and no preserved…
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