AS EVERYONE ELSE IN CLAY COUNTY I JUST RECIVED MY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR 2007. THERE IS A NEW LINE ITEM ON THE BILL THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN IN THE PAST. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BILL, IT IS CALLED BCC-LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOW I HAD TO QUESTION THIS CHARGE, BECAUSE I LIVE IN GCS. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR CLAY COUNTY POLICE WHEN WE IN GCS HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPT. I MADE A FEW PHONE CALLS AND TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AND OWN PROPERTY IN GCS AND THE CITY OF ORANGE PARK ( WHO HAS THEIR OWN POLICE DEPT ) MUST PAY THIS TAX.THE CITIZENS OF GCS AND THE TOWN OF ORANGE PARK RECEIVE NO POLICE PROTECTION WHAT SO EVER FROM THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT., SO WHY SHOULD WE PAY. IF YOU CALL THE POLICE THEY ASK WHERE YOU ARE, IF YOU LIVE OR WORK IN GCS OR THE CITY OF ORANGE PARK THAT IS THE POLICE THAT TAKES CARE OF YOUR PROBLEM.THE CITIZENS OF GCS ALONE WILL PAY ALMOST ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR SERVICES THEY DON'T RECEIVE FROM THE CLAY COUNTY POLICE.THE TOTAL PAY ROLL FOR OUR POLICE DEPT IN GCS IS APPOX. EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR THE YEAR THAT IS FOR NINETEEN OFFICERS. THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF HAS ONLY TWO OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE AREA FROM SOUTH OF THE BLACK BRIDGE TO THE PUTNAM COUNTY LINE,WHY ARE WE PAYING ALMOST ONE MILLION FOR THIS.I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE CITIZENS OF ORANGE PARK PAYS, BUT I'LL BET IT,S A LOT MORE THAN THE CITIZENS OF GCS.LAST WEEK THE SHERIFF,S DEPT. RETURNED ONE MILLION TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION.SO WHY SHOULD,T WE GET THAT MONEY BACK.I SPOKE WITH A LEAGLE EAGLE AND HE STATED THAT THE BCC COULD CHARGE US (THE CITY OF ORANGE PARK AND THE CITY OF GCS) WHATEVER THEY WANTED.THIS MAY BE TRUE BUT THE CITIZENS OF THE TWO CITIES ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS IN THE COUNTY AND WORKING TOGETHER WE COULD MAKE A CHANGE.WE PAY FOR OUR POLICE DEPTS.WITH CITY TAX,I THINK WE ARE BEING DOUBLE TAXED.