When speaking about Clermont let’s first discuss where it is located. Clermont is considered as the largest city in Lake County. Lake County falls under the jurisdiction of the state of Florida. As of the year 2012 the population was about 30000 people. The composition of the population is made up of mainly white residents who make up 72% while the Afro-American population is at 14% and the remainder is made up of Asians and other races. Children and young adults under the age 24 of 24 made up about third of the population at 26%.the male to female ratio is about 1:1.3 (Smith, 148).
Clermont is composed of populations with different income levels. As per the median income provided by the US census bureau,(median income is defined as the amount that splits the aggregate income of the population into two groups). The median income for a home in this city was $39,280, with the median family income being $48215. Since median income also varies with sex, age and other factors, the median income for males was at $36200 while females were at $26570. The per capita income for the city was at $21000. When looking at poverty levels we realise that roughly 7.9% of the population and 6.4% of the families were living below the poverty line. This also includes 14% of those children under the age of 18 and adults over 65 years who were at 4.6% (Shah 16).
We can also not fail to look at the major occupations fuelling the economy of the city. The major occupations are business or finance related, professional and service industry. Being at the centre of the state of Florida and having access to the seafront from different directions it makes it easy for different people to converge here for business or as tourists and therefore making business and tourism the two major occupations of most individuals in Clermont.
The unemployment rate in Clermont was estimated to be at 10.31% with a job growth of -3.41%. Although construction does not form a significant part of the occupations of individuals in this city most of the buildings in Clermont are mainly residential with the median value of homes set at $227000 though home appreciation is low as is the case in most cities in the US, at -20%.There is a significant population of homeowners at 77% while the rest are tenants.
Clermont held it’s elections on the November 5th 2013 receiving more than 57% of the total votes cast. Clermont is no different from other cities in Florida where the majority of voters are mainly republicans. For example in the 2012 presidential elections placing Clermont under Lake County, we realise that Mitt Romney received almost 58% of the total votes cast as compared to Obama’s 41%.
This is similar to previous years voting trends.Infact Florida has never voted in a Democrat in the presidential elections since the year 2000.GeorgeW.Bush led in the electoral race in Clermont or rather Florida State in the 2000 and 2004 elections with 56% and 60% respectively, While J.Mccain led the 2008 elections at 56%.
Another aspect of discussion about Clermont is its fiscal policy. As per the budget at the year end 2012 several community projects are anticipated to be completed in the coming years. First is the rebuilding of the current police station as a way to boost the efficacy of the security structure of the city. The project is scheduled to cost about $6.3 million. This project is expected to gain funds from the fees in the police impact programme sales taxes from infrastructure.
Also there is the reconstruction of the Jenkins auditorium. As a cost cutting measure the new building is being constructed on public property owned by the city. The news complex is expected to cost roughly $2.1 million and is being financed by sales taxes from infrastructure. Another project budgeted for is the west water treatment plant. This projected is scheduled to cost about $8 million and will be funded by finances from the water utility reserves.
There are also long-term budgeted projects. For example it has been noted that over the years as the city grows the demand for water and sewer utility systems consequently expands. To counter this there is need for study and analysis of the current City structure so as to incorporate future growth and developments. A plan is in place to map all new sewer lines required and to carry out calculations on the approximate future costs that would be required to set up such installations.
The social welfare of the people living in Clermont is also another issue we have to incorporate in our discussion. The social welfare here includes the benefits individuals get as a result of being poor, unemployed or disabled. As per statistics provided for the whole of Florida; for example’ as per the year 2001, the unemployment benefit per week was $220. The number of persons in the food programme comprised 895130 people with an average benefit of $74.32 this translated to about $878million. This is a reflection of the state government’s effort to deal with the 7% unemployment rates.
After the enactment personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act, 1996 the government of the US changed the way in which the rules and the guidelines to be followed in carrying out various social welfare projects and programmes would be performed. Mainly it replaced assistance to families with children dependent on them (AFDC) which was mainly a long-term plan for the families involved with a more temporal aid to needy families (TANF).
This act also affected the food stamp programme and the child nutrition programme. Actually, as of December 2006 about 2500 residents of Clermont received social security benefits. This number included 1193 retired residents, 305 widows and widowers 321 disabled people 190 spouses and 22 children. The social security beneficiaries represented roughly 20% of the total population of the city and about 85% of senior citizens aged above 65.
Retired persons (with the exception of people who receive special benefits) received on average $860, widows and widowers $836, the disabled persons were at $818 per month while children of retired workers and retired workers were at $400 and $240 respectively. Payments were also made to children of deceased workers at an average $559.There was also a portion of the federal supplemental security incomes going to 18346 residents of Clermont averaging about $367 a month (Connelly 78).
The Department of education in Clermont County is tasked with ensuring high education standards are met. The largest population of persons requiring education are children and young adults being the largest proportion of the population making up about a third of the population at a 355 level. Clermont is composed of populations with different income levels. As per the median income provided by the US census bureau, (median income is defined as the amount that splits the aggregate income of the population into two groups). The median income for a home in this city was $39,280, with the median family income being $48215. The unemployment rate in Clermont was estimated to be at 10.31% with a job growth of -3.41%.
The social welfare of the people living in Clermont is an issue we have to incorporate in our discussion. The social welfare here includes the benefits individuals get as a result of being poor, unemployed or disabled. The social security beneficiaries represented roughly 20% of the total population of the city and about 85% of senior citizens aged above 65. Clermont is composed of populations with different income levels. As per the median income provided by the US census bureau, (median income is defined as the amount that splits the aggregate income of the population into two groups). The largest population of persons requiring education are children and young adults being the largest proportion of the population making up about a third of the population at a 355 level. As per statistics provided for the whole of Florida; for example’ as per the year 2001, the unemployment benefit per week was $220. The number of persons in the food programme comprised 895130 people with an average benefit of $74.32 this translated to about $878million. There is a plan to map all new sewer lines required and to carry out calculations on the approximate future costs that would be required to set up such installations.
Works Cited
Connelly, Jessica J., et al. "GATA2 is associated with familial early-onset coronary artery disease." PLoS genetics 2.8 (2006): e139.
Shah, Svati H., et al. "Neuropeptide Y gene polymorphisms confer risk of early-onset atherosclerosis." PLoS genetics 5.1 (2009): e1000318.
Smith, Daniel A, and Caroline J. Tolbert. Educated by Initiative: The Effects of Direct Democracy on Citizens and Political Organizations in the American States. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2004. Internet resource.
