PINE HILLS, Fla. – A growing movement is pushing for Pine Hills to break away from Orange County and become its own municipality, following in the footsteps of cities like Belle Isle and Winter Park.
Advocates claim the change would allow Pine Hills to establish its own city council and police department, addressing concerns about local governance and public safety.
Moliere Dimache, a longtime resident and leading advocate for the movement, says the effort is long overdue.
“It’s overdue because counties, particularly Orange County, are not very good at managing this community at all,” Dimache said.
Supporters of incorporation argue that a dedicated police force could help curb crime in the area.
“As it stands now, a lot of the criminals are coming from places that are already incorporated,” Dimache said. “They feel like this is a safe place to commit crime because Pine Hills doesn’t have anyone protecting them at the moment.”
University of Central Florida senior lecturer and News 6 political analyst Jim Clark noted that discussions about Pine Hills incorporating date back nearly 60 years. He said forming a city government would give residents more control over their community’s future.
“They’d be able to set their own agenda. They would be able to look at their own problems. Right now, they depend upon the county for all their services,” Clark said.
However, incorporation would come at a cost. Residents would likely see an increase in property taxes to fund city services, including law enforcement.
“People there would have to be willing to pay more in taxes,” Clark said. “And that’s what the residents are going to have to decide.”
Dimache said he plans to file paperwork with the county to initiate the annexation process. If approved, the proposal would ultimately go before voters for a final decision.
For now, he continues knocking on doors to rally support.
“The future I envision for Pine Hills is a future where the respect that we’ve demanded for so long is finally realized. A Pine Hills where everyone is safe,” Dimache said.
