ORLANDO, Fla. — Residents spoke with Orange County and Apopka city leaders Tuesday night over the consideration of annexing the 714-acres of unincorporated South Apopka, which is currently under county jurisdiction.

If passed, it would reunite two communities separated years ago by segregation, and provide services to an area some believe are lacking. City leaders say some South Apopka residents have complained about inadequate services, like sewer hookups, law enforcement and fire protection.

Under the measure, the city would have to add 15 police officers, 18 firefighters and a new fire station. Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson estimates the added expenses would cost Apopka an additional $2 million a year, even with added tax revenues from South Apopka figured in to offset those costs.

Nelson says he does not think annexation is a good idea because of how much it would cost the city and existing residents for services he believes the county could already be providing.

“If there are services you’re not getting, what are they? And then let’s look at those services — and could the city do a better job? I don’t know,” said Nelson.

Many residents, both in the city of Apopka and South Apopka, had mixed feelings on the measure.

Phyllis Olmstead, who lives in Apopka and often works in South Apopka, feels the two communities should become one community again.

“So why not bring these people — not these people, but this area into the fold? Back into the fold like they were before Jim Crow,” Olmstead said. “Annexation is great for the overall community and South Apopka.”

Hezekiah Bradford, an area pastor, said annexation only makes sense if South Apopka’s economy thrives as much as the city of Apopka’s does.

“Let’s not just be crying about getting annexed in, let’s make sure if we get annexed in, that we look like the neighborhood that is next to us,” he said.

While Nelson believes there is not enough additional tax revenue South Apopka could generate to offset the costs, he said he is willing to get the measure onto the ballot by March 2024, if enough South Apopka residents are in favor of the plan.

Olmstead feels the services from the city, even if gradually implemented, would be worth it for South Apopka residents.

“So we’re looking at slowly blending in the other factors of it, slowing getting up to code, slowly making changes,” she said. “I don’t think it has to be day one, you have to be in complete compliance.”

The city council plans to have one more meeting with residents to discuss the plan, and then they will decide whether to move forward. If they move forward, the costs to put the measure on the ballot would be covered by Orange County.