At Monday’s CRA Meeting I was the only board member who voted against extending the “Paint Up Program”. The program using TIF funds gives grants to individual homeowners and businesses to paint the outside of their properties within the CRA. The last time this came before the board, I did vote for it. I thought it was a good program and in many ways it is a good program. Upon further reflection this program came into conflict with my philosophy of using public funds to subsidize work to improve private property.

This program does comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing CRA’s in Florida. My objection is not the legality of the program but the philosophy behind it. I know that to governments $17,000 is not even a drop in a bucket. The amount is not what is critical. it is whether public funds should be used to a enhance private party. There is a noble goal attached to the project but the principle is much more important.

Will the funds being spent in this way add to the value of the property thereby increasing the amount of tax that is being collected? Maybe…and that is the reason CRA’s are created to end blight and ultimately increase tax collection. This program is open to anyone regardless of income. Would I feel differently if there were income limits? Perhaps…But should I?

A noble purpose for having a program does not in itself make the program acceptable (the ends justify the means.) Since I believe that public funds should not be used to enhance private property then logically I could not support this program. If the funds had been used for street paving or sidewalks, I would have no problem.

Does that mean in the future I will always uphold that principle? I hope so. However, as I admitted, I did vote for the project in the past. To some this may seem like a small matter. if you believe something is right, you should uphold it. I promise to try and do just that in the future.