Category Archives: Government Spending and Taxation

Why Can’t the County Make Up Their Minds

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Why is it so hard to have the Martin County Commission accept an offer of free land from Stuart to build offices for the Tax Collector and Appraiser? It seems to me that, for a variety of reasons, locating those offices in the city (particularly downtown) would be a win for both governmental entities as well as all the residents of the county. Rental rates are climbing, so the faster the relocation of those offices to county-owned buildings the better.

Building in most areas of Martin County would mean encouraging sprawl and the added cost of new infrastructure to handle the development. It would be unwise to place offices in different areas from one another. This would result in the public, other businesses that need to be in proximity to these offices, and county employees would be inconvenienced by not being in a central location. The more we can keep government functions in a compact space, the better the efficiencies of scale.

As a city and with a modicum of infrastructure improvements, Stuart can accommodate these offices as well as the associated businesses that will move into the area. By being located within the downtown area, density is not an issue and sprawl is averted in other parts of Martin County. At the same time, other sections of downtown will be redeveloped because of this influx. It is a win-win situation.

Sometimes it seems to me that these two governmental entities are busy working at cross purposes instead of working together. They forget that the citizens of Stuart are also citizens of the county. They vote and pay taxes to both. What is good for Stuart is good for Martin County and visa-versa. One is not better than the other and, in fact, each needs the other to be successful. No commissioner from either body should be disdainful about dealing with each other or their counterparts on the other commission.

This county commission has proved that it can accomplish much in a short period of time, witness the Comp Plan Amendments. It shouldn’t take months or years to decide what to do regarding our constitutional offices. The city commission has done everything asked regarding those parcels. Now it’s time for the county commissioners to fulfill their part. There is no room for prima donnas or indecisiveness.

 

THE BEGINNINGS OF WATERWAY PROGRESS

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It is wonderful to see that Senator Negron has decided to now back Plan 6. Nothing short of enactment of the Plan will end the death of the Indian River Lagoon. The only variable in the lagoon’s demise will be whether it will be slow or quick. That will depend on the weather and the Corp’s water release timetable.

But all of us must keep the pressure on state and federal officials not only to approve plans but to appropriate money. If we can send Governor Scott to Japan, can we not send the excess water south from Lake O? If we can spend thousands to build water projects in Afghanistan and the rest of the world, how can we plead a shortage of funds to implement Plan 6? Perhaps the lack of political will and funding is because there will be no large corporate government contract winners and the subsequent political contributions.

So when we decide which candidates to vote for in the elections next year and thereafter, don’t just judge them by their platforms and speeches. Don’t just judge the candidates by the hearings they conducted and the words they uttered. And definitely don’t judge the candidates just by their photo ops. They have the power to move, enact and sign into law legislation that will save the rivers and waterways of our state. They have the power to say no and return contributions from those industries and individuals who are responsible for the pollution of those waterways.

We should never forget that elected officials are not there to serve their friends or relations. They are not elected to delegate their decision making to their staffs and the bureaucracy. They are not there to call themselves public servants and then ultimately when they leave office become advocates and partners of those they regulated. We must always keep a watchful eye on anyone we entrust to be our leaders.

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SENT TO MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSION ON OCT 29TH 2013

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Dear Commissioner:

I am writing today regarding three issues on your November 5th agenda. The first is the Business Development Board Contract. Regardless of your political and philosophical temperament, you are stuck trying to make the terrible better. The previous commission or any commission should never be able to enter into a contract of such a long duration. In this case not only is it for an eternity but the lopsidedness of the contract’s terms makes it seem more a “sweet heart” deal than a benefit to the county. It is a perfect reason why there is so much distrust of government by citizens.

In a perfect world the government should not be a party to this at all.  But the county is stuck between negotiation and a lawsuit which is perhaps winnable perhaps not but certainly expensive and time consuming.  Your goals should be to negotiate the shortest term possible for the smallest amount while holding them to measurable standards easily quantifiable. Going forward if this organization means so much to the business community of the county then they should pay for it. The government’s responsibility to business and to all citizens is to have in place easy to understand rules, quick permit and license application processes and ideally an ombudsman to assist the business in opening and expanding in the county. Digital Domain showed us what happens when government tries to insert itself into the market.

The second matter is the customs facility. Once again the so called interests of free market capitalism want the local government to provide a subsidy for their businesses. The very idea that once the federal facility is opened that our local government will control the operation or be able to limit or close the facility is probably a dream. The federal government will ultimately dictate to Martin County what will be allowable or not. The commission’s obligation will be to figure out how to pay for it. Just like the runway extension, once you involve Washington, local control is gone except for funding.

Some will say that this should be provided by the county because businesses will relocate or expand, or it is a governmental function like parks or schools and anyway once built increased fees from airport users will pay for the facility. This is all based on fantasy numbers and rosy scenarios. Parks and schools are not for the few or well-connected but for everyone. Those are legitimate functions of local government. Immigration and Customs are clearly federal functions and if there was a need at Witham Field the proper place to lobby for them would be in Washington.

My last point is the Seven50 Plan. As a planning tool it may be good and the locality can opt in or out of it in part or in its entirety. I don’t believe it is an insidious plot by the UN to gain control of the good old U.S. of A. After reading some of it and after speaking to someone on the executive committee, I do believe that the federal government will begin using the recommendations contained therein in awarding grants to the localities. Much of what is contained in the proposed plan such as density requirements would be in direct conflict with my beliefs and those of the commission majority. Much needs to be explored before continuing with the relationship.

How you look at these three issues is determined by your governing and governmental philosophy. If one consistently applies the principles of the free market, local control and smart growth then you should agree with my positions on the above.  I do not know whether any of you read your e-mail or not but this is one citizen’s way of expressing his opinions without taking time from your already over packed commission meeting schedule to do so.

Let Me See If I Have This Right…..

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Let me see if I have this right. Our federal government has been shut down for the past 10 days. But members of Congress and the Senate are being paid, the courts are functioning and the White House hasn’t forced the President to look elsewhere for lodging. Some departments have essential personnel working but they could be paid now or in the future depending on the budget of the particular department or agency. While it may be tough for federal employees right now who have been furloughed, both Democrats and Republicans of both houses and Mr. Obama have said they will be paid for not working when this is all cleared up.

The shutdown is occurring, Republicans say, so that dreaded “Obama Care” will be repealed but the funding is in place to enact it. The President claims he won’t sit down and negotiate with a gun to his head equating the Speaker of the House (or as he is known at the White House as Big Bad John) to a terrorist.

We need to not raise the debt ceiling because….well it doesn’t really matter say the Republicans or the world will come apart states the Democrats. Some Republicans claim we can always pay interest on the debt but are a little fuzzy on how we pay for other things such as those federal employees they promised the back pay to for not working. The Democrats claim the debt borrowing limit must be raised to pay for everything already appropriated because either party hasn’t the ability to live within a budget. OH RIGHT! There hasn’t been an enacted U.S. budget since before Obama was president.

So the way I see this, the average person employed in the private sector continues to send taxes to D.C. to pay for a President and a Congress that closes things refusing to do their jobs and for those in “public service” who are not currently working but will eventually be paid for not working. (By the way, the average government employee now makes more than the average private one, but we still call it public service.) We, the people, in turn can’t visit parks and monuments. We can’t contact federal agencies on the phone or visit closed offices. Even the loved ones of those killed in battle can’t get the benefits needed for a burial.

I don’t really care what the crazies on either side want.  The vast majority of the American people want a functioning government. If you can’t come together and compromise, the only way we can move forward is to vote every incumbent out of office. It doesn’t matter if we agree with their political philosophies or not. The nation cannot continue on this path. I am sick of Washington politicians acting as if they are in kindergarten. Obama and all the rest of both parties need to grow up and act like adults. Anyone who has ever operated in the real world, as opposed to the political one, knows you don’t get everything you want. Those fools need to recognize that truth. They are sent to Washington to govern not raise money for their campaigns or get ready for the next election.

Sales Tax Increase?

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The Martin County Commissioners decided not to put a sales tax initiative on this year’s ballot.  They heard from their constituents that the amount, duration and scope proposed were far too broad. Unfortunately, when that initial proposal was seen as too ambitious, there was no commission consensus on the sales taxes parameters. Concerns regarding election and state requirements made it impossible for further discussion this year.

That does not mean that the necessity of having a dedicated income stream for maintenance of the county and municipality’s road and other infrastructure repairs should be abandoned. Maintenance is clearly a function of government and should be a priority. The discussion shouldn’t be whether a dedicated sales tax should be enacted but instead it should be on how the proceeds will be used.

A majority of residents do want to maintain the roads and other infrastructure. What I and many others do not want to see happen is the use of those funds for other projects. Whether one agrees or disagrees with how past tax initiatives proceeds were used, the voters are quite skeptical of promises by politicians. That is why the manner in which a sales tax question is worded on the ballot will be very important in whether it passes.

A ½ cent sales tax with a 3 to 5 year duration limited only to road and drainage maintenance would pass.  Deterioration due to deferred maintenance affects the lives and businesses of all county residents and visitors. It is a matter of constituent trust regarding how and on what our elected officials spend those funds that is in question. Until that trust is restored, the commission and bureaucrats should be kept on a short leash.

Customs and Immigration Facility in Martin County?

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Is a Customs and Immigration facility at the airport really necessary? Should local government be funding something that is totally a federal responsibility; especially a facility that would be a first of its kind in the nation. It is never good to be the subject of an experiment. That type of facility would come under the jurisdiction of Homeland Security and not the county. This, in and of itself, results in questions that I will not even attempt to answer.

One could argue, as did Commissioner Smith, that it would be a service that would be beneficial to some personal and business elements of the community. He alluded to it being on par with libraries or parks. While it may sound logical, the premise itself is faulty which results in the wrong conclusion. There is no way that parks or libraries or water projects or street repairs are remotely the same as a Customs and Immigration facility. For these are services that almost every local government is responsible for building and maintaining. If a Customs and Immigration facility were equal to the others, then we would not be the first to have one that contemplates operating in this manner.

Even if you disagree and think local government should build and fund such facilities, does Martin County at this time have the funds to do so? We are about to enact a sales tax referendum specifically for infrastructure. If the commission now wants to build a new customs and immigration facility; would there be any wonder why the citizens are skeptical about trusting more of their money to the government for another boondoggle.

If non-tax-paying funds such as grant sources could be found for the capital portion of the project, what about any ongoing shortfall in the operating budget. For argument sake, let’s assume the county is promised or assured or sworn to by various interests that those interest would make up the shortfall, how would that promise be enforced? If it will be a fee based service and a shortfall occurs, then as fees go up fewer and fewer people will use the facility resulting in a higher and higher deficit.  Once established, what if the federal government changes the parameters for the operation of the facility including even being able to close it if we wished? We have seen in the past what the feds approve and say in the present doesn’t necessarily matter in the future. We would be stuck with subsidizing something we no longer wanted and using more and more precious tax dollars to do so.

Our tax dollars should address the concerns and provide the services for the greatest number of our citizens. Once again, our county government will allow the favored few to have the larger majority subsidize their businesses and their lifestyles. This is an open ended obligation that we as a county should not contemplate nor endorse.

Follow up to Jensen Beach Mooring Field

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Glenda Burgess spoke during public comments at the July 16th County Commission meeting. She thanked the commission for voting against the mooring field. When she was at the proposed site with her grandchildren she was surprised by the number of people fishing, relaxing and just enjoying the area. She stated that for all the reasons the supporters of the proposed project believed an expensive government sponsored project would solve they were being addressed through existing government mechanism.

When Sheriff Snyder was made aware of the vagrancy and crime problem he sent law enforcement to handle those concerns. Glenda also stated that there was only one derelict boat remaining. The manatees and the sea grasses that call this place home were not destroyed nor displaced so that a few people could make money off the taxpayer.

One small victory for the majority that want government to be for all of us not just the few in the know.

 

JENSEN BEACH AND THE MOORING FIELD

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A letter to Editor in Stuart News

For over ten years the Martin County Commission has been struggling with whether to build a mooring field in Jensen Beach. As was evident in a recent commission meeting each commissioner had a different reason for either voting for or against the field. This illustrates a fundamental problem. Which is defining the role of government in Martin County?

Government should not do what the private sector is capable of doing. If there is a need for more marinas then the private sector will build them. In fact by building and maintaining a mooring field it results in unfair competition with the private sector. Why should our tax dollars go to provide a place for boaters who refuse to pay a private marina?

Martin County and government at every level has a legitimate duty to protect our environment. Building a mooring field on top of sea grass to protect that sea grass seems to be an oxymoron.  You can’t protect something by destroying it. Live aboard boaters have a right to anchor anywhere with some exceptions. If they are breaking the law by not complying with waste removal or other laws no mooring field is going to solve that problem. Nor will it stop the abandonment problem. If an unsavory element has frightened and intimidated law abiding residents in that area why is a county mooring field the answer instead of criminal enforcement.

If laws must be changed or enacted to achieve environmental protection and public enjoyment by law abiding citizens then let’s do that. The role of government is to ensure that all citizens can enjoy our waterways and that the environment is protected. It is simply not true that a mooring field will accomplish those goals.