Martin County has entered a new era. I don’t know what changes are in store, but changes will occur. While Stuart’s Board of Commissioners has remained the same, the County’s has had some significant changes. I can see some real benefit to Martin County and Stuart, but only if the new majority adheres to what the individuals promised in their campaigns.

As a City Commissioner and a resident, I would like to see the following occur. For both unincorporated Martin County and Stuart, the impact fees imposed by Martin County have inhibited growth within the City’s borders and the Urban Services Boundary. Stuart has given our impact fee consultant’s study to Martin County staff. The study shows that the current impact fees overstate the need for improvements covered by impact fees. The County’s out-of-date study is making impact fees act as a deterrent instead of what the law clearly states is their purpose.

Impact fees are not another tax. They are meant to offset the cost of providing new roads, etc. for new development. Within our municipalities and the Urban Services Boundary, this has already been accomplished. What the fees are doing is making it too costly for anything but the most expensive construction to be feasible. This prevents industry and middle class housing from being built.

Without new businesses, jobs and housing, the existing residential and commercial property owners will bear increasing taxes to maintain services. High impact fees have the consequence of making development in western Martin County more economically feasible, since the costs of land are cheaper. This encourages sprawl. Not something any of us want.

The Martin County Commission needs to embrace the formation of more municipalities throughout the county. Presently, there are efforts in Tallahassee to have both Indiantown and Hobe Sound become independent municipalities. This is a good thing. Why should 5 people on Monterey Road micro-manage the will of every resident in the county. For too long, Martin County has forgotten what a county is and is not supposed to be. It tries to provide the same level of service for everyone regardless of need. This is a recipe for governmental failure and, ultimately, fiscal un-sustainability.

The new majority wants us to believe that independent CRA districts will give the autonomy that is needed. Community Redevelopment Areas are not meant to be a substitute for towns and cities. They are a financial vehicle for urban redevelopment by concentrating funds in a “depressed area” for redevelopment.  They are not meant to be anything more than that. If the Martin County Commission does not understand this basic fact, it will continue to fail Community Redevelopment Areas in both self-governance and fiscal policy.

If Martin County was comprised of more municipalities, then the level of governmental services within each would reflect the wants and needs of those communities. This idea of “one size” fits all is ludicrous. Within Martin County boundaries, there are cattle ranches and high rises as well as sprawling farms and urban areas. This has led to a bloated county bureaucracy and payroll that will only increase over time. Martin County should only provide funding for basic services and constitutional offices. It is an arm of the State of Florida not meant to act the same as municipalities. If we had 15 municipalities in the county, our county taxes would be much lower and the county itself would be much more economically sustainable.

The new Martin County Commissioners should not let their election go to their heads. They are the agents of the people not for the special interests or friends that assisted in their campaigns both financially and physically. Too often, I have seen that Commissioners don’t want to cede authority over the amount of funding and resources under their control. Even when doing so would result in better governance and fiscal policy being enacted.

Lastly, I implore the new majority to remember that only Commissioner Ciampi faced all the voters. Even his election was one by a minority of the vote because there were 3 candidates in that race. We have seen time and again that there is overreach by a new majority. The Board needs to accurately reflect the will of the voters. The voters are not looking to have unvarnished development and the Browardization of Martin County.

At the same time the voters recognize that we do need “smart” growth. That does not mean “anti” growth or “pro” growth. It means looking at what is doable and how to actually achieve it. Give us a way to have the ability for our kids to grow up and stay here. We all want to live and enjoy the Martin County we currently have. The County Commission’s obligation is to provide that path.