Let's help maintain Martin as 'sustainable community'

IN YOUR CORNER

By Dave Rohl, president Martin County Taxpayers Association
May 4, 2002

Martin County is said to be striving for a future as a "sustainable community." This is an important goal and our community's future quality of life may depend on our success. The needs of our county's growing population for housing, transportation and other infrastructure requires that we accommodate physical growth in our communities; a balance must be achieved among social, economic and environmental impacts and values. The concept of sustainability involves using our local resources in ways that can be continued into the future. Sound public policy requires recognition of the values of economic and physical development, as well as environmental protection.

As residents of a sustainable community we must view issues affecting our county systematically. We must recognize the complex relationships that exist between our environment, our economy, and our residents when making decisions about our future. It is essential that there be a dialogue between the diverse points of view which make up every community. Unfortunately, cooperative dialogue is difficult to achieve in Martin County. It seems special interests and egos rule supreme when we need to reach consensus on many of the largest issues currently affecting our county. This needs to change.

The Martin County Taxpayers Association applauded the decision of the past commission when it applied for status with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) as a Sustainable Community. We saw opportunities when Martin County was selected as one of five communities in the state to receive this designation.

As a participant in the demonstration project, Martin County was expected to design programs that meet the county's needs for improving the quality of our natural systems, increase the potential for economic development and job creation, and provide neighborhood centered services. The demonstration programs were to address the six broad principles of sustainability: restoring key ecosystems, achieving a more clean, healthy environment, limiting urban sprawl, protecting wildlife and natural areas, advancing the efficient use of land and other resources, and creating quality communities and jobs.

In future columns we will further address the sustainability issue and assess how we are doing in adopting its principles.

According to a report to the County Commission, 1-cent sales tax revenues for the Healthy Rivers and Natural Resource protection will currently total $47 million, which is $9 million more than forecast. Interest earnings approach $2.6 million, so the total income is now estimated at $50 million. Interest earning will continue to increase until all of the monies are spent. This indicates we have significant funds available to meet our share of cleaning up the St. Lucie River.

A goal of the Martin County Taxpayers Association is to study and evaluate the operations and spending practices of local government in an effort to promote economy and efficiency in the use of our tax dollars.

These investigations include, but are not limited to, justification for additional personnel and/or equipment, justification and costs of capital projects, comparisons with other counties or private enterprise, and comparisons of government growth with respect to population, growth of the tax base, etc. Also, commission decisions are scrutinized for fiscal restraint vs. political expediency.

The possibilities are as wide-ranging as are the backgrounds and perspectives of our citizen volunteers, appropriately called Watchdogs.

All Watchdogs share a common job description; along with their willingness to serve, theseare the only common denominators in this group of approximately two dozen who will begin their work with selected departments within the county government and school system.

As is the case each year, our Watchdogs have experienced some attrition, so we are looking for additional volunteers to work with public officials. If you have an interest in becoming a Watchdog and putting your skills to work for the benefit of all taxpayers, contact either Dave Rohl at 546-4249, Rick Pragluski at c21allpt@gate.net, or Frank Wacha Jr. at 334-3700.