IN YOUR CORNER

The County Administrator has been challenged by the commissioners to

make county operations more efficient and productive. We applaud this

challenge and look forward to a series of reports dealing with the

results of this effort.

A first step in this direction will occur on July 17 when the Commission

will consider a productivity initiative to privatize Property

Acquisition. Other governmental bodies successfully utilize private

firms when contracting this function, such as the Florida Department of

Transportation, to purchase right of ways for road projects. County

staff has observed this method of operation and recommends this function

be privatized. On an agenda item, this recommendation was even listed as

a "Taxpayer Victory" that has too many tangible benefits to the

organization of the county to be delayed. We like the sound of that.

Presently the Property Management Division, which handles the

acquisition of property for the county, is made up of five employees: an

administrator, two real estate agents, one property management

specialist and an administrative secretary. The proposal for privatizing

the functions performed by this division states that they could

eliminate the two real estate agents and create one para-legal position.

This would leave the administrator to manage and coordinate the

contracts, the specialist (who is assigned to Public Services) to

continue to assist that department and any others with small projects,

the administrative secretary to continue to provide support to the

program, and the para-legal position would assist with the lease

management and preparation of documents as needed.

It is proposed that a net reduction of $80,327.00 would result in the

general fund. This is a savings, but we believe that more savings would

be realized based on some unfortunate purchases made by this division in

acquiring property for the county in the past. Over the years, we have

strongly opposed several purchases made by our county, believing that

the final negotiated figure was too high. One project the comes to mind

is the park purchased in Palm City at the corner of 36th Street and Mapp

Road. After receiving two appraisals of $600,000 and $450,000, our

county went ahead and paid close to $1 million for the property. An

additional benefit should be a less cumbersome and time wasting process

to complete needed capital projects. The money and time wasted in the

past was disgraceful!

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Jupiter Island has proposed a tax increase of 19.7% for its residents,

mainly to fund specific capital projects, such as improving city hall,

burying all electric wires, etc.. Worthy projects, but will they lower

the tax rate when all these projects are completed?

***

The City of Stuart, which is very well managed, may have to raise their

tax rate to take care of the "snow ball" effect caused by the counties

rapidly increasing salaries and benefits for their personnel mainly in

Emergency Services. They are losing employees to the county. (St. Lucie

County has already stated this has become a problem for them also.)

This snow ball effect is a worrisome thing. Our Sheriff has complained

that he is losing employees to Palm Beach County for the exact same

reason. There is something wrong with this picture; however, it is very

difficult to get a handle on the situation. Although we have not

researched the situation at the City of Stuart, we have learned that the

attrition rate for the Sheriff is not above normal. We support the job

which is being done by county workers and believe they should be paid

accordingly; however, something must be done to stop this perpetual

snowball effect.

***

Jensen Beach will get a high school. Residents throughout the county

worked hard to get the next high school located in their favored

location. Only one high school is being built however, so a choice had

to be made. The Jensen Beach location may allow for some cooperation

between the School System, the County and the City of Stuart in the

provisions of recreational facilities for this growing region.

The County Commission has committed up to $900,000 for recreational

facilities that could be shared. This promises to be a great multi

governmental effort to develop a high school and an adjacent park that

can be enjoyed by all residents.

It is still unsure if the South Florida Water Management District will

approve a school on this site, and we won't know for another ten months

or so, but if they do approve, and if the county can renovate the water

plant so as to eliminate the "rotten egg" smell, and if the wetland

restrictions allow, we should have a new, first class high school in

Martin County, hopefully, by the end of 2002.