IN YOUR CORNER

 

Many taxpayers have gone to great lengths to opine on the results of the

last election day.  Some of our members also felt the need to express

themselves, hence the following:

 

First, there was a timing problem.  Had the amendment requiring

disclosure of the cost of each and every proposed constitutional

amendment been approved beforehand, such 'touchy-feely, sounds great'

items as class size or pre-K or pig cage amendments might not have

passed.  Passage of most of these amendments, plus earlier amendments,

illustrates the public's propensity to endorse those programs that sound

like a good idea with only superficial consideration.

 

One member said that the voters must have woken up the day after the

election with a hangover due to the spending bing they had election day

 

In a previous article, we stated that the lowest estimated cost of the

class size amendment was $9 billion, and this expenditure carries no

guaranteed results with it.  We have not heard of any cost projections

on the pre-K amendment, nor any others for that matter, but don't forget

the high-speed train we voted for a few years ago.  When you add up what

our future is beginning to look like, the image of a state income tax

starts to loom on the horizon.  We would hate to be the governor who has

to face that problem!

 

**

 

The two commissioners who lost their races just might have done so on

their own voting record, which many voters perceived showed an obvious

enthusiasm towards increasing densities throughout the county.  Projects

were approved throughout the county so they managed to alienate voters

in every area. As our county matures and new housing or commercial uses

fill in remaining vacant properties, greater care and common sense needs

to be used in their planning.  Common sense should dictate that a

properly zoned high density project requires an appropriate transition

when it is in a lower density area.  Common sense should dictate that

residents should be involved in planning their neighborhoods and  that

residents must understand that property rights and market forces must be

considered in land use decisions, this is America. Common sense should

dictate one size fits all zoning is often inappropriate for these

existing neighborhoods, and that individual locational characteristics

should be the criteria for the decision making process.

 

This process could make a commissioner unpopular with some people in

this county, but we would wager the majority of the people would be

quite pleased with a commissioner who took this innovative approach.

 

Another factor may have been the fact that the out going commissioners

were part of the  1996-2000 commission when the cost of county

government grew at an astounding rate with little expenditures for

infrastructure.

 

Or maybe voters just imposed a 2 term term limit.

 

**

Some voters might be sitting back smugly enjoying our tax situation in

Martin County.  They just might be thinking that they are in a 'safe'

zone regarding ad valorem taxes because we voted in an amendment several

years ago that only allowed the Property Appraiser to increase our

property values by three percent a year.  Please read the last sentence

again, dear reader.  Presently, the county's millage rate is 5.3480, but

it can go up to 10!  Children's Service's is 0.3143, but it can go up to

0.50.  The School District's millage rate is 8.2790 how ever the

maximum millage can increase to 10.  We are giving you this information

to point out the leeway our elected officials have that could affect our

taxes.

 

Sure, we could vote the tax increasing buggers out, but if they approved

any increase in millage rate, the sales tax, and/or any other new or

existing tax before leaving office, we would still have to pay it.

Also, they tend to do this in an off-election year, so get ready, dear

taxpayer the required new money will come from somewhere.