IN YOUR CORNER

By tradition the Taxpayers Association begins each New Year with a list of "wishes" that we hope become local government "Resolutions" for future. This year, in our last column of 2003, we are going to report the status of last year's Resolutions.

The City of Stuart and Martin County will complete an interlocal agreement making the two Fire/EMS departments cooperate to the benefit of taxpayers. Total, abject failure. County Fire/EMS costs continue to escalate faster than any other service, and the County continues to "muscle" the City by planning additional stations in overlapping service zones.

The new Martin County Commission will take as much interest in fiscal responsibility as in growth vs. no growth. Near total failure. The Commission splits votes on piecemeal proposals without meaningful discussion on many growth issues, but voted 4-1 to approve a budget with 5% increase over last year, double the CPI increase. We are attempting to bring improved fiscal policy forward as an important issue, but have no results to report yet.

Local Governments will stop letting increased real estate valuations pad the annual budget and begin giving some of our money back by rolling back the millage rate. Total failure. The County raised General Fund millage, as did the Children Services Council. The City held the same millage. Even the legislature and SFWMD got into the act by extending the Everglades cleanup property tax another 10 years. The State did roll School Board millage back 0.16%, or about $2.80 for the average taxpayer, a symbolic victory at best as it had nothing to do with local elected officials.

Capital improvement programs will be sorted into three categories: "must have", "would like to have", and "would be nice". A mixed bag. The School Board is making progress in capital facilities planning and prioritization, but they had (and have) a long way to go. The County is planning well and spending wildly. The City continues excessive focus on the CRA.

The prospect of a sustainable future for our county will not be held hostage by political squabbles. Success in the City, where a stable Commission and strong staff are reinventing the City, although going too far with"new urbanism" in encouraging higher densities in the CRA and less protection for neighborhoods. Probable failure in the County, where the inflexible 3-2 split appears all too often to be politically motivated rather than based on sound policy.

Martin County will find a way to curb the expansion of 20-acre ranchette development outside the Urban Services Boundary, a sprawling taxpayer's nightmare of a future. Mixed results so far. On one hand, more acres were approved for this form of development in 2003 than ever before. On the other hand, community awareness is heightened and a good effort is being made by the citizenry to reach a consensus solution. We continue to support these efforts, and believe the County Commission sincerely wants to solve this one, but we fear the political nerve is weak.

The new School Board works well with itself and the Superintendent. Success. The new School Board is working better. The Superintendent is happier, but both the Board and the Superintendent remain timid in firmly addressing their responsibilities. Having an elected School Superintendent may be part of the problem.
Critical road improvement projects get started in the Spring and finished in the Fall. Superior success in the City. Partial success in the County, but a lot of pain and suffering too. Persistent County failure to construct the roads called for in the Comprehensive Plan is nearing the crisis point.

Local government budgets are made clear and understandable to all. Mixed results. The City continues to have the best fiscal policy and cleanest budget documents, although fiscal responsibility is waning. The County has a weak, rambling fiscal policy and the most difficult to follow annual budget. Their new Capital budget is the best ever done although fiscally irresponsible in overall effect. The School Board has no fiscal policy and is improving its budget format.
As for ourselves, the volunteers of MCTPA enter 2004 fiscally solvent and newly resolved to represent taxpayers to the best of our abilities. We ask your help when you can give it, and criticism when we deserve it. And we wish a Happy New Year to all!