Your Taxpayers’ Association has received numerous inquiries as to whether or not we are supporting the proposed half cent sales tax increase that will be on the November ballot. In fact, it has been a question much discussed at both our September and October Board meetings.

In a presentation at our September Board meeting the “Citizens for Conservation and Parks” indicated that the tax would generate $12 million dollars per year. With the addition of State and Federal grants the actual funds generated could potentially double the five-year revenue total to over $120 million. These funds would be used in a roughly 50/50 split between purchasing conservation lands and extending and upgrading existing parks and recreation facilities, including a new aquatics center. Their case for joining existing conservation lands, providing a new aquatic center, additional boat ramps, beaches and other useable recreation areas was persuasive. Also, our research indicates the history of Martin County’s previous initiatives at preserving lands and developing our excellent parks with similar ballot referendums is fine. A good case made for endorsing the proposal by dedicated citizens.

On the other hand, we continue to have concerns over several aspects of the proposed program.

First, our County does not have a current “Level Of Service”, LOS, deficit. We already have a very large percent of our County’s land, about 40 percent we are told, in public ownership. Usage of the lands are varied and are mostly listed as “preserves”, meaning little to no public use. Even when lands have little usage they still require maintenance which has proven to be a challenge that has yet to be met in many cases. Because money from the new tax can not be set aside for maintenance unless the tax is permanent, many of the proposed recreation projects, especially the aquatic center, may well add to this deficit and/or become a drain on our Ad Valorem (property) taxes. In short, we question whether the long-term funding of these purchases has been adequately considered. We have made no secret of our well-documented concern that our current Ad Valorem revenues cannot sustain the growth in cost of local government the County Administration appears unable to control.

Another concern is that a sales tax is, by its nature, regressive and hits hardest on those least able to afford it. The estimated $50-60 per year for each Martin County resident does not sound like much. However, when multiplied for a family of four and added to the increases in energy, insurance and the effects of other tax increases, it can be a real burden for many of our less fortunate citizens. Sadly these are the folks least likely to vote.

So there you have it. Our Board could not reach a consensus on which way to recommend, so we have briefly laid out our arguments for and against. Please evaluate them against your own priorities and VOTE.

ON ANOTHER RELATED SUBJECT:

Last year Martin County drastically increased the impact fees imposed on new construction. A large portion of this fee is for acquisition of parks and recreation facilities, but cannot, by law, be used for maintenance of those facilities. At this time the County Commission is in the process of hiring a consulting firm to calculate and justify further increases in these taxes that will become effective next year. This begs the question of just how much is enough? Also, how much can be adequately cared for by taxing our 140,000 residents and business owners?

For a number of years our principal worry has been that our elected representatives are spending far too much of their energies looking for additional sources of revenue rather than efficiently utilizing them. As an example, several years ago we endorsed a large increase in the gasoline tax because we were assured that “it would bring in additional matching funds that would allow offsetting reductions in other taxes” and “…improve our roads and correct transportation problems.” Needless to say there have been no tax reductions and no perceptible resolution to our most pressing transportation needs.