It is hard to imagine a more difficult job at the moment than Martin County Administrator. After voters approved the Property Tax Amendment in January it became obvious, that next year’s budget was going to be significantly constrained. Falling sales tax revenues and early estimates that property tax receipts (at current millage rates) would be down about 7% led to assumptions that the 2009 budget had to be reduced by $20 million. Based on those suppositions each Department was given the task of cutting their draft budgets by 13%. This was later increased to 20% to give more options for prioritizing cuts across departments. The result was a 300+ page draft budget that cut total spending approximately 8%, with the Administration staff reduced by some 70 positions. Constitutional staffs (Sheriff, Appraiser, Clerk of Court, etc.) gave up nearly 50 employees. While individual cuts and priorities will be disputed (and probably changed), this was a professional budget proposal.

Then, on July 10, the Property Assessor released the official tax value of Martin County’s real property. Instead of down 7%, it was now down 10%. The result is that another $4-5 million has to be cut from the 2009 budget, or made up through tax increases – with decisions required before the August election of 3 of our 5 Commissioners. This is a daunting task and we wish him and his staff well.

It is unfortunate that, with so many County jobs and personnel being eliminated and services trimmed, the much ballyhooed 5% “give-back” of ½ of the Fire/EMS 10% contractual raise for 2009 is now being tied to management concessions, including additional spending. This includes using the $1.5 million saved hiring additional firefighters and procuring new equipment - neither of which would probably be required if the recommended consolidation with Stuart Fire/EMS occurs. The IAFF also reportedly wants a two-year contract extension with a guaranteed 5% salary increase per year, reduced medical deductibles, and other considerations – all of which could reduce the chances of a successful consolidation.

Our Fire/EMS personnel are excellent and the service they provide among the most important functions of local government. However, they are now killing the goose that laid their golden egg. Salary and benefit increases have more than doubled their take home pay in less than 8 years. Since these are across the board increases senior personnel are now routinely exceeding $100,000 a year and many over $150,000. With a 90% retirement with full family benefits at 30 years service this 300-person department will cost our County an estimated $1.5 billion in taxes over the next 35-40 years if current policies continue.

This conditional “give-back” is NOT a good deal for the County – especially those additional workers that will have to be laid off. It is NOT a good deal for residents who will pay more for less services, parks and libraries. The County should NOT accept it. Let the IAFF keep their 10% increase and answer to the irate residents when they negotiate their next contract in 2009 – a non-election year. Hopefully a new era of more responsible personnel policies will have evolved by then.

In addition to the dramatic slow down of the local economy, it appears that Martin County has now had a population decrease for the first time in memory. In 2006-7 our population growth was only 0.6 % and there have been two straight years of declining school enrollment. Looking back at least 20 years, our population increase has never been significantly over 2% per year – the second lowest growth in the state, and well below any other coastal county.

For years we have heard negative comments about our “pro-growth” Commission and the “Browardization” of Martin County. In the above context it is hard to reconcile the continued “slow/no growth” rhetoric from some partisans, politicians and candidates. Martin County could become an undesirable place to live by excessive/unplanned growth - or by a stagnant economy with virtually no growth and excessive government spending. The latter certainly appears to be the current threat.