School Impact Vs 5 + 2
Speaking of a plethora of comments, it would seem that a couple of people spent some time rambling through their minds to come up with some fairly inane subjects for blogs. Looked more like an effort to get the 5+2 discussions off the front page but then I'm just a suspicious and pessimistic type of guy. Just an observation. But one did catch my eye for all of that. I found the School Impact Fee blog somewhat interesting (I know, slow day in the news) so I read some of the report in the attached link. The comment that I found interesting is the one that said the impact fee may have to be raised to $9100 from $7400. One of the factors in this is population growth. So here I am trying to make an intelligent decision on the issues at hand. 5+2, 60% for Charter change, 66% for getting rid of an elected position, 60% for salary with automatic raises or $37K with no automatic raises. So what the heck has the School Impact Fee got to do with all this? Follow along for just a moment, I'm getting there. My mind is wandering from reading all the front page blogs. I'm part of some of the 'new' growth and I'm for growth. Just not uncontrolled growth. Now let's go back to the automatic pay raises. What is it you say that these pay raises are based on? Oh, right, growth. Hey Commissioner, me and my buddies would like to build 2000 homes in each of 5 areas of Clay County. That'll bring in X amount of people and garner you a $Y pay raise for each of the next 4 years. What do think? Can we get this approved by the BCC? Hello! Anybody else see an opportunity for abuse here? There are a lot of good ideas floating around out there, and some good arguments for both sides of these coins. This one just doesn't strike me as one of them. Tell me my pay is going to be controlled by how much growth takes place and I'll figure out a way to have some growth whether it makes sense or not. Why should I care? The longest I can be in this job is 8 years then I can move on to a bigger better things and leave the problems to the next person. Mike Heemer Click here: http://24.23.126.8/ for petition Related: finder's blog | login or register to post comments | printer friendly version | Tags: 5+2 | Growth | schools
Submitted by Marsha on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 7:35am.
It seems a new record was set yesterday by the most blogs written by one person in one day. Hopefully most will see it for what it is, an effort to interfere with honest and open exchange on important issues facing Clay County. Mike, like you I am not against growth, I think we all agree the County could become stagnant without it. My concern is that we stop putting off till tomorrow what needs to be done today. All matters petaining to growth need to move at the same rate the new homes do, we need balance. Lee County is one of the hardest hit areas in the state with the housing crisis, they recently withdrew their impact fees in order to "boost" the housing market. I get my information from the FAR (Florida Association of Realtors) It's my guess that next year, especially if we end up with 7 Commissioners rather then 5 the same thing will happen here, not that it couldn't happen with just 5 as well. With the current glut of homes on the market and the slow absorption rate the value of all existing homes will continue to drop until a balance returns to the market. In return at some point the County Appraiser will have to start lowering assessments which will also decrease revenues. It's a Merry Go Round, one effecting the other. We're already hearing about the budget cuts going on in Duval County, it's troublesome that with their rising murder rate that Law Enforcement is going to be cut along with Education. Even the Lottery sales are down, people are cutting out much of their discretionary spending. This all goes back to what I've said before, Clay County has more important areas where money needs to go other then to two more Commissioners. Their salaries and benefits may seem inconsequential when you consider the entire budget for the County but there are a great many citizens who cannot earn in a years time what these Commissioners get for a part time job. You've got taxpayers paying for benefits they themselves don't have for their own families. I was told (disclosing hearsay) that there is only one other County in the State with a comparable population that has 7 County Commissioners. Its been said that the salary increases are set based upon a State formula. Between the housing crisis and the water wars it is not a far reach to believe this is a formula in need of being looked at again but that is unlikely to happen. We have a chance to change it locally and it all starts with using some common sense. For whatever reasons the creation of 2 more Commissioners was done, the current economy certainly suggests people need to seriously consider if this is an expense that will truly benefit the County and I just don't believe it will. Give yourselves a choice in November folks, sign the Petition. http://24.23.126.8/
Submitted by OneMann on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 8:51am.
Mike, as important as scantily-clad college students playing in the sand may be, thanks for steering the ship away from that and the other hijack attempts and back toward some issues that will affect everyone in Clay County, and their tax dollars. Sign for choice. Sign the petition - http://24.23.126.8/ Michael S. Mann michaelsmann@comcast.net People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Mike
I agree all these postings are making my dizzy.
I feel like a tennis ball. I think I will sit this one out and wait for all the smoke to clear and revisit/reveiw all the posts afterwards I think the only thing happening here is adding to the confusion.
TRUTHHURTS