I understand that on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Hernando County Planning & Zoning Commission approved that Board of County Commissioners the opportunity to further review a request of H. R. Hernando LLP to instill in the County a 57-acre shopping center in the vicinity of I-75 and SR 50. It is to be named Nature Coast Commons.
The unanimous decision came of no surprise since the request was “consistent” with the current master plan and zoning requirements. So it goes and let it be.
I did a little Googling and found nothing on H. R. Hernando LLP, although Nature Coast Commons immediately referred me to a web site that told me the project intends to splatter the east side of the County with anchor stores that include Best Buy, JC Penney (gotta love ‘em), Office Depot and Ross Dress For Less, among others.
Blue blazers shot before my eyes. Here we go again: the big box mentality is “in consistency” with what goes on around this town.
There are no enticements that will prompt me to grace those acres and acres of another blimp of a larger-than-usual strip mall. I won’t go there any more than I frequent all those retail stores that proliferate the rest of Hernando County.
I want a mall! Right there just off I-75 on Hwy 50 where the SunCoast Toll Road to Tampa would entice shoppers from surrounding areas. Just as tourist dollars from non-residents are cream on the topping of county funds, it could have been a small gold mine.
As is the common practice of shopping in the County, it sends me spending time traipsing from one store to another in the heat of summer, the short periods of chills in the air in our winter wonderland and the sometimes-inclement stormy weather of spring, summer and hurricane seasons.
The creeks don’t rise and the rivers don’t flow in this fair County, but the numbers of strip malls continue to grow!
I want to be malled! No waste of gas, time and the aggravations of going here, there and somewhere else. I want the convenience of entering one REALLY BIG box that provides a leisurely stroll along the storefronts that are side-by-side and across from each other. I want a place where I can see more people of a variety than I can imagine. Adults, young adults, kids, toddlers and, yes, senior citizens. Families together and family members cruising stores of each of their singular interests. Groups of elderly people strolling together on days when there are fewer shoppers for a peaceful period of mild exercise. These are signs of life as we should view it.
You may say, lump it, leave it, just don’t peeve it! Fed up in Hernando? Not quite yet. Now is not the time to expect a quick or even lengthy time period of selling a home, although it’s a dandy period to purchase a home elsewhere.
Elderly relatives in Zephyr Hills are of primary concern. Their minds are well but their aching bodies foretell the inevitable. I don’t desert loved ones.
I blame government officials and business leaders for the spreads of ever-growing unoccupied homes, and those not yet built on Hickory Hill, Sunrise and Lake Hideaway. They’ve done their best to boxed us in with small town decisions. I’d like to take each of these people and box their ears, one by one. This is no threat of bodily harm, just an upside down euphemism strewn with sarcasm. What a good humor man, I am!
Cases in point: a shopping center in the vicinity of Spring Hill Drive and the SunCoast-Tampa Toll Road, was to be named “Shoppes of Spring Hill” but changed to “SunCoast Crossing” this past April to better identify the location along the toll road. Or to distance the 53-acre tract from local identification? That’s kind of impersonal.
I suppose the remaining location for a mall in Hernando County would be along County Line Road off the SunCoast, although chance would put a Wal-Mart there.
If we can’t attract a developer to build Masaryktown Mall, another chance would bring about Pasco County Mall… in another county.
For the time being I’ll continue to walk among the shops at the Gulf View Mall… in another county. Or, for a less congested, less red light-infested journey, I can head to the Crystal River Mall… in another county. One trip – one parking spot. Two choices... not in Hernando County.
Any guesses where I’ll do my primary Holiday shopping?
Showing posts with label Board of County Commissioners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Board of County Commissioners. Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Too Many Empty Houses - Too Many Overgrown Yards
Ask not what a candidate for Hernando County commissioner can do for you - ask him what degree of understanding he has that residential construction is on hold for an undetermined amount of time and what course of action he/she will take to avoid further anger from local residents who see their hopes of selling their homes further dampened by the inequities of the housing market.
There are thousands of vacant lots, cleared lots not yet built on, investment homes not yet occupied and foreclosure homes. They’re just sitting there with developers, lenders, investment brokers and homeowners from every socio-economic level who can’t get rid of what they have. For now, and what may seem like forever, no new houses are necessary.
It’s a real darn pity but that’s just the way it is here, there and just about anywhere, if not everywhere. There’s not much Washington, Wall Street or The Federal Reserve can do to guide us through these doleful days of economic destitution. The affected markets will have to work their ways to mutated entities.
How many times have you said, or heard someone say, It can’t get much worse than this? Well, this is a period of time in the United States that shows how things can get much worse and still there’s a high probability that it will get even more so.
Everyone is pretty much on their own this time around. The federal government’s stimulus checks haven’t done much to bolster the economy. The collapse of the banking industry is an ongoing realization just how severe the housing bubble bust has affected America’s way of living, and how it may paint a pastel picture the future.
Booming oil prices have made times more difficult for everyone – no one is exempt from the addiction to fossil fuels. There’s no quick fix. There’s no quitting cold turkey. For now, we’re pretty much stuck where we are and the sad truth is that it will most likely to remain this way for at least 10 years.
All 50 States are also short on funds so local communities are left to fend for themselves, which means you and your neighbors will have to be reliant on city and county leaders to give direction on how to work through these lean, mean times.
There’s plenty of blame to go around
These past two years have lead up to this election year when everyone blames every level of government for the current state of affairs. It’s easiest to look toward local officials to offer solutions because they’re right there in front of you and anyone else concerned about the well-being of their families and personal investments in the community.
And yet, they know not what to do, either.
Political campaigns offer more for the candidate than they do the voter, or non-voter, as the case may be. There’ll be a winner in every race and at least one loser, but it’s always the resident who is left in limbo and can never be certain the direction and decisions of the elected official will be in his or her best interest. There are no guarantees in politics.
Considering the number of unoccupied houses in Hernando County, who can honestly entrust any politician with a background that encompasses any facet of the construction industry? From investor to builder to realtor to broker to inspector to appraiser – the individual’s focal point of interest in the past will still be entwined in that same sphere of influence.
A dead end trip on THE Bus
Cutting taxes, reducing the headcount and/or reducing the salaries of department heads, consolidating and laying off segments of the workforce, limiting amenities at recreational parks and giving THE Bus a final heave-ho and, just as controversial, cut spending but still take care of those lime-rock roads. Not one of the candidates of any party or district can offer these promises any better than the rest.
So, what’s the BIG PLAN that a candidate might offer the voter? You can’t help but be curious what a politician has in mind when he/she makes a declaration of intent but doesn’t offer to explain the how or when it might be accomplished. For instance, THE Bus is not a popular “waste” of taxpayer money but, other than putting the brakes permanently on the service, no serious alternatives are forthcoming from the candidates, at least not on their websites.
A socially conscience community doesn’t throw the needy in the middle of the street to fend for themselves. It makes no difference if the person is an invalid, without transportation because of the economic requirements, a suspended license or any other reason for the need of the service – you do not leave people stranded. Period.
To create situations that bring the despair of confinement (isolation) or the danger of lack of medical attention (doctors, prescriptions) or the fear of losing a job, thus the means to feed and shelter the person or family (because of no transport), is unconscionable. You can pretty much bet those riders on THE Bus would rather not spend the excessive hours in transit due to limited times and routes, but most don’t have the benefit of having someone they can rely on for transportation. But their gratitude is paramount to their needs because, otherwise, other people would dictate the events in their lives. Don’t you dare believe otherwise! Let a politician put him/herself in that same position….
Don’t tax but be ready to spend anyway
Serious consideration is also overdue for lime rock roads. It’s a great campaign promise but will the funds be available? And over what period of time would the project see completion?
A repeated theme from too many candidates calls for an end to “tax and spending”. Enough is enough already! As if the current commissioners aren’t fully aware of the lean years ahead. As if there aren’t other concerns that put them at odds with residents.
Providing assistance for homeowners on the verge of becoming another victim of lax lending practices in the past is complimentary but what of those people already doomed to years of a sub-prime credit rating? The demise of home ownership can’t be resolved on a local basis – the problems are too many; they reach beyond the American economy.
You can’t just do nothing
An alarming affect of the large number of vacant homes centers on the appearance and hazardous conditions that accompany those left unattended. Knee-high grass are a big concern because of what kinds of critters may lurk out of sight. When weeds are allowed to propagate, nearby lawns are subject to the same.
More alarming are the number of swimming pools and other vessels with standing water that remain unattended through these summer months when mosquitoes are in perfect harmony with mother nature to multiply beyond normal urban levels. Fortunately, the lack of rainfall this past spring has kept encephalitis and the West Nile virus from becoming sever health risks.
Code Enforcement can go street by street, house by house and issue citations for whatever responsible party to take care of the properties but they’re not likely to have much affect at resolving the problem. The fines will become the responsibility of the eventual buyer. The number of homes are daunting, the volume beyond the scope of county employees.
This is a major problem that must be addressed now, not later when the problems will become exacerbated. Home values will continue to decline when a neighborhood remains a blight to the esthetics of every real estate property. At some point the problems may become beyond resolve when deterioration of these homes brings doubt that anyone will ever take ownership of such poor investments.
What to do?
It would be refreshing to have a candidate demonstrate a committed interest in community affairs and gave priority to the problems with unoccupied homes. It’s much too easy (lazy? boring!) for a candidate to idly sit by and do little more than repeat what every other candidate suggests will bring prosperity back to Hernando County. Nothing is as simple as promoting a reduction in taxes, employees and services.
It’s old news that residents are without jobs. The recent defeat of the proposed 25% reduction of impact fees to spur a little construction clearly indicated “no new homes” regardless how many (temporary) jobs might have been created. It was a wise decision. It would have put further stress on future projects toward the upkeep of the infrastructure.
But, what about the possibility of putting people to work at resolving the unsightly condition of too many yards? The idea deserves consideration. It shouldn’t be tagged as “thinking outside the box” – at this point in time, it makes common sense as a means to avoid Hernando County from becoming a prime real estate dead zone.
The interiors of previously occupied homes will surely be overcome with dust, dirt, and insects and a good possibility of mildew in addition to whatever condition the previous inhabitants left them, like missing appliances, holes in walls and other destructive acts. An obtrusive stench will affront a person when the doors are opened months, possibly years, of vacancy.
Investors, builders and banks will ultimately have to address the deteriorating conditions of unoccupied homes. But the county could very well take steps to clean up the outside exterior conditions of homes and at least give the community an appearance of relative normalcy.
This would be a win-win-win situation. People would get jobs. Health hazards would be lessened. Neighborhood residents would be relieved, and oh-so thankful, that the view of their homes aren’t marred by the blighted sight next to them.
Voting for the politician, not the person
Whatever candidate the individual voter may support through the voting process, the truth in the effectiveness of his/her term in office won’t be realized until well after the last person in line has placed an X on the ballot. The choice may prove to be positive, negative or indifferent in addressing the challenges facing Hernando County.
Just remember, when it comes to a politician, in the end you just don’t know what the future holds.
There are thousands of vacant lots, cleared lots not yet built on, investment homes not yet occupied and foreclosure homes. They’re just sitting there with developers, lenders, investment brokers and homeowners from every socio-economic level who can’t get rid of what they have. For now, and what may seem like forever, no new houses are necessary.
It’s a real darn pity but that’s just the way it is here, there and just about anywhere, if not everywhere. There’s not much Washington, Wall Street or The Federal Reserve can do to guide us through these doleful days of economic destitution. The affected markets will have to work their ways to mutated entities.
How many times have you said, or heard someone say, It can’t get much worse than this? Well, this is a period of time in the United States that shows how things can get much worse and still there’s a high probability that it will get even more so.
Everyone is pretty much on their own this time around. The federal government’s stimulus checks haven’t done much to bolster the economy. The collapse of the banking industry is an ongoing realization just how severe the housing bubble bust has affected America’s way of living, and how it may paint a pastel picture the future.
Booming oil prices have made times more difficult for everyone – no one is exempt from the addiction to fossil fuels. There’s no quick fix. There’s no quitting cold turkey. For now, we’re pretty much stuck where we are and the sad truth is that it will most likely to remain this way for at least 10 years.
All 50 States are also short on funds so local communities are left to fend for themselves, which means you and your neighbors will have to be reliant on city and county leaders to give direction on how to work through these lean, mean times.
There’s plenty of blame to go around
These past two years have lead up to this election year when everyone blames every level of government for the current state of affairs. It’s easiest to look toward local officials to offer solutions because they’re right there in front of you and anyone else concerned about the well-being of their families and personal investments in the community.
And yet, they know not what to do, either.
Political campaigns offer more for the candidate than they do the voter, or non-voter, as the case may be. There’ll be a winner in every race and at least one loser, but it’s always the resident who is left in limbo and can never be certain the direction and decisions of the elected official will be in his or her best interest. There are no guarantees in politics.
Considering the number of unoccupied houses in Hernando County, who can honestly entrust any politician with a background that encompasses any facet of the construction industry? From investor to builder to realtor to broker to inspector to appraiser – the individual’s focal point of interest in the past will still be entwined in that same sphere of influence.
A dead end trip on THE Bus
Cutting taxes, reducing the headcount and/or reducing the salaries of department heads, consolidating and laying off segments of the workforce, limiting amenities at recreational parks and giving THE Bus a final heave-ho and, just as controversial, cut spending but still take care of those lime-rock roads. Not one of the candidates of any party or district can offer these promises any better than the rest.
So, what’s the BIG PLAN that a candidate might offer the voter? You can’t help but be curious what a politician has in mind when he/she makes a declaration of intent but doesn’t offer to explain the how or when it might be accomplished. For instance, THE Bus is not a popular “waste” of taxpayer money but, other than putting the brakes permanently on the service, no serious alternatives are forthcoming from the candidates, at least not on their websites.
A socially conscience community doesn’t throw the needy in the middle of the street to fend for themselves. It makes no difference if the person is an invalid, without transportation because of the economic requirements, a suspended license or any other reason for the need of the service – you do not leave people stranded. Period.
To create situations that bring the despair of confinement (isolation) or the danger of lack of medical attention (doctors, prescriptions) or the fear of losing a job, thus the means to feed and shelter the person or family (because of no transport), is unconscionable. You can pretty much bet those riders on THE Bus would rather not spend the excessive hours in transit due to limited times and routes, but most don’t have the benefit of having someone they can rely on for transportation. But their gratitude is paramount to their needs because, otherwise, other people would dictate the events in their lives. Don’t you dare believe otherwise! Let a politician put him/herself in that same position….
Don’t tax but be ready to spend anyway
Serious consideration is also overdue for lime rock roads. It’s a great campaign promise but will the funds be available? And over what period of time would the project see completion?
A repeated theme from too many candidates calls for an end to “tax and spending”. Enough is enough already! As if the current commissioners aren’t fully aware of the lean years ahead. As if there aren’t other concerns that put them at odds with residents.
Providing assistance for homeowners on the verge of becoming another victim of lax lending practices in the past is complimentary but what of those people already doomed to years of a sub-prime credit rating? The demise of home ownership can’t be resolved on a local basis – the problems are too many; they reach beyond the American economy.
You can’t just do nothing
An alarming affect of the large number of vacant homes centers on the appearance and hazardous conditions that accompany those left unattended. Knee-high grass are a big concern because of what kinds of critters may lurk out of sight. When weeds are allowed to propagate, nearby lawns are subject to the same.
More alarming are the number of swimming pools and other vessels with standing water that remain unattended through these summer months when mosquitoes are in perfect harmony with mother nature to multiply beyond normal urban levels. Fortunately, the lack of rainfall this past spring has kept encephalitis and the West Nile virus from becoming sever health risks.
Code Enforcement can go street by street, house by house and issue citations for whatever responsible party to take care of the properties but they’re not likely to have much affect at resolving the problem. The fines will become the responsibility of the eventual buyer. The number of homes are daunting, the volume beyond the scope of county employees.
This is a major problem that must be addressed now, not later when the problems will become exacerbated. Home values will continue to decline when a neighborhood remains a blight to the esthetics of every real estate property. At some point the problems may become beyond resolve when deterioration of these homes brings doubt that anyone will ever take ownership of such poor investments.
What to do?
It would be refreshing to have a candidate demonstrate a committed interest in community affairs and gave priority to the problems with unoccupied homes. It’s much too easy (lazy? boring!) for a candidate to idly sit by and do little more than repeat what every other candidate suggests will bring prosperity back to Hernando County. Nothing is as simple as promoting a reduction in taxes, employees and services.
It’s old news that residents are without jobs. The recent defeat of the proposed 25% reduction of impact fees to spur a little construction clearly indicated “no new homes” regardless how many (temporary) jobs might have been created. It was a wise decision. It would have put further stress on future projects toward the upkeep of the infrastructure.
But, what about the possibility of putting people to work at resolving the unsightly condition of too many yards? The idea deserves consideration. It shouldn’t be tagged as “thinking outside the box” – at this point in time, it makes common sense as a means to avoid Hernando County from becoming a prime real estate dead zone.
The interiors of previously occupied homes will surely be overcome with dust, dirt, and insects and a good possibility of mildew in addition to whatever condition the previous inhabitants left them, like missing appliances, holes in walls and other destructive acts. An obtrusive stench will affront a person when the doors are opened months, possibly years, of vacancy.
Investors, builders and banks will ultimately have to address the deteriorating conditions of unoccupied homes. But the county could very well take steps to clean up the outside exterior conditions of homes and at least give the community an appearance of relative normalcy.
This would be a win-win-win situation. People would get jobs. Health hazards would be lessened. Neighborhood residents would be relieved, and oh-so thankful, that the view of their homes aren’t marred by the blighted sight next to them.
Voting for the politician, not the person
Whatever candidate the individual voter may support through the voting process, the truth in the effectiveness of his/her term in office won’t be realized until well after the last person in line has placed an X on the ballot. The choice may prove to be positive, negative or indifferent in addressing the challenges facing Hernando County.
Just remember, when it comes to a politician, in the end you just don’t know what the future holds.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Now, That's A Lot of Lots!
The implications will be long in coming. The long term promises that it will, in part, attract a diversified, higher paid workforce and a better quality of life than any other period of history in Hernando County may never be realized. As a matter of fact, those same promises may be of less impact than the costs of supporting the needs that will result from of its development. Fortunately, whatever concerns there may be at this point in time will have little or no affect for a quarter of a century. By then, another generation of residents will have spent their allotted time on Earth, leaving the financial obligations to today’s infants and those not yet born.
To most residents in Hernando County, April 26, 2007, was pretty much an uneventful day, nothing out of the ordinary. Even without verification, it can pretty much be assumed to have been a pleasant day – Florida winter temperatures were gone and the intense heat of summer were a couple months away. No doubt, there were no rain showers that day due to drought conditions. The intensity of wallowing through the 2008 county budget process was a number of months away, not that the hearings had anything to do with the decision made in April.
Decisions, decisions…
Recent data indicate there are so many cleared, yet not built on, lots in Hernando County, many of which were built during the last of the investor-happy years and never occupied, that it might take 11 years to warrant new single-family construction. This compares to 4 to 5 years each for Hillsboro, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Citrus County is looking at 42 years of blighted construction.
Developers can’t be entirely blamed any more than real estate agents. Commissioners in each county deserve the finger that points their way. They are entrusted to provide the basic, immediate social and economic well being of their residents. The higher level of government, the less oversight and importance are given, especially when “residents” become referred to as “citizens”.
I should hope that that common man or woman would agree that community leaders who approve development to such an extent that it would take years and years to reach completion, but continue to approve additional building requests, have other interests than that of the individuals he or she was elected to represent.
Tomorrow, tomorrow…
When Sierra Properties claimed victory for the approval of its Hickory Hill subdivision in April 2007, it seemed there were too few individuals in the commission’s chamber stuttering sentences that began with “Who….?” “How…?” and “Why…?”
All of a sudden the whole atmosphere changed before my senses. It wasn’t like the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits or Night Gallery. It was one of those Tales From the Darkside. It was a tale of unreality, where everything becomes a series of what appears to be the black and white of negative exposures with colors taking on such unnatural hews that their descriptions are lost in gray matter. I’m still not sure if realtor Rose was doing an overly enthusiastic at rubbing lotion on her hands or wringing them in sinister delight for the brew that was dished up that day with the eventual 4 to 1 decision.
Nonetheless, in addition to the possibility it will actually take 11 years to build on currently vacant lots, there are also nearly 4,000 empty homes in Hernando County, some of which were investor-built, not yet sold and occupied, and others from foreclosure. There are also an unknown number of homeowners hoping to sell their value-declining home with intentions to move elsewhere. These facts and figures indicate it will be a very, very long time between now and when additional land use hearings are given consideration for residential construction.
The next construction binge has already been approved three-times over. Hickory Hill, Sun Rise and Lake Hideaway have a total of over 10,000 lots not yet cleared. Now, that’s a lot of planning for the future! By the time new housing is needed, these will be the very developments that will bring residential construction back to prominence.
In the meantime, county commissioners will have more time to spend on how to spend less and less taxpayer contributions toward a dwindling budget that will never pay for the level and quality of services that residents will have to do without. Unfortunately, this isn’t something they had planned on.
To most residents in Hernando County, April 26, 2007, was pretty much an uneventful day, nothing out of the ordinary. Even without verification, it can pretty much be assumed to have been a pleasant day – Florida winter temperatures were gone and the intense heat of summer were a couple months away. No doubt, there were no rain showers that day due to drought conditions. The intensity of wallowing through the 2008 county budget process was a number of months away, not that the hearings had anything to do with the decision made in April.
Decisions, decisions…
Recent data indicate there are so many cleared, yet not built on, lots in Hernando County, many of which were built during the last of the investor-happy years and never occupied, that it might take 11 years to warrant new single-family construction. This compares to 4 to 5 years each for Hillsboro, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Citrus County is looking at 42 years of blighted construction.
Developers can’t be entirely blamed any more than real estate agents. Commissioners in each county deserve the finger that points their way. They are entrusted to provide the basic, immediate social and economic well being of their residents. The higher level of government, the less oversight and importance are given, especially when “residents” become referred to as “citizens”.
I should hope that that common man or woman would agree that community leaders who approve development to such an extent that it would take years and years to reach completion, but continue to approve additional building requests, have other interests than that of the individuals he or she was elected to represent.
Tomorrow, tomorrow…
When Sierra Properties claimed victory for the approval of its Hickory Hill subdivision in April 2007, it seemed there were too few individuals in the commission’s chamber stuttering sentences that began with “Who….?” “How…?” and “Why…?”
All of a sudden the whole atmosphere changed before my senses. It wasn’t like the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits or Night Gallery. It was one of those Tales From the Darkside. It was a tale of unreality, where everything becomes a series of what appears to be the black and white of negative exposures with colors taking on such unnatural hews that their descriptions are lost in gray matter. I’m still not sure if realtor Rose was doing an overly enthusiastic at rubbing lotion on her hands or wringing them in sinister delight for the brew that was dished up that day with the eventual 4 to 1 decision.
Nonetheless, in addition to the possibility it will actually take 11 years to build on currently vacant lots, there are also nearly 4,000 empty homes in Hernando County, some of which were investor-built, not yet sold and occupied, and others from foreclosure. There are also an unknown number of homeowners hoping to sell their value-declining home with intentions to move elsewhere. These facts and figures indicate it will be a very, very long time between now and when additional land use hearings are given consideration for residential construction.
The next construction binge has already been approved three-times over. Hickory Hill, Sun Rise and Lake Hideaway have a total of over 10,000 lots not yet cleared. Now, that’s a lot of planning for the future! By the time new housing is needed, these will be the very developments that will bring residential construction back to prominence.
In the meantime, county commissioners will have more time to spend on how to spend less and less taxpayer contributions toward a dwindling budget that will never pay for the level and quality of services that residents will have to do without. Unfortunately, this isn’t something they had planned on.
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Shopping Cart Is Half Full
As I reflect on the proceedings of the county budget workshop at the Ridge Manor Community Center on May 15, it brings to mind the similarity to a shopper’s quest to carefully choose items from an array of products and services. The selections for consideration were thoughtfully presented among the group of citizens who by far outnumbered the county employees on hand.
The atmosphere was of one of calm resolve, whereby the participants not only viewed the display of facts and figures of county expenditures of today but were also given comparable numbers of years gone by. The six and seven digit dollar amounts of the different baskets of funding were daunting to say the least, but the percentages of increases and decreases of the number put into perspective how appropriations of taxpayer contributions are varied.
I prefer bar graphs to show the change in allocations of moneys, but the pie charts were very effective to bring an understanding of what services take a bigger chunk out of the accumulation of tax dollars. Each piece of the pie is being placed on a plate, ready to be sliced into different portions, some of which will have to be thrown away in a wastebasket because the overall size of the pastry has to be reduced. Sections of the crust a now burnt offerings that won’t fit well when the excess fruit filling is discarded, much of which has turned sour to the taste buds of taxpayers.
In the end, our chefs, the Board of County Commissioners, have the task of concocting a more just dessert of mincemeats. Amendment 1 and fewer tax dollars demand a recipe with less sugar content be replaced with a healthier serving of local government spending.
County Administrator Dave Hamilton has done an excellent job of speaking person-to-person, looking eye-to-eye with concerned residents and listening ear-to-ear to resolve the painful process of bringing expenditures in line with available funds.
As he stood at the podium, he often relinquished the microphone to other county employees to further explain what and how county funds are currently distributed.
Dave admits his two months on the job haven’t given him time to know the ins and outs of the needs of Hernando County as compared to his experience in the same position in Crow Wing, Minnesota.
I am impressed. As he has successfully put his trust in the assistance of county employees to explain the complexity of the county budget, so should we put our faith in his leadership abilities to lead us to a more sound economic future.
I learned that there is a considerable amount of state and federal grants that provide funding for a variety of services. The meeting couldn’t allow time for specifics but the awareness should lead to more information and understanding during the 2008-2009 Budget Hearings held in June.
The workshop discussions at the Ridge Manor site are as unique as those held at the Brooksville site two weeks ago. I hadn’t expected such diversity, which gives me a woeful feeling for having been able to attend the meeting in Istachatta.
Another observation at Ridge Manor has to do with a small group of ladies who didn’t participate in the discussions but were nonetheless attentive to what was being said. The attendance of the four teenagers hinted that youthful residents have a vested interest in their futures as Hernando County adults. They might no realize their importance but I hope they will consider discussions with their schoolmates about the experience. Perhaps some would attend the Budget Hearings next month. Their involvement in local government would be an honorable contribution. Their parents wouldn’t be the only ones to take pride in their words of thought.
If a change is in fact gonna come, it will the choice of the young and restless to challenge us over-the-hill gang with fresh ideas for it is they who will take over where those who proceeded them left off and decide what is and what will be.
There are three shopping days left. Each of the remaining Thursdays in May have scheduled budget workshops. The shopping cart is only half full. It’s large enough to accommodate as many ideas and comments that shoppers can place in the cart. Not long from now Dave Hamilton will take the shopping list and “proceed to checkout”.
The atmosphere was of one of calm resolve, whereby the participants not only viewed the display of facts and figures of county expenditures of today but were also given comparable numbers of years gone by. The six and seven digit dollar amounts of the different baskets of funding were daunting to say the least, but the percentages of increases and decreases of the number put into perspective how appropriations of taxpayer contributions are varied.
I prefer bar graphs to show the change in allocations of moneys, but the pie charts were very effective to bring an understanding of what services take a bigger chunk out of the accumulation of tax dollars. Each piece of the pie is being placed on a plate, ready to be sliced into different portions, some of which will have to be thrown away in a wastebasket because the overall size of the pastry has to be reduced. Sections of the crust a now burnt offerings that won’t fit well when the excess fruit filling is discarded, much of which has turned sour to the taste buds of taxpayers.
In the end, our chefs, the Board of County Commissioners, have the task of concocting a more just dessert of mincemeats. Amendment 1 and fewer tax dollars demand a recipe with less sugar content be replaced with a healthier serving of local government spending.
County Administrator Dave Hamilton has done an excellent job of speaking person-to-person, looking eye-to-eye with concerned residents and listening ear-to-ear to resolve the painful process of bringing expenditures in line with available funds.
As he stood at the podium, he often relinquished the microphone to other county employees to further explain what and how county funds are currently distributed.
Dave admits his two months on the job haven’t given him time to know the ins and outs of the needs of Hernando County as compared to his experience in the same position in Crow Wing, Minnesota.
I am impressed. As he has successfully put his trust in the assistance of county employees to explain the complexity of the county budget, so should we put our faith in his leadership abilities to lead us to a more sound economic future.
I learned that there is a considerable amount of state and federal grants that provide funding for a variety of services. The meeting couldn’t allow time for specifics but the awareness should lead to more information and understanding during the 2008-2009 Budget Hearings held in June.
The workshop discussions at the Ridge Manor site are as unique as those held at the Brooksville site two weeks ago. I hadn’t expected such diversity, which gives me a woeful feeling for having been able to attend the meeting in Istachatta.
Another observation at Ridge Manor has to do with a small group of ladies who didn’t participate in the discussions but were nonetheless attentive to what was being said. The attendance of the four teenagers hinted that youthful residents have a vested interest in their futures as Hernando County adults. They might no realize their importance but I hope they will consider discussions with their schoolmates about the experience. Perhaps some would attend the Budget Hearings next month. Their involvement in local government would be an honorable contribution. Their parents wouldn’t be the only ones to take pride in their words of thought.
If a change is in fact gonna come, it will the choice of the young and restless to challenge us over-the-hill gang with fresh ideas for it is they who will take over where those who proceeded them left off and decide what is and what will be.
There are three shopping days left. Each of the remaining Thursdays in May have scheduled budget workshops. The shopping cart is only half full. It’s large enough to accommodate as many ideas and comments that shoppers can place in the cart. Not long from now Dave Hamilton will take the shopping list and “proceed to checkout”.
Budget Squawk Talk
The first of a series of 2008-2009 budget workshops was disappointing in the number of citizens who attended, which was close to the number of county employees. Those who maintain indifference toward the town hall meetings to address the issue of spending cuts for the coming year's Hernando County budget either don’t care or don’t know about the meetings. I hope the latter is the case but then many would still be among the former.
Of the people who spoke, their points were all valid. No one can be wrong when budgets are discussed. A good number of speakers had the same theme: the South Brooksville contamination site. Apparently the County had set an open-ended deadline for the cleanup. Two decades hasn’t been quite enough time.
Three speakers bamboozled me with their insights.
Joe Lemieux’s handiwork came in the form of placards with outdated numbers showing the compensation given to county managers. Each of their salaries has increased this past year. Other words he spoke made it clear the disgust he feels toward ill-spent taxpayer moneys. Foolish me, I misinterpreted his presentation as a podium for a bid as County Commissioner. As it turned out, he was just trying to help every taxpayer with responsible cuts in county expenses. You can call him Citizen Joe.
Then there was the lady, Anna Trinque, who was adamant that the county should reduce, or at least limit, the acreage of public lands. Her vision sees a flourish of new housing construction that would bolster the economy. Those days are over for the time being.
Perhaps a few thousand homeowners with For Sale signs could point out there are plenty of vacancies with unfulfilled opportunities of being sold. Property taxes won’t help the local economy as it has in the past. Those lost tax dollars will have to be replaced with higher impact fees to fully cover the costs of providing county services and road upgrades.
I was convinced she was running for County Commissioner. Not so. She turned out to be a self-interested real estate agent.
There was a gentleman, Mike Gladfelter, with an idea to bring alternative revenues to the county budget. He suggested cloning a Port Richie cost recovery program, which would collect automobile accident investigation fees from insurance companies of at-fault drivers. How much this could save the county wasn’t presented. Investigations would still be handled by the sheriff’s department; the billing would be outsourced. If the idea is worthy of consideration there are some concerns.
Sure, police investigation costs would be removed from the budget. It sounds like a good deal but you can bet insurance companies would pass along the increase in claims to every driver by raising premiums. It would be a poor trade-off. Property taxes have gone down some but the savings of recovery fees for the county would shift financial liabilities back to the pockets of residents.
The other concern is the possibility that there could be an increase in the number of investigations. Investigations deemed too expensive in the past might be given consideration. Perhaps the assets of at-fault driver could influence the degree to which investigations are pursued. There would be no need to contain costs.
Again, I had the impression he was another contender for County Commissioner. Wrong. I learned he is a police officer.
At one point Mike, Anna and Joe had a few tense words amongst themselves. One attendee at the meeting felt it was an inappropriate time for a heated debate. Annoyed, the person suggested their discussion be taken to the parking lot. His recommendation was misinterpreted as a joke when a few chuckled at the idea. I decided to grin and bear it, for he was I.
The attention of Administrator Dave Hamilton all but assures residents he has the stamina and determination to set in motion changes that will serve the best interests of Hernando County. His past experiences were easily displayed but he also acknowledged situations that he would not have been aware if it weren’t for the grace of the citizens who gave him earfuls of awareness.
I wasn’t able to attend the second workshop in Istachatta due to prior commitments. I lost an opportunity to visit an area of the county not yet explored.
Round three of the workshops is forthcoming on Thursday, May 15, at Ridge Manor Community Center. Those who care will be there.
Of the people who spoke, their points were all valid. No one can be wrong when budgets are discussed. A good number of speakers had the same theme: the South Brooksville contamination site. Apparently the County had set an open-ended deadline for the cleanup. Two decades hasn’t been quite enough time.
Three speakers bamboozled me with their insights.
Joe Lemieux’s handiwork came in the form of placards with outdated numbers showing the compensation given to county managers. Each of their salaries has increased this past year. Other words he spoke made it clear the disgust he feels toward ill-spent taxpayer moneys. Foolish me, I misinterpreted his presentation as a podium for a bid as County Commissioner. As it turned out, he was just trying to help every taxpayer with responsible cuts in county expenses. You can call him Citizen Joe.
Then there was the lady, Anna Trinque, who was adamant that the county should reduce, or at least limit, the acreage of public lands. Her vision sees a flourish of new housing construction that would bolster the economy. Those days are over for the time being.
Perhaps a few thousand homeowners with For Sale signs could point out there are plenty of vacancies with unfulfilled opportunities of being sold. Property taxes won’t help the local economy as it has in the past. Those lost tax dollars will have to be replaced with higher impact fees to fully cover the costs of providing county services and road upgrades.
I was convinced she was running for County Commissioner. Not so. She turned out to be a self-interested real estate agent.
There was a gentleman, Mike Gladfelter, with an idea to bring alternative revenues to the county budget. He suggested cloning a Port Richie cost recovery program, which would collect automobile accident investigation fees from insurance companies of at-fault drivers. How much this could save the county wasn’t presented. Investigations would still be handled by the sheriff’s department; the billing would be outsourced. If the idea is worthy of consideration there are some concerns.
Sure, police investigation costs would be removed from the budget. It sounds like a good deal but you can bet insurance companies would pass along the increase in claims to every driver by raising premiums. It would be a poor trade-off. Property taxes have gone down some but the savings of recovery fees for the county would shift financial liabilities back to the pockets of residents.
The other concern is the possibility that there could be an increase in the number of investigations. Investigations deemed too expensive in the past might be given consideration. Perhaps the assets of at-fault driver could influence the degree to which investigations are pursued. There would be no need to contain costs.
Again, I had the impression he was another contender for County Commissioner. Wrong. I learned he is a police officer.
At one point Mike, Anna and Joe had a few tense words amongst themselves. One attendee at the meeting felt it was an inappropriate time for a heated debate. Annoyed, the person suggested their discussion be taken to the parking lot. His recommendation was misinterpreted as a joke when a few chuckled at the idea. I decided to grin and bear it, for he was I.
The attention of Administrator Dave Hamilton all but assures residents he has the stamina and determination to set in motion changes that will serve the best interests of Hernando County. His past experiences were easily displayed but he also acknowledged situations that he would not have been aware if it weren’t for the grace of the citizens who gave him earfuls of awareness.
I wasn’t able to attend the second workshop in Istachatta due to prior commitments. I lost an opportunity to visit an area of the county not yet explored.
Round three of the workshops is forthcoming on Thursday, May 15, at Ridge Manor Community Center. Those who care will be there.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Shaking the Money Tree
Shake, shake, shake! Shake your booty!
Those were the words of song by KC & The Sunshine Band in the mid-70s. Soon, there’ll be a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on during the annual Hernando County Budget Hearings. After the shakedown, booty on the money tree will be slim-pickin’s because of Amendment 1.
On that cold day in January, when Florida voters gave Amendment 1 the right of passage, these days of pinching pennies were already foreseen. The after-affects of property tax reductions are just now about to take interested residents through the economic abyss of fire and brimstone.
Things are so bad… How bad are they? This will become known as “The Year Of The Fussbudget”. Succeeding years will have a Roman numeral.
Freshman County Administrator Dave Hamilton has been given the authority to hold town hall meetings to give residents the opportunity to be an integral part of the budget process by letting them air out their wants and figure out what will become have-nots. It’s like nitpicking, or removing lint off a wool sweater. Residents can pick away at parasitic expenditures and the fluff of government spending.
Somewhere along the way we may also be introduced to an alternative source of revenue. That’ll come later in the budget campaign.
Hamilton has prior Administrator experience in Crow Wing, Minnesota. His comrade is Budget Director George Zoettlein. I can envision them having spent hours in running over some preliminary numbers, making preparations for the public meetings, coming up with a game plan and standing up, giving each other a high-five while shouting out the battle cry, “Let’s DO IT!”
This is an unlikely scenario but that level of adrenalin might be needed to get through the budget hearings. Right now, these two men are the most important of all public servants. The public of Hernando County will be doggin’ them around through a process that will reshape the very heart of our local government.
Hamilton must already realize that the annual raises given to government employees will be at the top of the “black list”. During last year's hearings, such was an often sought-after means to bring the budget in line with reality. Many residents submitted the suggestion during last year’s budget hearings but as the Commission clearly explained, it is mandated for all constitutional officers by the Florida State Constitution.
Apparently, the no-raise option is a taxpayer pipe dream, making it a mute subject. Complain at the dinner table but not at the hearings. Force reduction, down-sizing, right-sizing… whatever you want to call it, this is the primary means to chip away at expenditures.
County employees are not gauranteed pay increases.
THE Bus will once again be a major object of contention. To discontinue the operation of public transportation would put a hardship on the elder, the infirm and other unfortunate residents, creating situations where health problems are likely to be remain untreated. Making trips for food and other life necessities would become other objects of concern. Denying those in need of low cost public transportation denies people a means of having mobility. They would feel left behind, outcasts to society.
Low ridership on THE Bus has, in part, been attributed to limited routes and schedules. Since THE Bus has proven to be poorly planned and much too costly, alternatives should be in order. Perhaps the use of vans would afford additional routes. Called “Da VAN” they would be less expensive with reduced pollution. Funding might be a problem but the idea may warrant consideration.
In this election year, it should be rather intriguing with Commissioners Kingsley, Rowden and Stabins up for reelection. Each of them has been a participant of willy-nilly spending of tax dollars over the past few years. Commissioners Rocco and Russell are serving terms that began January 2007 so they’re in an enviable position that by Election Day 2010 the economy will be on the mend and their challenges may be less taxing, so to speak.
There’s an aforethought that the hearings will have a good degree of dramatics. An array of candidates will play the role of spoilers to the incumbents. These are the ones to watch as they try to position themselves to gain supporters. Hopefully they will follow protocol, adhering to the allotted three minutes of prime time speaking. Dribble talk isn’t needed. Criticizing, pointing fingers and making token suggestions that others have already made won’t make the grade. Without offering solutions, their words will give pause to their political aspirations.
Of course, reducing or eliminating services, thus employees, will be the main topic at the public workshops where everything can be put on the chopping block. It will be a tedious process, perhaps better presented to citizens with current line-by-line expenditures with residents given the option of using the line-item veto process. A show of hands would prove less obstructive than people yelling Yeas and Nays or even profanities.
Somewhere down the road of the budget process, Hamilton will propose the option of importing prisoners from elsewhere as a last stop before being transferred to a penitentiary. Select local low-risk offenders would be released with ankle bracelets, making space available for convicts that would bring in funds from State and Federal governments.
The savings of eliminating local inmates at the jail facilities would be $3-million this year (and $5.7-million next year) but there would still be a shortfall of $2.6-million of available budget funding. If the county takes the route of the risky investment of housing prisoners, it could bring in $1-million.
Hamilton worked with law enforcement agencies during his job as Administrator in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, where the population is but a third of Hernando. Apparently, it worked out well there. Brainerd is the county seat in Crow Wing, one hour north of St. Cloud and two hours away from Minneapolis. Although the cumulative population of these cities rivals that of Tampa/St. Pete, the metro area south of here sprawls far and wide and is but 40 miles from the Hernando County Jail. Our distance from a much larger overall metropolitan area means more prison traffic.
This would be a valid concern of residents living within close proximity to the jail. Notification letters to those living within a three mile radius would likely be in order.
As the budget hearings are about to begin, identifying and gaining support for reducing government spending will be a slow, painful process. County Administrator Dave Hamilton appears to be ready for the challenge, the first of many. I hope he’s good at dodge ball; flexibility and resilience will be needed, as citizens are going to play hardball.
If residents can be patient, thoughtful and realistic about how the county can make respectful budget cuts, perhaps the end result will bring a broader acceptance of the inevitable loss of services.
As the town hall meetings begin in May, show your support of making Hernando County an example to other budget-wrenched counties. As you enter the door, hold those five digits in the air, ready to give Dave and George a hearty “Let’s DO IT!”
Those were the words of song by KC & The Sunshine Band in the mid-70s. Soon, there’ll be a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on during the annual Hernando County Budget Hearings. After the shakedown, booty on the money tree will be slim-pickin’s because of Amendment 1.
On that cold day in January, when Florida voters gave Amendment 1 the right of passage, these days of pinching pennies were already foreseen. The after-affects of property tax reductions are just now about to take interested residents through the economic abyss of fire and brimstone.
Things are so bad… How bad are they? This will become known as “The Year Of The Fussbudget”. Succeeding years will have a Roman numeral.
Freshman County Administrator Dave Hamilton has been given the authority to hold town hall meetings to give residents the opportunity to be an integral part of the budget process by letting them air out their wants and figure out what will become have-nots. It’s like nitpicking, or removing lint off a wool sweater. Residents can pick away at parasitic expenditures and the fluff of government spending.
Somewhere along the way we may also be introduced to an alternative source of revenue. That’ll come later in the budget campaign.
Hamilton has prior Administrator experience in Crow Wing, Minnesota. His comrade is Budget Director George Zoettlein. I can envision them having spent hours in running over some preliminary numbers, making preparations for the public meetings, coming up with a game plan and standing up, giving each other a high-five while shouting out the battle cry, “Let’s DO IT!”
This is an unlikely scenario but that level of adrenalin might be needed to get through the budget hearings. Right now, these two men are the most important of all public servants. The public of Hernando County will be doggin’ them around through a process that will reshape the very heart of our local government.
Hamilton must already realize that the annual raises given to government employees will be at the top of the “black list”. During last year's hearings, such was an often sought-after means to bring the budget in line with reality. Many residents submitted the suggestion during last year’s budget hearings but as the Commission clearly explained, it is mandated for all constitutional officers by the Florida State Constitution.
Apparently, the no-raise option is a taxpayer pipe dream, making it a mute subject. Complain at the dinner table but not at the hearings. Force reduction, down-sizing, right-sizing… whatever you want to call it, this is the primary means to chip away at expenditures.
County employees are not gauranteed pay increases.
THE Bus will once again be a major object of contention. To discontinue the operation of public transportation would put a hardship on the elder, the infirm and other unfortunate residents, creating situations where health problems are likely to be remain untreated. Making trips for food and other life necessities would become other objects of concern. Denying those in need of low cost public transportation denies people a means of having mobility. They would feel left behind, outcasts to society.
Low ridership on THE Bus has, in part, been attributed to limited routes and schedules. Since THE Bus has proven to be poorly planned and much too costly, alternatives should be in order. Perhaps the use of vans would afford additional routes. Called “Da VAN” they would be less expensive with reduced pollution. Funding might be a problem but the idea may warrant consideration.
In this election year, it should be rather intriguing with Commissioners Kingsley, Rowden and Stabins up for reelection. Each of them has been a participant of willy-nilly spending of tax dollars over the past few years. Commissioners Rocco and Russell are serving terms that began January 2007 so they’re in an enviable position that by Election Day 2010 the economy will be on the mend and their challenges may be less taxing, so to speak.
There’s an aforethought that the hearings will have a good degree of dramatics. An array of candidates will play the role of spoilers to the incumbents. These are the ones to watch as they try to position themselves to gain supporters. Hopefully they will follow protocol, adhering to the allotted three minutes of prime time speaking. Dribble talk isn’t needed. Criticizing, pointing fingers and making token suggestions that others have already made won’t make the grade. Without offering solutions, their words will give pause to their political aspirations.
Of course, reducing or eliminating services, thus employees, will be the main topic at the public workshops where everything can be put on the chopping block. It will be a tedious process, perhaps better presented to citizens with current line-by-line expenditures with residents given the option of using the line-item veto process. A show of hands would prove less obstructive than people yelling Yeas and Nays or even profanities.
Somewhere down the road of the budget process, Hamilton will propose the option of importing prisoners from elsewhere as a last stop before being transferred to a penitentiary. Select local low-risk offenders would be released with ankle bracelets, making space available for convicts that would bring in funds from State and Federal governments.
The savings of eliminating local inmates at the jail facilities would be $3-million this year (and $5.7-million next year) but there would still be a shortfall of $2.6-million of available budget funding. If the county takes the route of the risky investment of housing prisoners, it could bring in $1-million.
Hamilton worked with law enforcement agencies during his job as Administrator in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, where the population is but a third of Hernando. Apparently, it worked out well there. Brainerd is the county seat in Crow Wing, one hour north of St. Cloud and two hours away from Minneapolis. Although the cumulative population of these cities rivals that of Tampa/St. Pete, the metro area south of here sprawls far and wide and is but 40 miles from the Hernando County Jail. Our distance from a much larger overall metropolitan area means more prison traffic.
This would be a valid concern of residents living within close proximity to the jail. Notification letters to those living within a three mile radius would likely be in order.
As the budget hearings are about to begin, identifying and gaining support for reducing government spending will be a slow, painful process. County Administrator Dave Hamilton appears to be ready for the challenge, the first of many. I hope he’s good at dodge ball; flexibility and resilience will be needed, as citizens are going to play hardball.
If residents can be patient, thoughtful and realistic about how the county can make respectful budget cuts, perhaps the end result will bring a broader acceptance of the inevitable loss of services.
As the town hall meetings begin in May, show your support of making Hernando County an example to other budget-wrenched counties. As you enter the door, hold those five digits in the air, ready to give Dave and George a hearty “Let’s DO IT!”
Friday, February 22, 2008
Hernando County Running on Fumes
This past week the price that investors pay for crude-oil futures slid above $100 per barrel. The significance of the increase will accentuate the hardships of parents who transports kids to school events, charitable organizations whose volunteers deliver essentials to the needy, school districts whose bus expenses have already put thoughts of putting the lives of children at risk by making them walk to their schools, pizza delivery employees whose tips may be insufficient to warrant the limited pay they already receive… and residents of Hernando County who work outside the area.
The pay may be an attractive draw to seek and maintain employment in Pasco and Hillsboro Counties, but these commuters are going to be hit hard in their pocketbooks. With the cost of most everything else going up and the challenges of paying property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums there’ll be little left to spend on what the Federal Governments expects from citizens to spur the economy.
The only means of people to purchase anything other than the essentials for their families will be by credit card. The Fed can lower the prime rate to zero and you can bet your life savings that interest rates on those plastics devils won’t go much below 15%. Heck, even with an excellent credit score, the worst culprit of my credit purchase woes is Bank of America. Others are currently charging less but those introductory rates have an ending date that I don’t remember and, worse, the loan holders don’t supply that information on the monthly statements.
There are many Americans whose credit ratings put their interest rates above 20% or default rates close to 30%.
Let me go back a few paragraphs where I mentioned there are a good number of Hernando County residents working outside the area. Their numbers equal about 34% of the County’s working residents. Let’s say the average commuter puts 40 miles on their vehicle to get to work to destinations south of here, double that for a round trip then multiply by the 5-day workweek. That’s 400 miles per week. This is probably a conservative figure.
Not long ago the price of a gallon of gas was right around $3.00 so let’s assume a worst case scenario with the cost going up to $3.75 by July, as suggested by AAA, and the vehicle get 25 miles per gallon. The expense in gas would go from $48.00 to $60.00 every month. The cost of car maintenance and repairs will surely go up, but can’t be avoided to keep the machine at its best performance.
If there are thoughts of a new vehicle, forget it. The cost of my auto insurance just went up 10% from six months ago – no tickets, no accidents, no claims. A ’95 truck and an ’03 car. The telephone rep explained the increase was due to the cost of repairs and/or claims in Hernando County. I didn’t feel safe in lowering the coverage because of being a homeowner, so I fudged a bit about my estimated annual mileage.
If you think the cost of gasoline couldn’t get much worse, take into consideration that, just last month, investors in oil futures are betting that the price of crude to reach two hundred dollars - that's $200. As the cost of petroleum goes up, so do the prices of nearly everything we Americans take for granted. And, as prices go up, the Dow will likely go down because people will have less to spend.
Whenever anyone suggests the slump in the economy will correct itself in a couple of years, I just don’t see it happening. After a dismal December for retail stores, January figures showed a pitiful gain of .4% - just a little more than nothing. Then I read that retail sales include gasoline. Without the increase of the price of gasoline, retail sales would have been less than zero over the prior month! Hell-O! And a Happy New Year!
In a county that relies on retail, construction and property tax revenues, Hernando County has three strikes against its economic well-being. With a new administrator or not, there are some hefty challenges in the foreseeable future. It’ll be quite some time before new homes are built, thus construction laborers will have plenty of idle time in their lives to do whatever else is available to give them entertainment.
Workers are often displaced for lack of need in their chosen fields of employment and must seek other endeavors to achieve a measure of success in their lives. It’s a rude awakening but, when survival is at stake, the brave and venturous shall inherit the paycheck.
This can and should be addressed by the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. They and their “constituents of interest” need to get off their doo-dahs and plan for a future that leaves behind the ho-hum doldrums of menial jobs and low wages that have been allowed grow as quick and thick as unwanted Florida groundcover in a manicured garden.
Without the guidance and consideration of any and all the people of influence for the future of Hernando County, a solid economic future cannot be resurrected from the past decade of housing growth. At one point the County had a tank full of gas - now it’s running on fumes, about to stall out.
The pay may be an attractive draw to seek and maintain employment in Pasco and Hillsboro Counties, but these commuters are going to be hit hard in their pocketbooks. With the cost of most everything else going up and the challenges of paying property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums there’ll be little left to spend on what the Federal Governments expects from citizens to spur the economy.
The only means of people to purchase anything other than the essentials for their families will be by credit card. The Fed can lower the prime rate to zero and you can bet your life savings that interest rates on those plastics devils won’t go much below 15%. Heck, even with an excellent credit score, the worst culprit of my credit purchase woes is Bank of America. Others are currently charging less but those introductory rates have an ending date that I don’t remember and, worse, the loan holders don’t supply that information on the monthly statements.
There are many Americans whose credit ratings put their interest rates above 20% or default rates close to 30%.
Let me go back a few paragraphs where I mentioned there are a good number of Hernando County residents working outside the area. Their numbers equal about 34% of the County’s working residents. Let’s say the average commuter puts 40 miles on their vehicle to get to work to destinations south of here, double that for a round trip then multiply by the 5-day workweek. That’s 400 miles per week. This is probably a conservative figure.
Not long ago the price of a gallon of gas was right around $3.00 so let’s assume a worst case scenario with the cost going up to $3.75 by July, as suggested by AAA, and the vehicle get 25 miles per gallon. The expense in gas would go from $48.00 to $60.00 every month. The cost of car maintenance and repairs will surely go up, but can’t be avoided to keep the machine at its best performance.
If there are thoughts of a new vehicle, forget it. The cost of my auto insurance just went up 10% from six months ago – no tickets, no accidents, no claims. A ’95 truck and an ’03 car. The telephone rep explained the increase was due to the cost of repairs and/or claims in Hernando County. I didn’t feel safe in lowering the coverage because of being a homeowner, so I fudged a bit about my estimated annual mileage.
If you think the cost of gasoline couldn’t get much worse, take into consideration that, just last month, investors in oil futures are betting that the price of crude to reach two hundred dollars - that's $200. As the cost of petroleum goes up, so do the prices of nearly everything we Americans take for granted. And, as prices go up, the Dow will likely go down because people will have less to spend.
Whenever anyone suggests the slump in the economy will correct itself in a couple of years, I just don’t see it happening. After a dismal December for retail stores, January figures showed a pitiful gain of .4% - just a little more than nothing. Then I read that retail sales include gasoline. Without the increase of the price of gasoline, retail sales would have been less than zero over the prior month! Hell-O! And a Happy New Year!
In a county that relies on retail, construction and property tax revenues, Hernando County has three strikes against its economic well-being. With a new administrator or not, there are some hefty challenges in the foreseeable future. It’ll be quite some time before new homes are built, thus construction laborers will have plenty of idle time in their lives to do whatever else is available to give them entertainment.
Workers are often displaced for lack of need in their chosen fields of employment and must seek other endeavors to achieve a measure of success in their lives. It’s a rude awakening but, when survival is at stake, the brave and venturous shall inherit the paycheck.
This can and should be addressed by the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. They and their “constituents of interest” need to get off their doo-dahs and plan for a future that leaves behind the ho-hum doldrums of menial jobs and low wages that have been allowed grow as quick and thick as unwanted Florida groundcover in a manicured garden.
Without the guidance and consideration of any and all the people of influence for the future of Hernando County, a solid economic future cannot be resurrected from the past decade of housing growth. At one point the County had a tank full of gas - now it’s running on fumes, about to stall out.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Affordable Workforce Housing
Silly, silly me! My understanding of “affordable workforce housing” demonstrates how naïve I can be. Unfortunately, I don’t have in my possession a Government Dictionary that spells out the true meaning of buzz wording.
I first became aware of the concept of affordable workforce housing a couple of years ago at one of the hearings of Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. I thought it a unique and progressive means of setting a path for a broader range of residents to share in what is typically the best investment one can make in their lives.
Another reality check put this design at a higher level of government: a knucklehead brainchild of the Tallahassee Legislative branch. It appears to be a pointless goal since there seems to be no dedication to bring the idea to fruition.
I have now come to the conclusion that the word “workforce” is generally meant for those with government employment, particularly police, firemen and schoolteachers. You might think government would show a sense of urgency but there is seldom a discussion of the matter. The one exception is County Commissioner Diane Rowden. Her words and thoughts on the subject gave me an awareness of the term.
Mrs. Rowden is quite the maverick of the five-member Board. Time and again she has openly expressed her dismay when hearing after hearing broadens the scope of residential subdivisions. Her No vote is expected but hers is the only dissenting vote.
The Commission’s hearing for giving the approval of Sierra Properties’ Hickory Hill project atop the county’s most esthetic piece of land demonstrated her misunderstanding of what every other community leader sees as Hernando County’s future in the grand scheme of development. Her shock and dismay over what became the final approval was blatantly displayed after the vote was said and done. Mine too. With little consolation, I held a hastily printed sign that read “What about affordable workforce housing?” Diane gave me acknowledgement, the appreciation was apparent.
Commissioner Rowden will have to give the idea up for the time being. She has little choice but to wait for the influence of local business interests give the signal that it’s okay to give it a green light. For it to be a financial boon to their interests, the green will have to be in the form of big bucks.
I first became aware of the concept of affordable workforce housing a couple of years ago at one of the hearings of Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. I thought it a unique and progressive means of setting a path for a broader range of residents to share in what is typically the best investment one can make in their lives.
Another reality check put this design at a higher level of government: a knucklehead brainchild of the Tallahassee Legislative branch. It appears to be a pointless goal since there seems to be no dedication to bring the idea to fruition.
I have now come to the conclusion that the word “workforce” is generally meant for those with government employment, particularly police, firemen and schoolteachers. You might think government would show a sense of urgency but there is seldom a discussion of the matter. The one exception is County Commissioner Diane Rowden. Her words and thoughts on the subject gave me an awareness of the term.
Mrs. Rowden is quite the maverick of the five-member Board. Time and again she has openly expressed her dismay when hearing after hearing broadens the scope of residential subdivisions. Her No vote is expected but hers is the only dissenting vote.
The Commission’s hearing for giving the approval of Sierra Properties’ Hickory Hill project atop the county’s most esthetic piece of land demonstrated her misunderstanding of what every other community leader sees as Hernando County’s future in the grand scheme of development. Her shock and dismay over what became the final approval was blatantly displayed after the vote was said and done. Mine too. With little consolation, I held a hastily printed sign that read “What about affordable workforce housing?” Diane gave me acknowledgement, the appreciation was apparent.
Commissioner Rowden will have to give the idea up for the time being. She has little choice but to wait for the influence of local business interests give the signal that it’s okay to give it a green light. For it to be a financial boon to their interests, the green will have to be in the form of big bucks.
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