Letter: Taxpayers pay, so they ought to have say

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I have seen Florida counties go down the drain for the last 20-plus years because of the many Comprehensive Plan changes. These counties will never learn because they are still collecting property tax even though these homeowners have vacated, and the property foreclosed.

When this happens, the bank or loan people take over and try to sell the property, but that can take many months. During this time, the property has to be maintained, the grass cut, air conditioner running, the electric and property taxes the bank pays.

All the money eventually comes out of our pockets, because the taxpayers pay the bill when it’s a government loan. Even when a regular bank loans the money, it’s coming from the federal government through bank bailouts, and that’s you, me and our grandchildren.

Then you may see my concern, and that the counties are not learning a thing. If they had to make more substantial cuts in their budgets because there is no money, they might stop these comp plan amendments that allow more homes developers shouldn’t get. But, they cut library hours, and are approving comp plan amendments just like they did before.

It’s like Nat Reed said at a Consensus meeting; he fears these developers are going to get these comp plan amendments approved, and put them in the “ice box” for future use. I believe they are afraid of next year’s Florida Hometown Democracy, or Amendment 4, which is on the 2010 statewide ballot.

If FHD is passed, voters will be able to say yes or no to comp plan amendments that will increase density, and they don’t want voters/taxpayers to have the final say. But taxpayers pay, so why shouldn’t they? That’s what Amendment 4 will do. Developers fear it.

Vote 4 yourself; vote Amendment 4.

Joe Florio

Jensen Beach