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Highlands Today

Where Has Our County's Money Gone?

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Gabriel Read

Published: February 20, 2008

In addition to the critical national issues confronting us as citizens, and the state issues we are concerned about, there is one issue no one has even thought about yet, but which is about to occur. The Iraqi war and the national economy are the two most critical issues facing us today. Iraq, the economy and Afghanistan are still foremost in the minds of most Americans.

In our state there are the two issues: property taxes and insurance premium rates. The passage of Amendment One supposedly helped homesteaders and Save Our Homers, but left others still hanging in the wind. The state still has not helped home owners with their insurance rates. There are a number of questions requiring answers.

The residents of Highlands County need to consider a new issue; the immediate future of Carl Cool. With the newest speculation that Carl Cool plans to campaign for the county commission in District 1 (Avon Park), some intriguing questions emerged. Perhaps this is a jaundiced view of local government, but here goes.

Mr. Cool retired two years ago, and then was re-hired to continue his tenure as county administrator. A year ago, the county commission established a panel on county growth to come up with new ideas for a more efficient form of county government. The last three years saw a 50 percent increase in property taxes, with the county reaping great dividends.

Now Mr. Cool has retired again, and supposedly plans to run for the commission seat. Is it possible that this "revelation" has been planned all along? One would think that 32 years of service would justify a well-deserved retirement; yet, it appears that this may be just another chapter of "engaged" service to the same county. Moving his retirement date up a month or two in order to qualify only adds implication to this "plan." Hanging on to county business also engenders the concept of the Good Old Boys Club.

This phenomenon could pass for just another anomaly in the scheme of things except for one significant factor: The incumbent in the Avon Park district is Barbara Stewart, the most competent commissioner since Bob Bullard. Like Bullard, Mrs. Stewart studies the issues, does her home work and tries to achieve her goals of efficiency and accountability in county government.

She has to ask a lot of questions to get valid answers. There have been citizens in the past who asked the same few questions: What are you bidding on? Are you bidding on the same thing? How much is the real cost? This commission has followed a cost-plus policy, meaning the actual cost results is much higher than the bid cost.

In light of the fact that Highlands County has been flush with revenue the last three years, one could ponder why the county government is short about $5 million for the next fiscal year. Even though Gov. Crist has promised to make up that shortfall with a special fund, the county commission plans to cut funds in several sectors, mostly in "people services," Question: Where did all that extra revenue go?

Thus, with this shortfall in revenue in 2008 and another prospective shortfall in 2009 because of the looming recession, this commission anticipates adding another layer of government, a product of the County Growth Panel (four new administrators at a cost of $1 million.) Plus, the sheriff needs another $3 million to $4 million for expansion of her department. There is still the Sebring Parkway with millions and millions more to go.

A significant segment of the residents in this county still have hefty property taxes and steep insurance premiums to pay. Those who still have jobs received an average of a 2 percent wage increase, and retirees are still on a fixed income. Mr. Cool has been at the core of this process. With the economy in a downturn, it would seem the county government would be looking at ways to reduce spending rather than increase spending, especially when people services will be in greater demand. That is one of Mrs. Stewart's goals, efficiency. Food for thought.

Gabriel Read lives in Avon Park.

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