Builders provide impressive list of ideas to stimulate economy

Everyone's complaining about government spending, but few are offering real ideas on how to fix the problems. To its credit, the Highlands County Builders Association came out with many ideas to stimulate the local economy. While there's plenty to like and, perhaps dislike, about some of the ideas, at least it was a productive list that contains promise and merit.

The builders association wants county government to halt impact fees for up to 18 months; cut the county's workforce by 25 percent and launch building projects that provide jobs to local contractors and sub-contractors.

We believe impact fees should be postponed until some kind of economic normalcy returns and definitely want local contractors and sub contractors to get any local government construction jobs, as long as they are in the ballpark on costs and can handle the job.

The idea to cut at least 25 percent of the county government's workforce isn't realistic, in our opinion, but it's clear cuts are coming. Throwing people out of work is counterproductive, and contrary to some folks' beliefs, our county government is not brimming with wasteful spending on personnel.

Everyone believes services they don't depend on or use are not important. The problem with that is citizens of all types in this county depend on different services. One person's essential service is another person's non-essential service.

That said, we like many of the ideas put forward by the builders association. It's clear that getting the building industry moving in Highlands County is vital to keeping and increasing businesses and jobs.

County Commissioner Don Bates said it best that it was impressive to see someone come up with ideas instead of just complaining. We agree, and look forward to more ideas flowing from all interested parties wanting to help improve our county and rekindle the economy.