Performance Vs. Spending?

The Hernando County Commissioners held a workshop this morning to discuss the current information available from their citizens committee of 25, tasked with reviewing options for future capital expenditures, along with associated funding sources. The discussion of commissioners was tense throughout the entire meeting, with each commissioner voicing their concerns for our county. This current committee of 25 has most of the same tasks as prior committee formed under former county administrator, Paul McIntosh in 2001. The only new information brought forward by this current committee this morning was the cost increases associated with infrastructure and the size of governments services. Each commissioner took the opportunity to express their viewpoint about taxes in the form of a reduction in Ad Valorem taxes versus implementing a sales tax increase of 1/2 to 1 cent on a referendum in November. Commissioner Stabbins stated he was not willing to write a blank check without first checking the efficiency of our county government services. He insisted that the committee be given options to make government more efficient, not just a wish list for the future, without spending reforms in place. Commissioner Rowden voiced her choice of pursuing a sales tax increase, while Commissioner Kingsley was reserved on a reduction in Ad Valorem taxes. Commissioner Schenck brought up a proposal for a cost sharing method for the Parks Department to explore with the private sector while Nancy Robinson opted to wait until the committee had completed their work before she would make any final comments on tax relief. The most ironic statement uttered throughout the entire workshop was the "pay as you go" method while describing a proposed sales tax increase. After watching the Powerpoint presentation by Mr. Kuhl this morning, this "pay as you go" system could be described as a system of last resort. Very few options are left for the county commissioners on funding new capital projects since they have bonded us into approximately $80-million in debt since 2002 and they have only $10-million in borrowing power from the League of Counties. One option they did not look at critically was the performance measurement of our current government services and projects, to fairly evaluate if our government is operating in an efficient manner. It looks like Gary Kuhl has his work cut out for him in the weeks ahead while the preparations are made for the 2006-07 budget year.