Comments on: Commissioner Infantini Wrong on Parking Meters http://www.terryhoward.net/2009/08/commissioner-infantini-wrong.html Food for thought... Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:31:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Terry Howard http://www.terryhoward.net/2009/08/commissioner-infantini-wrong.html/comment-page-1#comment-919 Terry Howard Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:19:23 +0000 http://www.terryhoward.net/?p=197#comment-919 This was submitted and published in the September 4th issue of the Brevard County <a href="http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=61815" rel="nofollow">Hometown News</a>, in which the Commissioner responded. I thought to take her up on her offer and sent her the following: My wife lost her job back in January and a result our household income was cut pretty much in half. Being a terrible job market at this time that income was not able to be replaced. Also not having the power to raise taxes or assess fees and metered payments from those around us, we moved on to the strategy of cutting costs. We eliminated cable, began shopping at Aldi (which is great by the way), cut back on eating out and various other methods of reducing our expenditures. As a result we have been able to cover all of our basic needs, have money to put into emergency savings and pay a little down on debt each month. I bring all this up to illustrate the point that every day Brevard County residents go through this same process, and you propose to just ask them to fork over more money. You say "I could not in good conscience raise tax rates", but that is exactly what you want to do. Call it a fee if you like, it's still a tax on public services. You're first defense seems to be that other people are doing it (ie: Indialantic and The City of Cocoa Beach.) Failure to meet objectives in company is still a failure to meet objectives. You also mention that you prefer to save the county's reserves for a genuine emergency, to which I would point out that the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression would certainly qualify. I do, though, understand that you are sincere in your goal to serve your constituents, and your offer to be open to suggestions on efficiency and/or improvements is gladly accepted. If you could please forward me a copy or location to where I may find online the current Brevard County budget I will take a look and offer some notes based on my own cost cutting experience to where you may find some fat to trim. And as much as the extra income would help, I won't even ask for a share of a County Commisioner's salary. Just knowing I can enjoy the beach after a hard week without another ounce of flesh being taken is reward enough. This was submitted and published in the September 4th issue of the Brevard County Hometown News, in which the Commissioner responded.

I thought to take her up on her offer and sent her the following:

My wife lost her job back in January and a result our household income was cut pretty much in half. Being a terrible job market at this time that income was not able to be replaced. Also not having the power to raise taxes or assess fees and metered payments from those around us, we moved on to the strategy of cutting costs. We eliminated cable, began shopping at Aldi (which is great by the way), cut back on eating out and various other methods of reducing our expenditures. As a result we have been able to cover all of our basic needs, have money to put into emergency savings and pay a little down on debt each month.

I bring all this up to illustrate the point that every day Brevard County residents go through this same process, and you propose to just ask them to fork over more money. You say “I could not in good conscience raise tax rates”, but that is exactly what you want to do. Call it a fee if you like, it’s still a tax on public services.

You’re first defense seems to be that other people are doing it (ie: Indialantic and The City of Cocoa Beach.) Failure to meet objectives in company is still a failure to meet objectives. You also mention that you prefer to save the county’s reserves for a genuine emergency, to which I would point out that the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression would certainly qualify.

I do, though, understand that you are sincere in your goal to serve your constituents, and your offer to be open to suggestions on efficiency and/or improvements is gladly accepted. If you could please forward me a copy or location to where I may find online the current Brevard County budget I will take a look and offer some notes based on my own cost cutting experience to where you may find some fat to trim.

And as much as the extra income would help, I won’t even ask for a share of a County Commisioner’s salary. Just knowing I can enjoy the beach after a hard week without another ounce of flesh being taken is reward enough.

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