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County keeps road paving money
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer BROOKSVILLE -- With political adversaries breathing down their necks, county commissioners opted Tuesday not to change the 1999 ordinance that requires them to commit at least $2-million beyond annual gas tax revenue to residential road paving. Instead, the commission tapped into its reserves for $245,000 and pledged about $329,000 in investment income to cover what had been a planned shortfall. They also reduced reserves earlier this summer to balance other parts of the 2002-03 budget. "I see no reason to make any change in this ordinance," commission Chairwoman Nancy Robinson said, after confirming that next year's $2-million commitment had been met. "It's a moot point. The funding is available. Our staff and our board have worked very hard to achieve this goal." The first phase of the paving program, which is slated to run through 2006, is not out of the woods yet, though. Budget director George Zoettlein warned commissioners that their solution is good for one year only. The county cannot pull money out of reserves for every financial problem, he said, especially now that commissioners have adopted stricter controls for those accounts. "In the future, we may have a problem," Zoettlein told commissioners. "I'm sure we'll have this discussion next year about the $2-million. It will be my assignment to come up with the $2-million, one way or the other." During budget workshops, Zoettlein recommended a permanent tax to cover the yearly $2-million pledge. But the commission delayed all discussion on long-term financial planning until after the 2002-03 budget is completed. Republican challengers to Robinson and Commissioner Chris Kingsley, meanwhile, grabbed hold of the county's initial proposal to put just $1.4-million into paving and accused the board of violating the word and spirit of its 1999 rule. So the staff began seeking alternatives. Residents who did not want to see the road repairs fall off schedule urged commissioners to stay true to their word. "Please do not touch this thing," said Irma Carr of Ridge Manor. "I'm not in favor of the (gas) tax, but it has been working. Leave it as it is, and do what you're supposed to be doing." John Murphy of Spring Hill agreed. "It took a long, long time to get this thing going, a residential road program," Murphy said. "To see it stop halfway, I think, would be a really sorry thing." Only Commissioner Mary Aiken balked at maintaining the status quo. "I feel that we could use the flexibility," Aiken said. Robinson responded that the only time she could remember residents applauding a tax came in 1998 when the commission approved the 3-cents-per-gallon gas tax to pay for road repaving. She said the board should stick to its goal of supplementing that each year with $2-million. If the board wants to reduce its commitment to the paving program, Robinson said, it can reconsider again next year, if necessary. Zoettlein said he would begin planning for fiscal 2003-04 during the fall. "After the November election, we start figuring out how we'll pay for everything the next year," he said. In the meantime, Commissioner Diane Rowden said jokingly after Tuesday's meeting that she hoped for the best. "What about next year?" she said, laughing. "We're going to win the Lotto." -- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
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From today's Hernando Times Letters |
