Today's Letters: In the long run, tax/fee is nothing

Impact fees are an important pay-as-you-use tax/fee and recent concern about raising them in a real estate market slump is unjustified.

First, whether the fee is $9,000-plus per house, as it is now, or $14,000, as proposed but then voted against, is meaningless. Math proves this. For example, in a future fancy-schmancy new Hickory Hill home valued at three-quarters of a million dollars, the county will expect the homeowner to pony-up $15,000 annually in property taxes. In fact, in the 200-year lifetime of the improvement (house/structure), assuming 3 percent increase per year, its (various) owners will pay an accumulated $184,177,908 in property taxes. Astronomical you say? Do the math for yourself.

Clearly the one-time fee of $15,000 is minor. Truly, the whole cost of construction of the house is minor. In fact, even if you are able to pay for a house in cash (no mortgage), you've only scratched the surface of paying for it - about one-half of 1 percent. This amount, combined with the overwhelming authority given to jurisdictions to collect the fee, defies the concept of ownership. But that's another debate in itself.

Second, whatever the impact fee is, it is. If there is a definable cost to first-time development of land, it needs to be addressed by the party that does that building. It is a pay-as-you-use system, and that is naturally fair. On the other hand, I do believe a one-fee-fits-all approach is not. For instance, if I have a vacant lot in the middle of Brooksville (or Spring Hill) and put a new home on it, the cost to the county is not nearly as much to hook up sewer and water services as it would be to build new infrastructure miles away from its nearest end-point. On the other hand, if the new construction is sufficiently remote, where the building will be mostly self-servicing (private well and septic, perhaps private roads even), then the impact also is inconsequential.

To me, politics and market conditions should not be part of any decision to accept (or not) an impact fee increase. On the other hand, I do believe more attention could be paid to addressing the localized needs such that a variety of fees are established based on impact.

James Mastro, Brooksville

Statement taken out of context Feb. 12, letter

Helping the poor in no way 'pork'

In response to letter from Ana Trinque, chairwoman of Hernando County Republican Executive Committee. The last paragraph was a comment about the 2008 economic stimulus package and said, "the Democrats in the Senate wanted to load it up with pork instead of just doing what the president asked for and the House passed."

The "pork" mentioned was to provide help for the unemployed and uninsured and to improve our aging infrastructure. The Democrats and some Republicans wanted to include money for food stamps, Medicaid, heating assistance for low-income people and improving our roads and bridges. To call this "pork" is a travesty and an insult to those in need.

Someone has to care about the people who can no longer afford the basic necessities. This administration gives lip-service but takes no action.

No, chairwoman Trinque, people cannot just do what the president asks.

Patty Jay, New Port Richey

Re: Some common threads run through domestic abuse, Feb. 8, guest column

Why not pass out guns and film it?

On ESPN they often blank out kill shots on their hunting shows. The other night, I watched an episode of Cold Case. Those folks think it was necessary to show a man beating a woman to death with a hammer. Every single blow.

Animal deaths are evidently more sensitive than human deaths. That show was followed by the new show with "rave reviews," Dexter. Evidently, some genius thinks we will like and watch a serial killer vigilante. Perhaps they are correct, because I read the show is already up for some major awards.

Is it any wonder we have violence on our campuses and elsewhere in the United States? Maybe the networks could pass out handguns and film the results. Someone would watch.

Folks like Mary Ann Peavler, guest columnist and domestic violence expert, don't have a chance against the networks. I am giving up CBS for Lent.

J. S. Smith, New Port Richey

[Last modified February 20, 2008, 19:52:26]