Our City, along with every other city in the State, is facing a loss of revenues due to the sluggish economy and Amendment One. Development impact fees which finance many cities’ capital improvement projects have become stagnant or better said, non-existent. Our CRA has given incentives to developers for homeowner financing in Hammon Park, as an example. Our CRA also gave to an owner on 6th Avenue South by way of an Option. Our CRA is always looking for ways to spend our money. The biggest project here is the Gateways. Use of the CRA’s tax increment capacity is a way to keep public improvement projects moving forward whether the tax payers want them or not.One of the big dream projects now for our CRA is the TOD, Transit Oriented Development as well as a new City Center. They are determined to get these projects done, sooner rather than later. The City can't seem to find money to maintain one single asset but the CRA can come up with capital projects that cost us multi-millions.
Today, with the Supreme Court’s ruling, once again CRA’s will be allowed to proceed with bond issuance for their pet projects without voter approval. CRA’s are ecstatic today knowing that the citizens will have no voice on how their money is spent. This is just another reason to take back the CRA as it puts too much power in the hands of an appointed Board.
On another note, Randy Schultz of the Palm Beach Post today says why have an ethics policy when no one has to abide by it and sites Tony Masilotti as an example. First of all, with an ethics policy, you have publicly committed yourself to a higher standard. Second of all, if an elected official tries to pull a fast one, you can demand that he rescue himself from a public vote and know that right is in your corner. That public representative will not just be allowed to sit in her/his seat pretending to not understand or be impervious to unethical behavior. Elected officials will have to rise to the new standard of conduct as other commissioners and the public will hold them accountable. We will all benefit by that commitment. Having an ethics policy will allow us to have better government and we all want that.
