The Strategy and the Dream

Comment Up


Damore, Bowler and Nicholson in their paper, “Agenda Setting by Direct Democracy: Comparing the Initiative and the Referendum” (State Politics and Policy Quaterly, forthcoming) considers if agenda setters use the referendum process to extract greater spending than the median voter desires. Some of this research indicates that voters are less likely to support state referendum for tax increases but that between 1990 and 2008, 80 percent of bond referendums received voter approval.

As to the need for particular language in a general obligation bond, there are strategies. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) lists six steps governments can take to improve their chances of getting a bond approved. This includes, “measure design” or “developing ballot language that appeals to voters and clearly explains how this measure addresses the particular issue targeted by the bonds meets the needs of the community.” I would suppose that the city has solicited this expertise--just another thing that will be reimbursed to them from the bond proceeds.

On ballot language

During the last decade debt has spun out of control, as states and cities have increased their borrowing to indulge in more and more spending on new stadiums, schools, bridges, and infrastructure. And we can't forget the national debt of $17.5 trillion. Governments have even started borrowing to cover their basic operational expenses as Lake Worth is doing.  We can't live within our means.  We haven't allotted enough money for road repairs in our budget (reduced it in half actually), and now we are being asked to vote in a general obligation bond to pay for what was 50% of the roads that is now 30% and the amount they want has gone up $2 mil from the original presentation.

So, those with the higher property values are going to take the high road and vote this in for the greater good of the city? As property values normally rise, as we come out of this recession, everyone will be paying higher taxes down the road. Lake Worth has factored in a 4% property value increase for 30 years! Did they pick this out of a hat? In September 1995, Florida's Governor and Cabinet approved a rule directing property appraisers to raise the assessed value of a qualifying homestead property by the maximum of 3% or the annual change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, on all properties assessed at less than full market value whether or not that property's value increased during that calendar year.  Inflation Rate Forecast

When commissioners and officials don't give all of the facts or withhold information or even give false information, are they in violation of any law?  Is full disclosure mandatory? Are they subject to penalty?

We all will be stuck with the debt for three decades so that the city can attract more affordable housing, more spending and replenish its coffers? Is the city going to do anything different to get rid of the slum, the blight and the crime aside from passing ordinances that are unenforceable?

I'm just not convinced about Lake Worth's Field of Dreams with no Plan B because of its timing, the lack of details being offered and getting a poor city strangled by debt. It's an uneasy feeling, but going into debt should be. We don't want to be Detroit.