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Cheat Sheet Q&A: Pt. 1 A closer look at the proposed Lake Worth bond issue for roads:
Today's entry: Brian, I'm so glad to hear you talk about the Lake Worth bond issue. First, I want you to know that I've unsuccessfully tried to comment about the handling of this bond to elected representatives of the city. They repress opposition and open discussion around every turn, and secondly, any effort any of us make leads to being called obstructionists to fixing the roads. Anything you can offer up that I can use to spread the message is appreciated.
Bottom Line: So to reset the topic for those who don't live in Lake Worth and/or weren't here two years ago...
Lake Worth fought hard to pass a $63 million debt offering in a plan called "Lake Worth 20/20". The $60+ million in debt would be paid back by a special tax assessment over 30 years that would have cost property owners thousands above and beyond their typical property tax bills during that time. After the city spent tens of thousands of tax payer dollars to promote their plan ($50k+), it failed by just over 20 votes when put before voters. Fast forward to this year...
With largely the same batch of politicians running the city, they've come back with a $40 million debt plan, that's similar to what they proposed two years ago. Light on specifics, other than it'll fix the roads around Lake Worth, they've voted to put it on November's ballot without meaningful open public discussion of the matter. The city paid $8,000 to conduct an unaccredited poll of Lake Worth registered voters. They surveyed only 200 registered voters along non-demographically correct lines and showed that residents favored the bond by 12%. So already the irresponsible use of tax payer money for the perpetuation of this project is underway. The most egregious aspect of all of this to me however is the dishonesty.
Recently city manager Michael Bornstein, stated to the Palm Beach Post, that the city has no other options for fixing the roads. That's demonstrably false. Here are just a smattering of options the city could pursue prior to seeking to put residents in debt for thirty years (leaving even the average property owner to pay thousands of additional dollars during that time):
Click here... to get some of the facts.
10 comments:
I didn't care for Brian's assessment of the bond issue. First of all he comes out of left field with the plan to "sell the golf course". Not only is it a knee-jerk reaction and a final short term fix to a long term maintenance issue, but private ownership golf courses are on the decline and are often sold out for high intensity multi-unit waterfront development, and we all know how much you would be in favor of development.
Even if it was an assessment of $100 per year, that equates to "thousands of additional dollars during that time".
It is not as if Brian is an uninterested third party. He will be hit harder than most if this bond goes through as he owns property here.
If you consider that we should have been paying for this maintenance over the past 30 years and because we have only patched up roadways when they needed to be replaced "micro-surfaced" when they needed to be torn up and totally re-done, it comes a time to pay the piper.
Why did this commission, that has been in office nearly 5 years now, reduce the roads maintenance budget from $1plus million to 200K a year?
Yes, he does have an interest as does 12,000 plus property owners in this city. It's not like he's the lone ranger. And your point there?
Can't imagine someone suggesting selling the golf course to developers. he would be stoned to death.
I believe he lives on the water on South Lakeside Drive...not sure about that. But you are exactly right about our golf course. NO developer hands on our beautiful green space.
Well I'm glad to see you disagree with him too.
Name a commission that put adequate funds into capital improvements budget in the past 30 years....
Good information, but he comes off as biased. Really wish the city would have dug deeper on assessment. While I'm still awaiting details, based on the information leaking out I will be voting against the bond.
I am FOR fixing our roads, but this bond remains poorly thought out and the risk as a homeowner is just too high. It will also devastate our real estate market and business market, having the highest taxes in the county by far (when you factor in the debt obligation) will kill our market.
I think they have put money into CIP's...it is the operational maintenance street budget where this commission has failed.
None!
Funny thing Lynn, you didn't straighten Brian out on his flawed suggestion to sell the golf course...
Two words kill that idea... DEED RESTRICTIONS.
The golf course cannot be sold or used for anything other than as a public golf course... That is unless you want it's ownership to revert to the previous owner!
I am not 100% sure that the entire 18 holes are deed restricted.
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