As I continue to hear from residents who express their opinions about the continued lawsuits against our city I thought I'd just write out some of my feelings on the subject.
We residents express our desires by means of our vote. It is our City's duty to defend that democratic process of the majority vote against onslaught.
Options exist; the courts, mediation, settlement agreements.
On the other hand options that do not, in my opinion, exist, are setting aside votes, operating against our charter, allowing special interest groups to dictate how our city operates; in other words, caving into threats and intimidation.
Defense of our democratic process and charter is necessary; I believe a duty.
Unfortunately, that defense is at the expense of City revenues; tax money; money that families could use for other purposes. Add up the previous TWO fiscal years litigation spending together with what we budgeted (adjusted) for this year (2010). That will total about $700,000. ($189,793.14+$298,743.12+$200,000 (+$50,000)=$738,536.26)
$700,000 of our tax money that could not be spent on other city services.
This money could have been used for more police protection, new fire equipment, extended library hours and more books, Christmas decorations, improved street maintenance, or any number of other municipal benefits. Last year's litigation spending was $298,743.12.
The latest estimate from the University of Florida puts our City's population at 10,032.
Litigation spending amounted to about $29.78, for EVERY man, woman and child in St Pete Beach.
Only for last year! Add last year's expense to this year's budget and that goes up to $54.87! For every man, woman and child in our City.
How many people in your household? There are two in ours; $109.74.
What does it mean to a family?
The US Dept of Agriculture estimates moderate weekly food expenditure for a family of four at about $208. Our City's litigation expenses; paid for by taxes from our residents, would pay for the food expenditures of 25 families for a about a year.
So what could our City have done with the money?
The Christmas decorations we have had in the past cost $20K to $30k per year. Last year the money we spent on litigation defense could have paid for 10 years of Christmas decorations. .
There has been talk that we do not get our fair share of taxes back from the State. The portion of our $14 million revenue that comes from the State (Intergovernmental transfer), for 2010, is budgeted to be about $1.1 million.
The money we spent last year on defensive litigation ate up about one third of this amount.
Perhaps as we look for additional sources of revenue we should also express as much concern about not diverting what we do get.
Or, for another perspective:
The money we spent last year on defensive litigation was more than the 2010 Fire Dept. operating expense budget plus....... what we cut out of the budget for Christmas Decorations, plus....... the amount we budgeted for 4th of July fireworks plus....... Beach Goes Pops.