February 14, 1990

Facing the ‘M’ Word

There! Charlotte County Administrator Tom Frame has said the dreaded “M” word.

Now, some folks who had just about made up their minds for a 1-cent county sales tax increase have their dander up over the latest tactic to sell it - a “moratorium” on new construction along congested roads.

The proposed hike in sales tax, optional with the county, is about as popular as a dose of castor oil. However, the need for roads, parks, a justice center and auditorium repairs is evident.

It seemed voters were ready to hold their noses and approve the 16.5 percent increase. Yet, a threat to arbitrarily halt the construction industry, in the midst of a boom, has the principal backers in a snit.

Citizens for a Better Charlotte County - comprised heavily of developers, builders and realtors-weighed in early for a sales tax boost. Talk of a moratorium gives them the willies.

Frame worries, with reason, that his suggestion of a ban on building along congested roads will be construed as a threat to blackmail folks into voting for the tax.

It should be pointed out in all fairness that Frame’s predecessors warned four or five years ago that county roads were rapidly reaching capacity.

Reality surfaced last week when Frame made the first monthly report - required by the state “concurrency” requirement of the growth management program. Roads, water lines and sewers must be in place at the same time new buildings go up.

Arterial highways are overcrowded, especially U.S. 41 and State Road 776. Frame suggests that some revenue from the optional sales tax be used to widen the worst county thoroughfares immediately.

The Florida Department of Transportation has budgeted money for U.S. 41 and S.R. 776 five to ten years in the future. Commissioners must decide if the county can wait that long for relief.

Spending local money for state responsibilities grinds our gizzard. Charlotte County funds should not be used to bail out the federal and state governments.

If the Commission goes this route, there should be a written promise that the county will be reimbursed when its turn at the state’s money trough comes around.

In any event, a ban on buildings along busy highways likely would have a marginal effect on traffic. U.S. 41 already is built up. The big shopping centers, which create the most traffic, already are in place. No need to close that barn door now.

Access roads serve a good part of U.S. 41. A better quick fix for that busy road would be the closing of half the entrances. Stop-and-go shoppers would be forced into the access roads sooner and stay there longer.

S.R. 776 is primarily a through road. The problem here is the high speed permitted, making it extremely dangerous. Reducing the speed limit would enable it to carry more traffic - more safely.

The strangest solution suggested, to avoid a building moratorium, is simply to declare those heavily traveled stretches of S.R. 776 and Edgewater Drive in rural areas as “urban streets.”

The Department of Transportation considers heavier traffic on city streets acceptable.

Rewriting regulations is the typical, bureaucratic approach to an intractable problem. It is stupid, but if that gets the state off our backs, why not? At least the Commission would gain some time to try managing the road congestion until the state is prepared to deal with the crisis it helped create.

In addition, such action would remove the perception that the threat of a building moratorium is being floated at this time to stampede the electorate toward a sales tax increase. Voters hate threats. Their usual reaction is to say no.

The tax proposal must be based on its merits for everyone’s need, not one segment of the community.

The wisest thing the Commission can do - if it is convinced the expenditures are frugal and a higher sales tax is needed to provide the services citizens truly want - is to disavow a moratorium until the tax issue is settled.

THE PASSING PARADE

Mustang Ranch, Nevada’s legal brothel, has applied for a seat on the New York Stock Exchange so it can sell stock to the public. This will enable the government to tax “services rendered” by the Ranch’s fillies.

It should be an efficient operation. Mustang employees already know what to do to taxpayers.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist