City commission candidate Tim Poynter explains how to bring closer cooperation between city and county

Submitted by

Tim Poynter, Candidate for City Commission, Group 4

Tim Poynter, Candidate Group 4

Please explain how you would be able to bring about closer cooperation between the City and County to lower taxes and improve efficiency.

“We need to work with the county to identify services that we both provide to determine how we could maximize cooperation to better reduce costs. One example of this cooperation during my tenure was when our city Fire Rescue Department took over ocean rescue for the county. This saved the county approximately $150,000 per year.

Public safety should be reviewed to find additional efficiencies.  This doesn’t mean getting rid of either a city or a county department.  It means finding ways to work together smarter to meet the ever-changing landscape of our community while focusing on lowering expenses.  In the past, logistical and political issues have hampered serious consideration of ideas like these.  But in light of today’s budget realities for both the city and the county they must be seriously considered to avoid raising taxes or cutting back on vital services.

I have supported this level of cooperation in the past and look forward to continuing the same in the years to come.  With new leadership in the Sheriff’s Office I remain optimistic that we can make significant gains in the area of public safety in the coming year.”

Editor’s Note:  This is the fifth question in a series of seven questions posed to candidates for the Fernandina Beach City Commission.   The answers come to our readers unedited and in the candidates own words.  We rotate the order of candidates from week to week.  Ed Boner and incumbent Tim Poynter will seek Group 4, John Campbell Elwell and Pat K Gass will seek  Group 5.

October 10, 2012 12:10 p.m.