By Philip Griffin
March 17, 2020
Dear Commissioners,
We as citizens need both Nassau County and Fernandina Beach Commissioners to step up and act responsibly during this time of social and financial chaos. We ask that you immediately curtail non-essential spending and focus on protecting the safety and welfare of the community. The potential costs for emergency services combined with economic damage to the business community could far exceed that of a major hurricane. Tourism and the local tax base could easily be decimated.
The first order of the day is safety and citizen well being, not buying vacant land or spending on pet projects. Any Commissioner who does not take their responsibility seriously should immediately resign from office. Thank you for your efforts in these difficult times.
Editor’s Note: Philip Griffin is a real estate broker and owner of Amelia Coastal Realty.
Mr. Griffin is on point with his argument for fiscal responsibility by Fernandina Beach government. The current economic environment will most certainly harm local businesses, especially those who are owned and operated locally by entrepreneurs in the hospitality business. This in turn has the potential to reduce revenue to the local government and add tax burden to homeowners.
The warning of a potentially deep recession, by many economists, is a clarion call for prioritizing what matters most. The city – or at least Commissioner Ross – wants to buy more land but at the same argues that many city properties including city hall need revitalizing, to the tune of millions of dollars. We also read reports by our city manager that both the city-owned golf course and marina are perpetual money-losers. This is the situation with or without the spectre of economic upheaval locally.
It is time for our commissioners – collectively and individually – to take a hard look at city finances. The city budget is the primary tool by which our elected commissioners can exert influence and direction. I join in urging an immediate focus on this.
Just as the citizen taxpayers are about to go on a rather drastic economic diet so to the City and County Governments need to realize “the party is over” and that an essentials only budget needs to formulated sands any fat NOW. With the potential for unemployment rates to exceed 20%, perhaps across the payroll board City as well as all County employees need to be adjusted to reality. I would suggest that the County Attorney(full time position) and County Administrator (full time position) lead the way @ a 50% salary reduction as these positions are held by one person.? How does that work? Time to get very real folks.
Philip,
I’m glad you brought some very important issues to light. While our country shuts down much of the economy for a period of time to slow the spread of the virus, our local city and county governments should treat this like a recession era budget exercise. While all residents will be impacted in some way, our leadership needs to look at services, costs and quality of life issues with a new lens.
This is a time for bold leadership. Let’s hear some specific ways we will be protecting the safety of our people, protecting our local economy, and leading ourselves out of this virus mess. Yes, this is early in the process. And yes, we need to aggressively put some things on hold with in our community and aggressively expand in others (support).
Let’s take discretionary spending way down. No new hires, stop spending on conservation land, stop pouring money into marina and golf course. We may need this money to get through a longer term downturn.
Consider residents when setting mil rates and bond referendums. All residents have/will be impacted. Our city/county should consider our own relief package in reduced taxes, redirection of conservation funds, redirection of TDC funds to support critical needs and other specific actions that serve the residents of our city.
Our local government can identify challenges in order to activate our citizens to volunteer and step up. Let’s get transparent with the issues, the needs and activate just like things have happened at the national level with major corporations.
If we come out of this in two months with a booming economy, great, we can then move on longer term issues.
I welcome specific responses from our city and county leadership on how they will each act responsibly during this time. This may be a time when they should consider bold moves to combine operations to save substantial money. Put egos aside and lets talk facts to move a smart agenda forward.
Jack