Cameron: More fun to say YES than to say NO

In a meeting attended by Historic City News and city officials yesterday, Assistant County Administrator Jerry Cameron said that he’s learned one thing since coming to work for St. Johns County — it’s more fun to say “yes” than it is to say “no”.

Director of St. Johns County Parks and Recreation, Troy Blevins, added his own amen — saying, “It is more popular, too.”

Laying out what Cameron described as “more doom and gloom”, he informed the vice-mayor, city manager, assistant manager, city attorney and director of general services that all of the “efficiencies” that can be easily implemented in local government have already been implemented. “Having said that, there will always be one more to be found, but, all of the low hanging fruit is gone.”

For too long, Cameron says, the public has come to expect the county to provide services — without much thought about how they will be paid for. “There is no free lunch,” Cameron said. “Residents are telling us that not only do they not want new taxes, but, they expect current tax levels to decrease in line with the economy and their property values.”

Cameron told the City that they should be prepared to start hearing “no” more often from the County. “Do you want services?” Cameron asked. “If you do, you have to be prepared to pay for them.”

Cameron, who unsuccessfully ran as a Libertarian for Republican Bill Proctor’s seat in the Florida House of Representatives, is taking a position that most Libertarians wouldn’t take — that being that the county must raise taxes because government can no longer be “cut back” without cutting services.

According to literature published by the Libertarian Party in Washington, DC, Republican and Democratic politicians have refused to reduce the size or cost of government. “With less government and lower taxes, you could keep more of what you earn,” according to the Libertarian Party website. “It would be easier to start new businesses, build new homes, and fuel stronger economic growth.”

At two or three occasions during the meeting, Blevins, agreed with Cameron’s bleak outlook for the county’s ability to continue providing “quality of life” services; making remarks along the lines that options that don’t lead to providing fewer services, or, raising taxes or other fees, can only be accomplished by laying off county employees.

Focus is currently on adding one-cent to the state sales tax for retail purchases made in St. Johns County; which estimates indicate could raise about $20 million. Millage rate increases are limited by state law, however, Cameron pointed to potential revenues from tower site rentals that may help defray costs for some of the mandates on the county to provide services.

Blevins says they will do a line-by-line review in his office when it comes to evaluating services. He gave one example that he found the county was paying the light bill for Lighthouse Park. Cameron says the county has “to look at everything” — citizens are apparently complaining about services that the county is providing that they may not want, such as the library’s bookmobile in Riverdale.

Blevins said, for example, when comparing public pools like the Willie Galimore Center and the Solomon Calhoun Community Center, usage will drive part of his decision making process. “Galimore is measured in hundreds where Calhoun is measured in thousands.” Of course, if sources of taxes or fees don’t materialize, cuts appear inevitable.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer