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Hernando Today

Keep Tax Dollars In Hernando County

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By DOMENICK MAGLIO, Neo Traditionalist

Hernando Today

Published: November 28, 2008

Hernando County unemployment has hit a 16-year high. It currently is at 9.7 percent and more than likely will continue to rise given the global economic recession.
Our local government must support our local businesses, which provide and create the jobs that keep our tax base strong. Without local entrepreneurs persevering in hard times, many government jobs and services would have to be slashed. It is in all Hernando County residents' best interest for local government to give a boost to local businesses when possible, not disregard them. Our businesses need incentives, not disincentives to compete with non-county firms.
This week at the county commission meeting an item on the agenda that went mostly unnoticed was the awarding of the engineering contract for the Peck Sink Storm Water Park. This project should be of vital interest to the community for many reasons, including: the present and future quality of groundwater; flood relief; and the creation of a park that can be used for recreation and education for future generations. In addition to these benefits, another should be of more concern to county residents. That should be the awarding of the contract to a Tampa-based engineering firm, not a local one.
Florida Statutes stipulates the process of awarding engineering contracts to local governments. It requires that firms submit a list of their qualifications along with other required forms to the municipality advertising the project. A committee then reviews these submittals and a short list of qualified firms is determined. These firms then prepare an oral presentation of qualifications to the committee. The committee then ranks and selects a firm.
A review of the Peck Sink project vote tally indicated two firms were tied for the No. 1 position. In an effort to remedy the tie, the committee dropped the third-place firm and voted a second time. Using the exact same information and data the firm to be awarded the contract was an out-of-county firm.
The Tampa firm was a questionable choice over a local one. The rejecting of a local, equally qualified engineering firm and promoting an out-of-county corporation does not serve the best interests of the residents of Hernando County. The newly elected board should scrutinize this selection process. The next hearing on the Peck Sink contract will be Dec. 2, when residents will be able to demand answers as to why a local firm with equal competency was denied the contract.
This is another example of Hernando County tax dollars being continually sent out of our county to the economies of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Most, if not all of the employees of the selected firm, do not shop, live or, most importantly, pay taxes in Hernando County.
The time is now for our local leaders in the public and private sector to realize they are part of the same community. When private business prospers, many worthwhile public sector projects can be funded by the taxes received from local businesses and residents. In an economic downturn, every consideration should be given to assist local business. It means a job in the private sector as well as the public jobs may be preserved. By supporting local business, we can minimize the suffering in these hard economic times. County tax dollars reinvested and spent right here in our community will help to keep people working and spending locally.
All residents, property taxpayers and business owners of Hernando County need to take notice of county government's decisions. They should contact the community leaders and let them know that they want to see the millions of tax dollars spent by the county each year injected into our local economy. Charity begins at home, and smart county decisions should keep our tax dollars stimulating our own county economy.

Dr. Domenick Maglio, Ph.D., is the author of "Invasion Within" and "Essential Parenting." He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School. Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

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