Letters

Subsidizing builders cost all taxpayers

TBO.com
Published: November 16, 2011

The Hernando County Commission gave the builders the gift of zero impact fees for a year at the expense of every taxpayer in the county. For every residence built that is an additional $4,800 dollars that the builders can either further lower the property values or pocket the money as profit.

Next November the builders will be back asking to keep the rate at zero either because the market hasn't come back sufficiently or any change will choke the recovery. In fact, one builder even had the nerve to suggest that Hernando County taxpayers should pay people to buy a newly constructed home in the county to help the construction industry.

So we the taxpayer should fund the industry that helped create this housing crisis in the first place?

All economic development advice received by the county since 1999 has recommended diversifying industry so the county was not so reliant on construction. But no commissioner listened.

There are several things we need to do as citizens:

Let the county commissioners know that the builders are not the only people who vote in the county.

Come next budget cycle tell the county commissioners that we will not tolerate another increase in the ad valorem rate to fund the budget. Get any needed money from Bob the builder and friends.

If you buy a newly constructed home in Hernando demand a price reduction of $4,800 to reflect zero impact fees.

For a commission that allegedly is five Republicans, it is remarkable that they believe in subsidizing a specific industry. Sounds like they are emulating the president's repeated bailout plans that haven't worked.

Anne Kraus-Keenan

Spring Hill