WCTA Position On Hwy 331 Bridge Referendum

[Bob Hudson]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release: April 23, 2012


Walton County Taxpayers Association Conducts Survey:

North and South Walton County Members Say
NO to Hwy 331 Sales Tax and Toll


Walton County Taxpayers Association (WCTA) wanted to know what current public opinion was on the proposed Hwy 331 funding options: raising a ½ cent sales tax or implementing a toll. So, WCTA asked its members. The survey was sent to its membership in March and 795 members in the non-partisan group responded: 31% from North Walton and 69% from South Walton. The unambiguous response was: NO on the sales tax and NO on a bridge toll.

The survey revealed that North and South Walton County members are united on the issues.

The sales tax question posed in the survey was:

“Should WCTA support the proposed ½ cent sales tax increase for Walton County’s share of the cost of the Hwy 331 four- lane Bridge and Roadway from Interstate 10 to Hwy 98? The referendum to approve the tax is May 8th.”
Of those WCTA members participating in the survey, 75%, voted overwhelmingly against the tax: 87% of North Walton respondents and 71% of South Walton respondents voted against the tax.

The question concerning a southbound toll was:

“In the event that the referendum fails, and the Walton County Commissioners consider placing a toll on the southbound lane of a new Hwy 331 bridge, should the WCTA support the imposition of that toll?”

Once again 67% of the participating members of WCTA voted NO: The North Walton voters were 77% against, while South Walton members voted 67% against.

This county will have a chance to listen to the public on May 8th. The Walton County Taxpayer Association is listening now. WCTA will not support the increased sales tax or the toll for the Hwy 331 bridge project. WCTA strongly encourages the County Commissioners to listen to the voice of the voters. In the fiscal situation that faces our county, WCTA asks the most basic of all questions--- how much new debt should the county take on? The WCTA says NONE!

WCTA is a non-partisan organization with members from both North and South Walton County, representing the entire county. WCTA believes that it is vitally important to stay involved in how our county spends our money, especially as our county and tax base grow. WCTA’s focus is on limiting the role of government and how much money is necessary to provide basic public services to all taxpayers in Walton County. And, WCTA believes that a unified group of individuals can make a difference.

“THE EYES AND EARS FOR WALTON COUNTY TAXPAYERS”

Walton County Taxpayers Association
P.O. Box 1085
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
http://www.waltontaxpayers.org
Email: info@waltontaxpayers.org

 

[Truman]

Thank you for this. As a group which believes in limited government, what public projects would you, or have you supported? I expect a line about responsibility and fairness. But I am interested in specifics. Do you support parks, walkovers, parking, schools, fire services, roads, bridges, anything?

 

[Andy A]

Thank you for this. As a group which believes in limited government, what public projects would you, or have you supported? I expect a line about responsibility and fairness. But I am interested in specifics. Do you support parks, walkovers, parking, schools, fire services, roads, bridges, anything?

I don't know the answer to your question but I would surmise that while the WCTA supports parks, walkovers, parking, schools fire services, roads, bridges, anything, they are not for supporting the taxes necessary for their continuance or improvement. It is obvious to any rational thinking person that given the attitude of the citizens of this county, the May 8 referendum will fail. I will vote for it anyway as my wise, but uneducated father raised me to use my head and apply common sense to issues. Oh, and BTW, I am a current paid up member of the WCTA, though I wasn't polled.

 

[Bob Wells]

I will also be voting for the tax.

 

[lazin&drinkin]

Andy,

Don't know why you didn't get electronic ballot. All members were to have received it. Please send your current email address to Bob at info@waltontaxpayers.org so he can update the records.

As to the rhetorical question of what the WCTA supports, I'm but one member, but I think I can say that it has and will support the principles of good, open, honest, accountable, transparent governance. As to any specific project, there are unlikely to be many which will have the unanimous approval of either the members or the board. In the case of the bridge/highway project, there is a clear consensus among the nearly 800 voting. Whether all members or board members like it or not, the vote is as it is.

The position mandated by this vote aside, each member is free to vote as he or she wishes at the polls. No organization or individual is likely to be right 100% or the time. In the case of the WCTA, I think a fair assessment will state clearly that its efforts have been a substantial and significant positive for the citizens of this county over the years, and whether a given stand is popular or not with the most vocal is not sufficient reason for taking or altering a position.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Andy at a number of BCC and TDC meetings. He is manifestly an honorable, well-informed and well-intentioned man. I suspect he would be inclined to say something similar about me. Despite our liking and respecting one another, we have differed to a minor extent over this particular issue in means, not ends. I suspect we will agree far more than we will disagree going forward.

I would hope that bobbob would be willing to consider the merits of the above, and further would hope that he bring his questioning mind to BCC, TDC, and WCTA meetings. If so, I'll see you there. We have important battles to fight about good, responsible governance, and I can assure you the WCTA welcomes involved, informed citizens who are willing to work with it for the betterment of our county. The BCC and the TDC? Well, maybe not so much.

Bobbob, if you want to effect change in the WCTA, not to mention the BCC and the TDC, you have the WCTA email address above. Use it to join and then come give it your best shot at meetings. While it's non-partisan, there are strong personalities and divergent opinions. Sounds like you'd fit right in. Join the fight!

 

[mputnal]

Unless I have misunderstood what is happening behind the scenes of the BCC/TDC a vote against the sales tax is a vote for the toll. Wonder if the ballot will have any wording to reflect the toll option available to BCC/TDC if/when the tax fails.

 

[lazin&drinkin]

Absentee ballots do not show any such wording re toll.

 

[mputnal]

Wow. Wonder how people would vote if they realized that within 5 years they will have to stop for a traffic light at Short Avenue and then stop and drop ($4.00 or $5.00) every time they cross the only bridge in Walton County connecting South Walton with North Walton. The distance between these two stops will be less than one quarter mile. I do not have any reason to believe there will not be a toll booth and even if there isn't it will still be another expense to live in Walton County and that is exactly what FDOT wants. It is amazing to me that we are so easily manipulated by politics. Politics is easily manipulated by big business. I can only hope that the BCC/TDC will not become a part of this problem in voting for a toll. A toll will completely change the economic dynamics of commerce between North Walton and South Walton. A toll with be a death warrant for many small businesses North of the bridge. South Walton will pay more for services. I do not see any winners in a toll bridge. I hope the visibility of a toll bridge will be a reminder of who not to vote for...

 

[Bob Hudson]

There are NO Toll Booths !

The State says a $2.00 toll will be adequate to pay for the bridge. If discounts are given to local residents the number might change or the payoff extended.

The Mid-Bay bridge did not kill business on either side of the Toll Road.

 

[Bob Hudson]

Thank you for this. As a group which believes in limited government, what public projects would you, or have you supported? I expect a line about responsibility and fairness. But I am interested in specifics. Do you support parks, walkovers, parking, schools, fire services, roads, bridges, anything?

bobbob

The WCTA is 30 years old and I cannot give you history past 8 years back.

The WCTA supported the building of the Court House Annex, Butler Elementary and South Walton High School.

During my association they have advocated and supported:

The creation of North Walton Fire and Rescue
The "accelerated" paving program (loans to finance)
The Dirt to Pavement program (loans to finance)
The creation of the in-house paving program (reallocation of dollars resulting in savings to taxpayers and job creation)
The purchase of the land and construction of the new "park" at Helen McCall Park
The expansion of the Sheriff's Office staff to provide for better coverage
A raise for all WCSO deputies in 2007
The purchase of the new SLEERS radio system
The elimination of long distance calls between South and North Walton (This was a WCTA project alone)
The remodeling of the Sheriff's substation in Freeport.

I'm sure their are more but I just wanted you to realize some of the "supported" projects.

All while keeping the 3 lowest millage rate in the State of Florida.