By Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth
Cities were founded on the belief that local government understands best the needs of local citizens. The state then determined that cities could legislate themselves. We are currently in a time where the state had giveth and now, with precedent, the state can taketh away.
State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. has stated that the reason for his bill on mandating a parking garage at the public beach is because the city would not budge on the reduction in parking in
the city.
On the contrary, the city agreed to the use of AME, the library and city hall for overflow parking. A suggestion also was made for a government purchase of the Bank of America lot for
close, safe access to the public beach for overflow parking.
Although county and state leaders choose to lob insults at the city, we historically and continue to be a part of the solution for the county’s failure to plan.
Robinson has stated the reason for the bill for a study on dissolving the cities is due to declining populations on the island. He even said this is a proactive approach instead of reactive as this will get ahead of the time when there are no longer enough residents to maintain three cities.
What he said is different than what I heard. Being that this study was not initiated by the city leaders and local bills are historically never controversial, I ponder on whether the “proactive
approach” our state representatives are taking was generated years ago and whether the intended outcome is the elimination of cities.
You see, when the cities lost their ability to regulate vacation rentals taking over the residential districts, this brought an onslaught of developers from all over the country, gobbling up every beach house in sight.
The market value soared and local citizens were pushed out of their homes and forced to move inland.
The holdouts remain but are subject to a declined quality of life due to noise, trash, nutrient loads in bays, congestion and no longer the ability to know their neighbors.
As mayor, it is my job to support our residents and businesses and to make decisions to maintain and improve the quality of their lives.
Because of these efforts, full-time residents are returning.
I have witnessed the drastic increase in property tax that the county receives by no longer being constrained by homestead caps — $17 million in the past 10 years. Add to that, the Manatee County Tourist Development bed tax sold to the voters lacking foresight. The voters thought the tax would be a good thing, it would bring money to our cities from visitors instead of just property owners. What they didn’t understand is what a cash cow it would become.
The city alone has contributed well over $30 million in bed tax to the coffers since its inception, with little in return. It isn’t because we haven’t asked. It is because the county commission chose to use it elsewhere.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that this is all happening at the same time entire boards of county commissions are being replaced by potential “yes men” for developers. Campaigns are being driven by strategists heavily funded by big developer PAC money.
I believe our state representatives have been taking a “proactive approach” for many years now and it is setting up Florida coastal cities to fail.
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