COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

At the last Executive Board Meeting on August 10^th; it was mentioned that Carl Persis would be conducting a Budget meeting that very night. I was unable to attend that meeting, but because of my interest in the subject at least two persons reported on the meeting. The enclosed comments are from one of these persons.

From: cgleichmann@earthlink.net
To: cpersis@co.volusia.fl.us
CC: aweeks2306@aol.com
Sent: 8/11/2009 11:08:25 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Last Nights Meeting

Good morning!

I wanted to take a minute and thank you for your participation last night. The information you distributed was useful in helping us understand the county budgeting process.

I did leave in frustration that it’s business as usual at Volusia County . I do not believe you can do business as usual today. I have had to make major adjustments in both my personal and business expense budgets over the last 12 months. I would expect you to do that as well in your business. A 2.7% reduction in projected budget is a joke compared to what private industry and individuals have had to deal with over the last 12 months. Our unemployment rate is over 10% in Volusia County and Florida is one of the two largest foreclosure states in the country. I don’t see business “as usual” for a long time to come.

When you look at the proposed tax hike plus things like doubling the cost of license tags, permits and other paid for services I can see that the county still has no issue in trying to improve their revenue stream at the tax payer’s expense.

That being said, I ask you to take a fresh look at the budget and champion an effort to reduce your expenses and our taxes. I see inefficiencies in county operation everyday just driving around the peninsular. Here are a couple of examples:

1. The county moves a backhoe with two trucks, 5 people and drives the backhoe to the job in a caravan at 15 mph. A private contractor uses two men and a trailer.

2. There were 4 workers and a supervisor painting a line in the street by hand,

3. Stop up a Hi Bridge and see how many county people and trucks are hanging around.

4. The road and bridge people repaired a pot hole at our corner by throwing some aggregate in the hole, raking it out and driving away. It lasted a day. The county used 2 trucks and 4 men for a repair that lasted 24 hours.

I would challenge the county to look at a budget driven off of a flat (08) tax rate rather than a flat revenue number. Every department needs to participate. Let’s look at improving efficiencies and becoming more productive rather than just making cuts. It is a challenge that every business has had to face in the last year. Volusia needs to step up to the real issues out there!

Best Regards,

Chuck Gleichmann

3300 John Anderson Dr

Ormond Beach FL 32176