Take a look at this. It's pretty interesting.
COLUMN: Big government bureaucracy strikes Mosquito Control and stings the taxpayers
December 09, 2009 11:18 AM
Bonnie McQuiston
The South Walton Mosquito Control District, a line item taxing authority on your property tax bill, plans to increase their three-member commission to five members ? totally at taxpayers? expense. I strongly oppose this.
The district has only 16 employees ? ten full-time, five part-time, and one full-time director. That?s one commissioner for every five employees. The director runs the day-to-day operations of the district and reports to all three commissioners.
Now, two current commissioners are pushing to almost double the size of the board.
Is this what happens when people don?t watch their government?
For years, we were told that the costs to taxpayers for a commissioner was their $400/month salary. We now find these bureaucrats have awarded themselves lucrative benefits. $4,800 salary, plus health and dental insurance, funding in the state retirement plan, and district-related travel reimbursement ? that?s $17,800 per yr, per commissioner.
South Walton taxpayers pay 100 percent of health and dental insurance premiums, and 72 percent of family premiums, for employees and commissioners. Commissioners vest in the state retirement plan during their second term in office. The district currently has three retirees for whom we pay health insurance premiums.
Additionally, there is a ?supplemental fund? for employees and commissioners of up to $1,200 for out-of-pocket medically-related expenses. Reimbursements can include insurance deductibles, eyeglasses, and prescriptions. If the $1,200 isn?t used up during the fiscal year, the balance rolls over and is added to the next year?s $1,200.
This sweetheart deal is not afforded other local government employees, and far surpasses private sector employee benefits.
Do you want more of your money used to expand their power?
It is absurd that additional commissioners are being considered. The extra costs to taxpayers are totally unnecessary. More importantly, the mentality driving this effort, especially in this economy, is an outrage.
At a time when the private sector is reducing expenses, cutting staff, and some closing their doors, this is in-your-face arrogance from local government bureaucrats. Nothing in the actual operation of the mosquito control district is changing. The only change will be the size of a power hungry board and the costs to taxpayers.
There are 26 independent mosquito control districts in Florida ? three commissioners is the norm. By comparison, Bay County mosquito control, a much larger district, has three commissioners.
Have we elected commissioners who are competent to oversee a district with sixteen employees and an operating budget under $1.5 million, or not?
We could assume, since our mosquito district was established by public referendum with three commissioners, that additional commissioners would require another public referendum. However, these commissioners, who work for us are choosing to bypass the public.
They apparently asked for a state attorney general opinion to increase with only a board vote, and they say approval was received. But, the attorney general doesn?t fund their budgets, we do.
It is time to put mosquito control commissioners on our radar screen NOW and for the next election.
Are there good reasons to almost double the bureaucracy and add costs to taxpayers?
No. Commissioners offer weak reasons for growing the hierarchy. When Charlie Burke was removed from office by the Florida governor for allegedly falsifying his residence, his replacement could not be appointed for about a year. The remaining commissioners had a hard time agreeing on matters until Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson appointed a replacement to finish Mr. Burke?s term.
One commissioner reasons that the budget almost didn?t get approved and he wants to ensure a quorum at monthly meetings. The answer to a one-time event such as the Burke matter is NOT more government. The answer is for the commissioners to attend their own meetings.
Another commissioner claims that the state of Florida ?recommends? five commissioners when a mosquito district budget hits $2 million. The South Walton district?s 2010 budget is just under $2 million.
But, about $800,000 is a contingency fund established several years ago to buy a helicopter. The costs for a pilot, maintenance and storage facility, coupled with insufficient justification, rendered the venture dormant. So, the real budget is about $1.2 million.
There is no official state requirement to grow the board at this level of operating budget.
What can you do?
Come to their next board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m., at South Walton Mosquito District office on Hwy. 393 north (about 1 mile north from Hwy. 98, east side of street). There is still a chance. It?s late in the game but it?s not over. Let?s stop these commissioners from increasing bureaucracy and our costs. If you can?t be there, at least call and voice your opinion. They can be reached at 850-267-2112.
Bonnie McQuiston is a resident of Santa Rosa Beach. She is past president of Walton County Taxpayers Association and currently serves on the board.
COLUMN: Big government bureaucracy strikes Mosquito Control and stings the taxpayers | control, mosquito, increase - Local News - WaltonSun.com
COLUMN: Big government bureaucracy strikes Mosquito Control and stings the taxpayers
December 09, 2009 11:18 AM
Bonnie McQuiston
The South Walton Mosquito Control District, a line item taxing authority on your property tax bill, plans to increase their three-member commission to five members ? totally at taxpayers? expense. I strongly oppose this.
The district has only 16 employees ? ten full-time, five part-time, and one full-time director. That?s one commissioner for every five employees. The director runs the day-to-day operations of the district and reports to all three commissioners.
Now, two current commissioners are pushing to almost double the size of the board.
Is this what happens when people don?t watch their government?
For years, we were told that the costs to taxpayers for a commissioner was their $400/month salary. We now find these bureaucrats have awarded themselves lucrative benefits. $4,800 salary, plus health and dental insurance, funding in the state retirement plan, and district-related travel reimbursement ? that?s $17,800 per yr, per commissioner.
South Walton taxpayers pay 100 percent of health and dental insurance premiums, and 72 percent of family premiums, for employees and commissioners. Commissioners vest in the state retirement plan during their second term in office. The district currently has three retirees for whom we pay health insurance premiums.
Additionally, there is a ?supplemental fund? for employees and commissioners of up to $1,200 for out-of-pocket medically-related expenses. Reimbursements can include insurance deductibles, eyeglasses, and prescriptions. If the $1,200 isn?t used up during the fiscal year, the balance rolls over and is added to the next year?s $1,200.
This sweetheart deal is not afforded other local government employees, and far surpasses private sector employee benefits.
Do you want more of your money used to expand their power?
It is absurd that additional commissioners are being considered. The extra costs to taxpayers are totally unnecessary. More importantly, the mentality driving this effort, especially in this economy, is an outrage.
At a time when the private sector is reducing expenses, cutting staff, and some closing their doors, this is in-your-face arrogance from local government bureaucrats. Nothing in the actual operation of the mosquito control district is changing. The only change will be the size of a power hungry board and the costs to taxpayers.
There are 26 independent mosquito control districts in Florida ? three commissioners is the norm. By comparison, Bay County mosquito control, a much larger district, has three commissioners.
Have we elected commissioners who are competent to oversee a district with sixteen employees and an operating budget under $1.5 million, or not?
We could assume, since our mosquito district was established by public referendum with three commissioners, that additional commissioners would require another public referendum. However, these commissioners, who work for us are choosing to bypass the public.
They apparently asked for a state attorney general opinion to increase with only a board vote, and they say approval was received. But, the attorney general doesn?t fund their budgets, we do.
It is time to put mosquito control commissioners on our radar screen NOW and for the next election.
Are there good reasons to almost double the bureaucracy and add costs to taxpayers?
No. Commissioners offer weak reasons for growing the hierarchy. When Charlie Burke was removed from office by the Florida governor for allegedly falsifying his residence, his replacement could not be appointed for about a year. The remaining commissioners had a hard time agreeing on matters until Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson appointed a replacement to finish Mr. Burke?s term.
One commissioner reasons that the budget almost didn?t get approved and he wants to ensure a quorum at monthly meetings. The answer to a one-time event such as the Burke matter is NOT more government. The answer is for the commissioners to attend their own meetings.
Another commissioner claims that the state of Florida ?recommends? five commissioners when a mosquito district budget hits $2 million. The South Walton district?s 2010 budget is just under $2 million.
But, about $800,000 is a contingency fund established several years ago to buy a helicopter. The costs for a pilot, maintenance and storage facility, coupled with insufficient justification, rendered the venture dormant. So, the real budget is about $1.2 million.
There is no official state requirement to grow the board at this level of operating budget.
What can you do?
Come to their next board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m., at South Walton Mosquito District office on Hwy. 393 north (about 1 mile north from Hwy. 98, east side of street). There is still a chance. It?s late in the game but it?s not over. Let?s stop these commissioners from increasing bureaucracy and our costs. If you can?t be there, at least call and voice your opinion. They can be reached at 850-267-2112.
Bonnie McQuiston is a resident of Santa Rosa Beach. She is past president of Walton County Taxpayers Association and currently serves on the board.
COLUMN: Big government bureaucracy strikes Mosquito Control and stings the taxpayers | control, mosquito, increase - Local News - WaltonSun.com
I love this stuff.