The fall elections ring in hope for change and a brighter future, both locally and nationally.
To assist our new leaders in Nassau County, we'll provide a checklist of issues they should address at their earliest convenience. It might be viewed as a scorecard to judge their performances.
The issues facing Nassau County are numerous -- and onerous. There is plenty of goodwill and good deeds for these new or re-elected officials to dole out to the electorate.
Ethics policy for county officials: County Clerk of Court John Crawford has already drawn up an ethics policy and enforced it with his staffers. County commissioners should do the same to other top-ranking officials -- and include themselves under these noble principles.
An ethics policy spells out what officials can and cannot do, especially when there might be an appearance of impropriety or a conflict of interest. There are reports that some county officials are becoming too cozy with some developers and their representatives, for instance.
This is not to say that anyone is breaking the law or violating a county code. However, an ethics policy would stipulate what is acceptable and remove any questions from the equation.
Financial acumen: County commissioners should be versed in the financial arena. A $160 million budget is nothing to sneeze at, and too often the county has caught a cold from a lack of financial acumen by county commissioners. The enormity and complexity of the budget requires that officials have an understanding of finance -- or the penchant to learn.
County departmental reviews: You hear copious reports of county departments being bloated with excess employees and spending -- in comparison with other similar-sized counties. In the next budget process, county-by-county comparisons would shed light on any bloated departments and the need to cut the fat.
Growth plan: This is something that has been lacking here. County officials must develop a plan of what to do with traffic along Highway A1A in Yulee, as well as how to accommodate a growing population on other roadways.
You have to ask how many strip centers are needed in Yulee, or how many more gas stations are necessary on Amelia Island. Meanwhile, the central and west sides of the county are growing the most in terms of new houses -- and this will continue.
You cannot stop growth. You can manage it wisely. To do this, you must have a plan and a vision.
Reasonable property valuations: This is a hidden factor in the tax equation that is killing county residents right now. Excessive valuations will increase your taxes even though the tax rate is declining (thanks to Amendment 1). Businesses, vacation properties, and second homes are bearing the burden of these ludicrous valuations, since most homes have protection.
How can valuations not be declining in what is commonly called the worst real estate market in decades? Try to sell your house or business for what it was worth two years ago. So why are valuations not declining in a commensurate rate with other properties around the state?
The most commonly used benchmark to measure the declines in property values in Florida is near 40 percent. While some parts of Nassau County are unique and not under such a strain, they certainly have lost value in every way except on your tax statement.
The list of issues for new officials is exhaustive here. There is plenty to do -- so let's get right to work and makes some good things happen.
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(Steve Nicklas is a financial advisor who lives on Amelia Island. He can be reached at thenicklasteam2@msn.com or at 904-753-0236.)