COMMENTARY

“Talk of unified local government may feed at least a few egos longing to rule over larger fiefdoms, but consolidation of local government within Indian River County would do nothing to improve the quality of life for the residents of Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, the Town of Orchid, Sebastian or Fellsmere.”

MARK SCHUMANN

Within Indian River County there are five incorporated municipalities: Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, the Town of Orchid, Sebastian and Fellsmere. Why these “extra” layers of government, collecting taxes, imposing regulations and providing services some argue are not essential? Wouldn’t it be more efficient and less expensive for the Indian River County Commission to administer the basic, essential services mandated by the state?

To advocates of so-called limited government, that may sound like a compelling, rational argument, but the case for consolidation crumbles under the weight of reality. In his 2103 book,“If Mayors Ruled the World,” Benjamin R. Barber argues that national and state leaders, and county leaders as well, could govern move effectively and responsibly if they would take a lesson or two from mayors serving cities large and small.

As one reviewer wrote, “Barber cites the unique qualities cities worldwide share: pragmatism, civic trust, participation, indifference to borders and sovereignty, and a democratic penchant for networking, creativity, innovation, and cooperation.”

Mayors tend to be more effective, Barber contends, primarily because they are closer to the people and can better understand the needs and concerns of the average citizen. Essentially, the lower the level of government — the closer it is to the people — the more responsive it will be.

Every town and city in Florida exists because their founders wanted something more than can reasonably be expected from county government. Counties are extensions of the state — nothing more and nothing less. Recreation programs, parks, emergency services (as in the case of Indian River Shores) utilities, more stringent and intentional planning and zoning, code enforcement and storm water management, are among the services and amenities in which cities tend to make a bigger investment that do counties.

Cities offer their residents and voters an opportunity to exercise home rule, self-government, if you will, and with that they have the opportunity to provide for themselves more that the bare minimum in municipal services. Cities and towns are empowered to chart their own course, to control their own destiny, to build a community that distinctively reflects the interests and priorities of their residents and taxpayers.

Vero Beach leaders, for example, are free to choose, as they have, to enforce a ban on short-term rentals. In contrast, the Indian River County Commission allows vacation rentals in the unincorporated areas of the county. Is one approach right and the other wrong? That is for voters to decide as their choose their county commissioners and city councilors. Given the opportunity to exercise home rule, Vero Beach voters elected leaders who took a different course on short-term rentals than did the County Commission.

Wanting to ensure faster emergency response times for its residents, the Town of Indian River Shores years ago formed an emergency serviced department and a police force. Could the money required to provide those services be better spent if left in the hands of Shores residents? Because Shores founders chose home rule, that is a decision Shores voters are free to make for themselves.

Without an incorporated City of Vero Beach would there be as many public parks as there are today? Almost surely not.

If it were left to the County Commission to establish and enforce zoning, would there be more high-rise condominiums between South Beach and Jaycee Beach? Almost surely there would be.

If it were up to the “bare-minimum” County Commission to provide lifeguard protection at the popular public beaches within the city, would beachgoers be as well protected as they are today? Not likely.

Each of the five municipalities within Indian River County offers a level of municipal services reflective of the wishes of its residents and voters. Talk of unified local government may feed at least a few egos longing to rule over larger fiefdoms, but consolidation of local government within Indian River County would do nothing to improve the quality of life for the residents of Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, the Town of Orchid, Sebastian or Fellsmere.