NEWS ANALYSIS

MARK SCHUMANN

In advance of Vero Beach’s Nov. 3 municipal election, challengers Laura Moss, Brian Heady and Harry Howle have use post card mailers, print advertising and campaign appearances to charge the incumbent City Council with profligate spending.

With the exception of Pilar Turner, the remaining four Council members, Amelia Graves, Jay Kramer, Randy Old and Richard Winger all approved a 2015/2016 budget that calls for two new lifeguards, two additional police officers, two positions in IT/Finance and one additional recreation program coordinator.

Next year’s budget provides for the first raises for City employees in several years. Also contributing to increased spending are higher health care costs, and the additional investment needed to convert the City’s pension fund from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan.

In the short-term, a defined contribution pension plan costs more, but it also serves to shift future investment risk from taxpayers to the City’s employees. Currently, the City is spending more than $4 million a year to make up for investment losses suffered in the pension fund during the last recession. Going forward, Vero Beach’s taxpayers will not be at risk of having to make up for investment losses.

Whenever candidates make competing and mutually exclusive claims, it is left to voters to sift through the rhetoric, search for the facts, and reach their conclusions. Now is no exception, and here are some relevant facts.

In 2008, the City raised $5.5 million in property tax revenue on a tax rate of 1.9367. In the coming fiscal year, the City will raise $5.6 million in property tax, with a millage rate of 2.380. Is an increase of .00001786 percent over seven years excessive taxation? Voters will have to decide for themselves.

In 2008, the City’s General Fund budget was $23.8 million. In the coming fiscal year, General Fund expenses are budgeted to be $22 million. Does a decrease in total spending over seven years amount to poor stewardship of tax dollars? Voters will have to decide for themselves.

In 2008, the City’s spending on police protection was $7,264,000. Next year’s budget for the police department is $7.3 million. Is an increase of .00495595 percent in spending on public safety over seven years an example of spending gone wild? Voters will have to decide for themselves.

In 2008, Vero Beach had 261 General Fund employees. Accounting for seven new positions in the 2015/16 budget, the General Fund employee count will be 195. Does a 25 percent decrease in employment amount to bloated government, as some candidates claim? Again, voters will have to decide for themselves.