I am beginning to think that Pam Richardson and Kim Carney, the two Flagler County commissioners sacrificing our beaches to ideological fantasy, think County Administrator Heidi Petito is a magician. Or maybe that she can generate millions of dollars to save the beaches through some cryptocurrency scheme. More likely, they just don’t seem to like her very much. They’re trying to undermine her tenure by accusing her of obstruction and deception.
Petito is capable of both, as are most county and city managers. Look at what Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson is doing in Bunnell: he’s speeding through one of the most massive industrial rezoning schemes in the state and pretending it has nothing to do with that fuel dump residents rejected in Palm Coast and Ormond Beach. He’s sneaking in the fuel dump–either in that rezoned area or further south in Bunnell–through a series of secret actions as he dubiously invokes a provision of law that allows him to temporarily hide public records related to economic development, preventing us from knowing who’s behind this. (Tell you what, Alvin: if it ain’t the farm, then just issue a statement saying so. You’re not breaching any confidences, just asserting a negative. But you won’t, proving by your own undue secrecy the motive of your secret.)
Petito is doing no such thing with the beaches. The obstruction–the wall between a viable beach and certain erosion–is the Carney-Richardson obstinacy.
The commission asked Petito to produce a plan to pay for beach management well into the future. After a series of misfires and rejections, she and deputy administrator Jorge Salinas pulled it off. The plan is expensive (more expensive by $4 million a year than a year ago, which raises its own legitimate questions). But it would ensure repairing all 18 miles of beaches and, more importantly, maintaining those beaches with periodic renourishment every so many years.
It would also fund Flagler County’s very expensive share of the 50-year U.S. Army Corps of Engineers renourishment project on 2.8 miles of sands in Flagler Beach. Without the county’s share, the Corps project dies, and with it any hope of preserving Flagler Beach’s sands.
All this depends on increasing the county’s sales tax by half a cent. Richardson and Carney don’t want to do that. Their position can be respected, up to a point. If they simply said they didn’t want a tax increase, that would be that. It’s ideological dogma, and it’s misplaced and misinformed (in other words, it’s politics), but it’s not deception. They would have to accept the consequence, which is killing the beach management plan.
Leann Pennington is also opposed to the sales tax increase. But she is not questioning the administrator’s methods, nor the sales tax increase on its merits. She opposes using that revenue for the beaches. Her constituents on the west side don’t care about the beaches. They care about stormwater and drainage. Pennington wants tax dollars spent there. So her opposition is based on priorities as she sees them, not on the kind of ideological opposition and fantasy wishes Carney and Richardson are conjuring.
(I think Pennington is wrong: people in Kansas and Okeechobee County are ponying up for Flagler County’s beaches through state and federal funds. What exempts the West Side? True, a minute share of their county taxes is already contributing to beach management. But a sales tax increase would be infinitesimal in comparison. Meanwhile those people in Kansas ponied up to vastly improve the West Side’s broadband access that Pennington championed. They did so through a federal aid bill, the same sort of bill giving us the new South Side library. Pennington happily cheered on that money, just as she championed and cheered a $10 million shelter at the county fairgrounds those people in Okeechobee also paid for. How about giving back a little for your neighbors a few miles east?)
Saving the beaches isn’t just for the fun of walking them at sunset. It’s not just tourism (whose share of local sales tax revenue county officials keep blatantly lying about: it’s nowhere near 30 percent). It’s a matter of safety to the barrier island as essential as codes that keep buildings from collapsing and firefighters that keep them from burning. And yes, it’s also matter of county identity. The West Side would scream bloody murder if no one lifted a finger if a preventable disease (probably caused by global warming) were ravaging crops, and they’d be right, even though we’d all survive without the West Side’s cabbages, potatoes and sod farms. Why should we not all lift a finger–and taxes–to save beaches getting ravaged by warming-caused sea rise and that, pound for pound, are far more valuable than potatoes and cabbages?
Carney and Richardson claim they’re all for the 18-mile plan. But they want Petito to give them alternatives to the sales tax they had supported as recently as early March. Then reversed, claiming that there are alternatives, and blaming Petito for not providing them. They have not presented a single one, at least not a viable one. Carney suggested the harebrained shift of the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands revenue to the beach, once it’s up for renewal, even though that would rob Peter’s forest to pay Paul’s dunes and would be a fifth of the needed revenue or less.
Richardson and Carney think gas tax money could do the trick, though state law doesn’t allow transportation revenue to fund beach management. Richardson thinks you can also cut a few million dollars out of the budget, DOGE-like (even as the nut case who brought you DOGE is now at war with his nut-case boss and his debt-exploding “big beautiful bill,” and both reveal what a swindle the whole thing was.) In any case, you need recurring revenue, not one-time cuts, and aside from ridiculous ideas like stopping construction on the South Side library or staffing it with ghosts, Richardson hasn’t dared propose a single cut.
That’s the sort of straw-man suggestions Carney and Richardson have come up with to claim that Petito can propose alternatives, but refuses to. But the only thing Petito is refusing to do is play into their deception. She knows: They want her to take the blame for what they’re doing: killing Flagler County’s beach-management plan–the only viable plan we have.
Personally, I think raising the property tax to whatever level necessary to fund beach management is the way. That’s a viable alternative. It cuts across all classes and regions. Everybody pays it (renters and businesses proportionately much more than homesteaded homeowners), Palm Coast and the other cities included. But even the two champions of the beach management plan–Andy Dance and Greg Hansen–won’t go there: raising the property tax is heresy for Republicans who love their revenue as regressive as possible. That’s a theology for another day, and compromise is more useful than theology.
That leaves us with the regressive sales tax, immune though are groceries, medicines, soon-to-be-clothes up to $75 and innumerable other exemptions. As a political reality, the sales tax remains the only choice, and compromise on that score, for all of us, the only way.
So Petito is right to resist. She’s not to blame here. The commissioners are. Maybe we can name what will be the inevitable 18-mile sea wall after Carney and Richardson as the beaches disappear and the barrier island’s life expectancy dwindles.
Pierre Tristam is the editor of FlaglerLive. A version of this piece airs on WNZF.
Marty Reed says
Carney & Richardson should be removed from office for their incompetence!
RBW says
Well said! Both need to be recalled or strongly voted out. One thing I have learned is you can’t fix stupid. These two are the definition of stupid! If property or loss of life happens due to not fixing the beaches which we pay taxes for, I wonder if a class action suit against the county can be launched? They knew there was a problem, failed to fix it. The definition of negligence!
Larry says
100% AGREE with every word! Disappointed in both of them.
Hoping those 2 realize within the next few weeks that the 1/2 cent tax is the best option available for all county residents and businesses. If they don’t approve it soon, I plan to vote against both of them in the next election.
Maryanne says
It figures, so much corruption coming from Flagler County commission
jim lang says
You go Pam.
Jim says
It just dumbfounds me that people get elected into office to represent the area and the people who live here but refuse to do their job once there.
If county commissioners do not want to support refurbishment of the beaches, just say so. Tell us all what you think.
If they do support it and don’t like the proposed funding method, come up with viable alternatives. This “just say no to taxes” stance isn’t getting us anywhere.
This is a beach community- the entire county and state. We moved here because of the proximity to beaches (among other reasons) and we all have to accept there is a cost associated with maintaining this area.
I ask all the commissioners to step and and propose a viable funding mechanism or vote for the $0.05 tax increase. Doing nothing is just irresponsible.
Just saying says
Put it on the ballot and let the voters decide
K says
Flagler County deserves much better than the choices we have at election time. Why are we magnets for ignorance and stupidity? Carney and Richardson are like Joe Mullins.
Not our money worth says
I do not blame commissioner Pennington for not supporting this increase strictly for the beach. Her constituents are underserved as is with the taxas already paid. The terrible road maintenance and complete lack of police response as just 2 examples. Today there were exactly 2 deputies to cover the entire western half of the county. To large of an area for only 2 officers. No wonder response time is horrendous
Don says
They are more worried about taking care of their realtor and builder friends than this community. Their solution is to cut low level positions within the County. Those that do the most for terrible pay. They do not have the guts to look into the multitude of management position that were created to give Heidi Petito’s friends huge raises and giving them the “Golden Parachute” for a huge retirement. How many paid positions and titles does Holly Albanese have? Library Director(she is almost never there), “Special Profects Coordinator” (They then hired someone to actually do the job), then it was acting HR Director, now she is an Assistant to The County Administrator. Annual wage $162,000! Amy Lukasik , Tourism Director, over $140,000. What tourism? Flagler Beach takes care of themselves, Palm Coast and Bunnell are not tourist destinations. Multitude of Fire Rescue personnel over $100,000. For what? They are an ambulance service 90% of the time. Steven Durrance, makes over $90,000 per year to mow grass at Princess place, and gets a home paid for by the County! Eliminate these “free homes” . Also a free house for employees at Haw Creek and other locations. How much would the County save by eliminating these free homes. Free rent, free utilities, free maintenance, free access to everything. Enough of the Good Old Boy crap!
Paul Larkin says
Responding to Jim writing “the $0.05 tax increase”…am I not right in saying the recommendation is for a $0.005 tax increase (that being a half cent increase not a 5 cent increase)??
JC says
You guys are silly. People were happy that Pam Richardson won her seat over Danko, now people are complaining. No complaints about Leann Pennington even if she is against the tax for semi similar reasons. Not everyone is for the sales tax increase. When I used to live in Duval County/Jacksonville people vote for half cent sales tax for the schools and other things here and there. It never worked out because at the end of the day they want more money (they the county governments), even when they told us that voting yes for a half cent sales tax increase would be enough money.
Robin says
I’m very disappointed in both Commissioners Carney and Richardson. I expected a common sense approach to the County’s problems. I’m surprised that the FCBR and the developers aren’t raising hell about this. In business school and my medical sales experience, you identify a problem AND propose a feasible solution.
SMH.
I'm done says
@Jim,
This has been an ongoing project for these past eight years. There have been studies on top of studies. Literally years of studies. Two previous Commissions jumped through the necessary hoops to establish this program. It took efforts at the local, state and federal levels to get all this approved.
Then in November two new Commissioners were elected to the board. They were aware of this massive plan when they ran, of the years it took to put it into place, were thoroughly briefed on it, stated they would support it in debates and before local government bodies. And now they do not.
It will take 4 votes to pass this, so unless there is a miracle, it will not pass. They have had 7 months to study this.
The barrier island is the greatest source of tax revenue in this county. If there is a major hurricane, the flooding will be felt for miles inland. Property will be worthless.
The tax is the least painful way to do this. It would cost a family of 4 anywhere from $6 to $14 per month. The only other way to do it is to cut staff and services, approximately 80 positions. I will not vote to re-elect three of these commissioners and I hope that you won’t either.
John Orlando says
All this arguing about a 1/2 cent sales tax is just a diversion to make the public forget that the issue that matters most is that very little of the 11 mile Flagler beachfront is accessible to the public. Most of the shoreline is private property and public funds should not be used to protect it. Even the few public beaches are in such bad shape that most residents have no interest in visiting them. The rest rooms at Varn Park and Jungle Hut are decrepit. There are so many rocks at Jungle Hut and Old Salt Park that you can’t swim there. Parking is inadequate everywhere, especially Flagler Beach which is a complete joke. It is obvious that all the improvements being made to Flagler Beach and the Pier are mostly going to benefit the guests at the new hotel. Even the small parking lots in Flagler Beach are used mainly by people eating at the restaurants, not beachgoers. And you wonder why Palm Coasters don’t want to contribute to the beach funding plan….they don’t have a beach to contribute to!
R.S. says
Even though half a penny doesn’t seem to be much, a sales tax sets a bad precedent. Upping the property taxes of people living by the beach is the way to go. Their insurance is subsidized by the State; they might as well fork over some more for their ostentations living in future flood zones. Besides, beach erosion is the way of the future as long as climate change keeps going unchecked.
Roger C. says
It is hard to understand comments being made about the beach being private – the entire coastline of Flagler County is public, not private. There are no restrictions on residents or visitors going anywhere on the beach they care to go onto. There are lots of public access points. The fact that there is not public access on every foot of the coastline simply means that visitors that don’t want to stay close to the public access points may need to walk a few steps up or down the beach once they cross over the dunes on the public access points.
Richard Hamilton says
Pierre,
It is unfair to blame Commissioners Carney and Richardson for “killing the beach”. Nature is trying to move the beach and dunes and they agree we need to find reasonable methods to delay or prevent that. I happen to agree that the Dunes and Beach plans should be thoroughly and openly reviewed one more time, potentially with different solutions for different sections of the shoreline. I also agree that potential savings or deferral of expenses and capital projects are considered before raising new taxes.
I do not always agree with these Commissioners, but their 2024 FlaglerLive interviews were fairly clear about their positions on taxes, budgets and support for beach management. They were elected by a majority in Flagler County, as were many other state and federal candidates running on similar programs of cost cuts and lower taxes. It is unfair to accuse them of flipflopping just because they are open to alternatives. They have already agreed with the other Commissioners that something must be done for the entire coastline so it is also unfair to accuse them of abandonment.
My personal fear is that impacts of current policies – FEMA, DEP, resiliency grants, State and Federal budgets and the economy in general – are still working through the system. Right now I think caution and careful analysis is required, while defending those areas most threatened by hurricanes and storms of all sorts. That includes beachfront properties, and many other areas significantly exposed to flooding. Whatever our viewpoint, all 5 commissioners should be encouraged to continue with cooperative fact based analysis, not insulted for their honestly held views and not scared by false alternatives.
Martin Cashel Reed says
If you want to play that game, we should then charge ALL beach visitors that are not Flagler Beach residents for both parking and issuing beach tags like they do at the northeast beaches. I’d have no problem with that. And me living an ostentatious life in my 1,000 sq ft bungalow?
Sam says
Don’t just blame Richardson and Carney, Pennington is no prize either. Go take a tour of her district and see what a disaster it is. Drive down Mahogany Boulvard all you see are wrecked houses, junkyards, advertisements posters.
Meanwhile she votes right in line with every developer who shows up with a development plan.
Pierre Tristam says
That’s just my point, “cooperative fact based analysis,” which is what the commission had been working on since last year, reaching this point with the latest plan that the two commissioners at first embraced, only to abandon fact-based analysis in favor of these ghost alternatives they keep referring to. It would be great if they come up with that alternative, assuming it covers all 18 miles and doesn’t plunder the county budget on the way, but as facts and math stand now, their premise doesn’t seem credible without some form of tax increase. That’s why I believe their argument is based on a dishonest premise, kind of like David Stockman claiming in 1981 that yes, absolutely, we can cut taxes and increase government revenue, or their claim now that we can “doge” our way to beach protection. We have to get past the voodoo and accept that if we’re (if they are) serious about protecting all 18 miles, significant new revenue is necessary, and in government, that happens only one way.
Mort says
Very sad to see the level of comments being posted here, everything from “they’re all Crooks, they don’t know how to do their jobs, we don’t use the beach anyway, my community will not benefit”. You don’t want to hear the facts or know the facts because then you wouldn’t have anything to complain about, nobody to trash, would you? Then what would you do? Something productive, maybe?
Do you know, for instance, that your city has a statewide reputation for being one of the most difficult and negative places to start a business?
What you really don’t know is that even with these problems, you’ve got pretty good government here both at the city and county levels. Many have even won awards for their efforts. But nobody gives a damn about that, do you? Why bother to take the time to know?
Well, it is wise to remember that goes both ways.
Judy M says
The past Commissions are ultimately responsible for this mess. Instead of prioritizing a beach management plan years ago, they instead chose to prioritize exessive spending of county funds. Two big ones are the Sheriffs Center and the Nexus Center. While both may have had a need for additional space the grandeur of the complexes is exessive and, in my opinion, beyond what is required to provide for the needs of our community. I mean, did the Sheriff Center really need space for a museum?? And the Nexus Center? What a scam!!! Years of funds spent on planning, design and the purchase of the land. Then it goes on to the construction costs, now it needs SIX additional staff, furniture, books and a mini market??? Who is paying the monthly utilities and maintenance? All this with “passport” money (this seems to be Ms. Albanese answer to all the funding obstacles). All this spending happening during the same exact time that the county is in need of a beach management plan. What is REAL actual cost of the Nexus center when ALL the spending is added together.
And now, the commission is ready to spend money on the emergency shelter? Yes, I know, they will recieve $10m from the state. Will that money actually cover the entire cost of the project from planning and design, to site work, to construciton, to furnishing, to technology, to staffing, to annual mainenance and overhead costs?? Where will the difference come from?
I also heard the commission talk about expanding space for the SOE and Tax Collector. Where is that funding coming from? Perhaps the nexus center should actually be the location for these services??
The core issue isn’t solely financial; it also lies within the politics of the elected officials, past and current, inability to make decisions based on common financial sense rather then some power trip political favor to some outside pressure.
The reason we don’t get quality candidates for elections, nation wide, is because good and decent people refuse to become a part of the dirty political trap.
Laurel says
So far, the only comment here that makes sense is from John Orlando. Thank you Mr. Orlando!
Pierre Tristam: Your darling, Ms. Petito, when asked in her presentation in the Hammock, why shouldn’t Palm Coast patrons contribute, stated “Palm Coast doesn’t have a beach.” So, she isn’t exactly supporting Palm Coast involvement. Under her plan, just being on the east side of the bridge, everyone should pay more than the rest of the county, whether they can afford it or not.
So, sir, please explain to me, why a senior citizen, in a trailer, on a small lot, should annually pay the same amount (Petito plan states “per parcel”) as the private, revenue producing golf course directly on the beach, or the same as the private, revenue producing club house directly on the beach, or the McMansions directly on the beach? Why should a family, in a small house pay the same as the aforementioned, huge parcels?
I can afford to pay what Ms. Petito has formulated, but I know that not everyone here can. You also know, damned good and well, that the price will go up over time. It will not stay $160 “per parcel” annually, forever. $160 for the entire golf course, and $160 for the old guy in a small house. Go ahead, go into Publix here and see what all this wonderful tourism is costing the locals. I know of people who work at Publix who cannot afford to shop there. Gentrification is okay with you? Is this wonderful tourism helping, or is it pushing the locals out so that the greedy can take over and profit? I remember one man, at Ms. Petito’s presentation, who owns a home on the beach, blurted out that her plan was a great deal! Yeah, everyone is worried about losing the barrier island to the sea.
Please drive along A1A, and tell me where all the public parking and access trails are through the Dunes resort massive properties. No one has done that yet, though I keep asking. To state that the whole 18 miles is public may be the truth, but truth that leaves out the fact that it is not all accessible to the public, unless of course, they want to walk for miles.
I do agree that the properties could be assessed according to size and usage, but Ms. Petito’s plan did not address that concept, nor did it address paid public parking. Everywhere you go to the beach in Florida, where there is any population claiming dependence on tourism, there is paid public parking. This is the only place that cries there should be none. All of south Florida has kiosks. Kiosks are in St. Augustine, and booths for paid parking on the beach. Volusia County has paid parking. Georgia shore has paid parking. South Carolina shore has paid parking.
Flagler County can install pay to play kiosks, and let the people who actually use the beach, pay to park. Assess the businesses, and properties directly on the beach, accordingly, and access the homes not directly on the beach minimally. Don’t ask the people who cannot afford it to carry the rest.
Putting the blame on the two commissioners who think there may be a better way (there is) is just bullshit and the half cent sales tax is just further protecting the wealthy.
Tired of it says
Just want to point out that Ms. Albanese has taken on a variety of assignments on ONE SALARY. Instead of hiring people for a variety of vacant jobs, they have dumped project after project on Ms.Albanese. This is a common pratice in organizations…find someone who can get things done and load them up with work until they either collapse or quit. As for the Fire and Rescue personnel…you must nit have lived in PC during the fires. Be glad we have them.
Joe D says
For R.S…..
Believe me there is no “government subsidy” for insuring my 1155 sq ft 2 bedroom 1.5 bath beach facing “mansion” as you call it. If it wasn’t that I could walk across A1A to get to the VERY PUBLIC walkover, I wouldn’t be able to park along A1A to get to the beach weekdays OR weekends for all the others parking along both sides of A1A! Our Townhouse development doesn’t limit beach access.
I do get an insurance company DISCOUNT due to my home being elevated 8 ft off the ground, solid poured concrete with concrete slab floors and a concrete slab roof with hurricane shutters.
I am paying $6500 at the moment in property taxes for my 1155 sq ft townhouse “mansion,” ( increased $500 each year since I bought my retirement home in 2019), so I can subsidize the public’s use of the beach across from my townhouse. By the way, I haven’t set foot on the beach in a YEAR!
And I’m a retired NURSE, and hardly consider myself “rich” or “privileged.”
So you might want to check out your “facts,” and you might just want to add “ in my opinion” to your comments, since that’s all your so calls “facts” are…YOUR OPINION.
Me says
Let me guess they must be Republicans? The party that is against environmental improvements, health safety regulations, airline and gun safety, you name it if its’s good for our country count them in to be against it.
celia pugliese says
Does anyone realize what half a penny tax cost in high price items like cars, boats, homes remodeling/improvement supplies, appliances, etc etc.? Not all residing in this county are millionaires and by the way I agree with Mr. Hamilton above! One time these commissioners vote the right way and are chastased? Thank you ladies for your vote! We need more of that. Lets tell the county manager and their HR to reduce the outreageous unjustified big wigs pay and preserve who are at the bottom of a hierarchy or classification, often with less responsibility, lower pay, or fewer benefits compared to higher-tier counterparts and will be plenty for beach renourishment. Also avoidance of nepotism in the county payroll will save taxpayers funds
Grow up says
“Flagler County deserves much better than the choices we have at election time. Why are we magnets for ignorance and stupidity? Carney and Richardson are like Joe Mullins.”
KAY says (previous post)
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
AT LEAST THEY STOO UP AND RAN FOR ELECTED OFFICE ! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?
just wait for it says
Carney & Richardson are doing their jobs; “Don” mentioned salary so I went on a search. Most updated annual salaries I could find without doing a public record request are from 2023 below, maybe this is what the two commissioners saw. Draw your own conclusions.
2023 – Al Hadeed $294,403
2023- Heidi Petito 200,928 first year as Admin $125,256
2023- Jorge Salinas $185, 619 – 2020 before Heidi took over $158,995
2023- Holly Albanese $162,760 2020 before Heidi took over $100,978
2023- Mike Dickson $157,144 2020 before Heidi took over $100,535
2023- Roy Sieger $152,672 2020 before Heidi took over $126,708
2023- Amy Lukasik $141,669 2020 before Heidi took over $108,333
2023 – Joanthan Lord $132,974 2020 before Heidi took over $110,591 (lets not forget all the double pay he gets during storms)
2023- Luci Dance $72,010 2020 before Heidi took over 49,941.
One can only guess what those salaries are now, two years later.
Kim says
I sure don’t know the answer, but below is the information these two women provided when they were running for their commission seats. Both have been in Flagler for years. That beach restoration discussion started in something like 2007. So, in almost 20 years the county has not figured out a way to match the funding, and now we could lose it all? Come on, get your heads out of wherever they are, and get some cooperative ideas going “to protect the beachtown community while working with all other municipalities in the County.”
The info:
Kim Carney
https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?op=cv&e=28&c=flagler&ca=484&rellevel=4&committee=N
An excerpt:
“As a City Commissioner in Flagler Beach for the past 9 years I worked diligently to maintain Flagler Beach’s “old Florida charm” while preparing Flagler Beach for years to come. Flagler Beach needs strong representation that will protect the beachtown community while working with all other municipalities in the County. I am committed to Economic Development and defining what that means for Flagler County. I am committed to dealing with social issues that are plaguing our community. I am about eliminating waste in government spending. I stand ready to serve District 3 and the entire county as we move toward making healthy, sound and productive choices for our community.”
And Pam Richardson:
https://flaglerlive.com/pam-richardson-flagler-county-commission-candidate-the-live-interview-2024/
Bob says
We wouldn’t be having this conversation if the county commission never approved these gaudy multi-million dollar, three-story monstrosities of homes that are rarely occupied on our fragile dunes in the first place. Thanks to our past county leaders, it’s all coming back to bite everyone.
Roy skinner says
Let the beaches go back to there natural state
Let nature come back
If the waves take the houses so be it
You where never ment to build there and take away nature
Why should the taxpayers pay for the wealthy
Pay for it your self
JBollinger says
The 1/2 cent sales tax applies only to the first $5000 for an item. So if you were to buy a car, the most you would pay would be an additional $25.
A $1000 TV would cost an additional $5.
A $100 pair of shoes would cost an additional $.50.
I point out these numbers to give an idea of the cost of this tax on items.
Is that additional cost (tax) worth it to renourish the beaches?
Ed P says
Roy,
Let’s assume your scenario happens. Where does Flagler County get the 30+% of the total budget from if the island is returned to nature? The island has fewer school aged children and the lowest crime rates hence it probably is not a negative drain on the on the budget. Your taxes would have to go exponentially more than 30%. Maybe 2,3 or 4 times as much?
Marty says
Roy Skinner, you are perhaps being a bit short sided with your comment. If the entire coast of Florida took your recommendations to heart, the state would be bankrupt. Florida would be a nothing state without our coastal beaches.