At this coming election on Aug. 30, Loxahatchee Groves Ballot Question 3 has me worried.
True, if the town had the ability to borrow large sums of money, millions of dollars, without going to the residents, it would streamline certain operations.
The present case that the council makes is that would allow the town to borrow $5 to $6 million for road upgrades (paving) and pay it off using the state gas tax money that the town collects.
Were that the only thing that this change in our charter would allow, I would have no problem. However, this is not being restricted to a loan for roads that will be secured with gas tax money. It opens the door for this council, or any future council, to borrow money at will and throw the pay-back burden onto us, the taxpayers of Loxahatchee Groves.
This ballot question could easily be rewritten and brought up in the main November election. Paving each section of the town roads should still go to a vote by the registered voter taxpayers on that road on a one vote per parcel basis, not by the acreage method of yesteryear.
Another real impropriety in road paving with town money alone is, should the town not reimburse those landowners who have already paid into paving (with OGEM) of their roads? The vote per road could be by certified letter ballots and not have to go through the county’s election office.
This ballot question should have been restricted to only the road money issue and kept the referendum requirement for other highly expensive undertakings as they arise. As is, it opens up a potential can of very expensive worms. I am voting “no” on Ballot Question 3.
I thank you for your time and consideration.
Bill Louda, Loxahatchee Groves
