Editorial | Lead, not follow
If there is one fiscal philosophy we would like to quash on the city level it is the “other cities are…” justification for setting income and outgo.
We don’t like it much for justifying rules and regulations, either.
From determining employee compensation while chasing the Great White Whale of the 75th percentile and justifying various rate increases to deciding how much property owners who rent their properties should pay the city by way of a registration fee, from moving public comment at Cape Coral City Council meetings to the tail end of such sessions, the go-to is examples that confirm what city officials want to do.
Call it analysis or call it what it is — confirmation bias packaged to get public buy-in — and what you have is a focus on what may be right elsewhere but is not necessarily what Cape Coral residents want, need or can afford.
When city staff or city consultants present “comparable cities,” they are essentially showing population snapshots.
While they may be accurate comparables on the surface, such snapshots can lack big-picture context — i.e., cities cited may have similar populations but very different economies, costs-of-living or resident priorities.
Local realities for these three things should be the driver of fiscal decision making.
For example, it’s not how much Sanibel, with its international reputation as a vacation destination and resultant high rental rates, charges to register a rental with the city, but the rate the city of Cape Coral should charge in a very different rental market.
It’s not when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners schedules public input but when do Cape Coral residents think they should have their say? It’s did the recent move to the agenda’s end, despite public protest, best benefit speakers or was it simply a preference of Council and city staff who got tired of “negative” comments from pesky residents at the beginning of City Council meetings?
Look at like cities?
Certainly.
Cite those numbers or policies as “Why we should” do whatever?
We think that’s something trotted out way too often.
Like every time a fee hike is on the horizon or an unpopular change is in the works.
Give it a rest.
Breeze editorial