Burch responds on the issues
To the editor:
I have debated many topics and talked with many people over the past few months and would like to state some of the facts as they are and not as some would wish them to be as follows:
n The $140 million RO Plant ($95 million for plant, $10 million for design and sitework and $25 million for the raw water, injection wells and utility side or UEP to support the FEP) is not $180 million.
n We have built five fire stations over the past five years at an average cost of $3.5 million. (The one station approved during my two years on Council came in at $3.5 million and I saved over a half million dollars by asking for a rebid). Only one had a higher than average price tag and that occurred during the height of construction when many were paying premium costs for construction. The fire stations have not cost over $6 million each to construct.
n Our debt and debt ratings will not “bankrupt” the city and are not imminently close to “junk bond rating.” The BBB Fitch rating for utility special assessments is not unusual in today’s market as this rating is very typical for this type of special assessment bond in this economy because it relies on collections that are not considered reliable and all cities experience the same exposure. The only way that this debt would go to “junk status” is if it were to default entirely on payment and that is virtually impossible. We also have four other debt service ratings (as do most municipalities, with some having more), and the remaining four, each, have a rating of A+ from Fitch. We are solidly below the average debt level ratings established for cities between 100,000 and 500,000 population.
The method of “debt service” paying for growth over a long term will distribute the cost of growth to existing and future residents as it should be without placing the burden on only the existing residents and statutorily sound as well.
n Our 2010 budget, (my first budget as mayor) will be $137 million which is at the 2006 level. Our Full Time Equivalent Staff (FTE’s) levels will be at 1,550 which is at the 2005 level. Our “Per Capita Cost of Operating (Total Potential Budget Adopted) will be $843.23 which is lower than the 2006 level. That is the cost to every man, woman and child in this city and a good barometer of actual costs that the city controls and not the ad valorem tax system that creates the mill rate dilemma and perpetuates a “broken tax system” that is controlled by the state. Those numbers are a stark contrast to the highest ever in the city’s history when I came into office two years ago at $170 million, more than 1,900 FTE’s and more than one thousand dollars per capita costs.
n Almost all of the contributions that I receive have been from residents, long-time stakeholders in the community, police and fire members, union members that work, live and play here, businesses that pay taxes here and concerned businessman (local residents that would like to see Cape Coral become the SW area leader in business development as it should be). The few that are not, come from staff from other offices of the company that I am employed by, relatives out of state and home offices or banks that process the local businesses money elsewhere in the state or others. I am proud to be supported by successful people, including my neighbors and friends.
Long-term residents ask me why I would want to continue with this job. I simply state that I love this city as a 17-year resident and want to provide public service. I have worked with the union presidents to save on our budget, initiated and closed the deal on the Avatar property (a 40-year-old problem that had no solution until now), which is truly a defining moment for our city that will help our economic growth and commercial tax base (despite the misinformation given by some), worked with Secretary Pelham of DCA on our primary election day, in Tallahassee to bring a successful draft agreement of the Zemel Annexation that has been litigated and negotiated over seven years. That was a trip that took 15 hours of that day and was worth every minute if the draft is accepted as our final submittal. We have managed to receive a large share of Stimulus funds and continue to seek more, I believe in part, due to my trip with the U.S. Mayors Conference to Washington by drawing attention to our city. We are actively seeking the Ice Rink, the Swim Center and will be beginning construction on the Veterans Clinic in just a few short weeks. We (I, Rep. Aubuchon and others) have managed to convince the Secretary of the FDOT to advance fund our $5.145 million grant by one year to complete the Del Prado widening which will be responsible for about 800, direct and indirect, jobs. I serve on nine boards and commissions representing the city throughout the county and state.
I felt it was time to thank all for their support and outline some of my thoughts of the last three months and the things that have transpired. Some aspire to be politicians. I aspire to be a public servant. I dislike politics because they obscure the truth and hinder progress. A public servant aspires to help his or her electorate, as a whole, and his or her municipality while trying to keep the “greater good” always in the forefront. A politician, by contrast, looks to be serviced and always looks for the next political job available.
I have campaigned, as best I can, while trying to maintain “the high road” and allow the bulk of my time to perform the responsibility of the mayor’s position. The duties of mayor have been more important to me than the campaign for mayor as it is my duty to perform the duties and not to perform on the campaign stage. I pride myself in being a public servant and I will let you be the judge of who the politicians in this community are.
Please vote for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Lead this city into the next growth spurt and maintain our quality of life.
Jim Burch
Candidate for mayor
Cape Coral