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Goodin speaks optimistically about future
"In the almost seven years I've been on the board, things have really changed, personally and in government as well," Goodin said. "We've gone from great economic times to devastating hurricanes to economic times where we're all just trying to survive." Discussion topics included: ¦ Recent $53.5 million allocated for additional work towards four-laning State Road 87 from U.S. Highway 98 to Interstate 65 in Alabama, "a 40- year plan in progress," that Goodin feels he might see completed in his lifetime. ¦ Legislation passed effective 2010 for the state's Department of Transportation Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) that will now include military bases. This will make funds available for improvements to U.S. 98 in order to comply with the military component of the SIS. ¦ The Navy's Whiting Field has given Santa Rosa County permission to use a 6,000-foot runway on a limited basis, through a secure gate. "The cost-per-use is nominal," said Goodin. Also, several military related businesses have expressed an interest in obtaining space at the Aviation Park. ¦ The recent controversial purchase of the Pullum property for an industrial park has garnered at least three potential interested parties: a militaryfocused concern offering 600 jobs; a 500,000-square-foot distribution center with 300 jobs; and another wanting 30 acres, offering 800 jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000. ¦ The East Milton medical prison is under way and should open some time next year. That project brings 1200 jobs to Santa Rosa County. ¦ A Shalimar private security company, similar to Blackwater, is looking for 300 acres to set up a training program for inserting people into dangerous urban settings. ¦ The county's 2006-2007 budget was just shy of $52 million. This year, the Board of County Commissioners' operating budget is $37 million. It was made possible because two years ago, "We put a hiring freeze on and laid 107 people off," Goodin said. "During that same time frame, the constitutional officers - the Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections and the Clerk of the Court - '06-'07 budget was $38 million. This year, theirs is $37 million. "Nobody has laid anybody off; nobody has done workforce reduction. We put a plan in place, and we have worked the plan," Goodin continued. "It is now time for the constitutional officers in the county to step up and do what is right for the county and reduce their budgets." ¦ The State Department of Juvenile Justice announced an unfunded mandate that the county will now have to absorb. Previously, kids not tried as adults were given a per diem of about $115 a day. It has changed to $234 per day. "It will cost us about $1.6 million this year. We didn't know it was coming, and if we don't pay, we don't get revenue sharing from the state," lamented Goodin. ¦ Revenue projections are 9 percent lower than our year's budget. "We formulate our budget by calculating expenses at 100 percent and revenue by 95 percent. Since we did our budget last year, we have had three revenueestimating conferences with the state. We are not even going to make the 95 percent," Goodin stated. UPA's next meeting, open to the public, is July 16, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. social at Tiger Point Golf Club. The meeting is from 6 to 7 p.m. Guest speakers will be Jim De Vries, Manager, Pensacola Urban Office, Florida DOT, and Nancy Model, Director, Santa Rosa County Transportation. MORE ON WEB Commissioner Gordon Goodin's responses to questions ranging from protecting drinking water sources, bike paths, scenic zones, billboards, sports associations and more can be found on UPA's Web site: www.unitedpeninsula.org |
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