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Monday's letters: Put budget surplus to better use

 
Published April 10, 2015

House passes $690M tax cut | April 10

Use the surplus to help the needy

Rather than lowering my taxes, Gov. Rick Scott should use the billion or so surplus tax dollars to put together new programs to address three critical social issues in our state:

1. The Department of Children and Families needs additional staff training, manpower and systematic coordination of information and services.

2. The state prison system suffers from overcrowding, lack of meaningful job training programs during incarceration and poor post-release guidance and assistance.

3. We need a systematic approach to help the homeless community overcome a lack of inexpensive, safe housing, mental health assistance, job training and food.

The governor should use the surplus to help the thousands of Floridians who desperately need assistance so they can productively return to mainstream society. With Scott's business acumen and a billion or so dollars, don't you think he could put together effective programs that in the long run would do far more to help Florida's economy than taxpayers being able to spend a little more money?

Sandra M. Ericson, Clearwater

Police shooting in S.C. seen on video | April 8

Update use-of-force rules

Police use of deadly force has entered the public discussion in a big way since the events in Ferguson, Mo. This has been stoked by the near universal presence of civilian camera videos able to record civilian encounters with law enforcement.

Police respond to the deaths of their own by analyzing incidents and generating procedures intended to reduce their risk. Now that so many incidents of lethal force against unarmed people have been made public, the police standard of what constitutes "danger to their person" needs to be revisited. Law enforcement agencies have an obligation to the public to examine, revise and establish those policies so as to mitigate the danger that police pose to civilians.

Michael Brown, Tampa

Government inefficiency

Long waits for permits

A perfect example of how government slows down productivity is the shocking wait time in the city of Tampa for unobjectionable building permits. Citizens should not have to wait six weeks to get a standard permit to make improvements on their property. To be told by my builder that there is a four- to six-week wait for permits is a clear sign of an inefficient government and poor management. Any other organization would find a way to appropriately staff for demand in order to generate revenue.

The city charges for the permit and then reaps the additional reward of increased tax revenue when the improved property is assessed at greater value. Efficient government services isn't too much to ask.

Bonnie Germain, Tampa

Kriseman pushes for a pier pick | April 10

Vote is just one factor

I have followed the pier process with interest. I am perplexed by St. Petersburg City Council members who say they will not back the pier proposal based on the criteria set forth at the beginning of the process, if that choice isn't the same as the favorite of 4 percent of city residents.

I voted in the online pier survey, but my priorities were not budget, permitting issues, operating and maintenance costs, or any further underlying analysis. I can't imagine that many people had all that information in mind when they voted either. I expect our city leaders to consider all factors in their decision and allow the pier process to move forward.

Suzanne Alvarez, St. Petersburg