- October 31, 2024
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Dear Editor:
The proposal to fund Flagler County’s shoreline restoration shortfall by taxing only barrier island residents is, at best, illogical and, at worst, divisive and discriminatory.
First, I commend the commission for its resourcefulness in securing initial funds for maintaining our beautiful shoreline — a vital asset to all Flagler residents.
However, asking only barrier island residents to cover the remaining costs ignores that the shoreline provides county-wide benefits, supporting tourism, protecting infrastructure, and preserving natural resources. The beaches are public, with parks and access points utilized by residents from all parts of the county.
Barrier island residents already contribute higher property taxes due to elevated assessments. These existing taxes, by the commission's logic, should already fund shoreline maintenance rather than subjecting residents to “double taxation” based solely on proximity.
The current proposal implies that residents near public services should carry a greater tax burden. For example, it implies a new west side recreation center should be funded only by residents west of Belle Terre Parkway. This makes no sense and creates a poor precedent for future projects. Indeed, barrier island residents will have a very strong argument against paying for future mainland projects.
A more democratic, inclusive approach would spread the cost equitably across all county residents, making it manageable at less than $50 annually per property — an insignificant cost for a unified Flagler County community to manage its shoreline. Singling out barrier island residents fosters a discriminatory divide. Why should they fund shoreline upkeep yet have no control over its use, access, maintenance or funding?
In short, this tax unfairly singles out one group for a shared benefit. I urge the commission to prioritize community unity over divisive policy by distributing costs more fairly across all of the beneficiaries.
Jim Foster
Hammock Beach
