St. Johns County League of Women Voters Reviews Tax Cuts

LWV Probes Tax Cut Consequences

The shadow of government cutbacks fell over most topics at a lively meeting of the League of Women Voters February 15 at St. Augustine Beach City Hall. 

The impact of new property tax cuts on fire service and indigent health care took center stage with members questioning Assistant County Administrator Jerry Cameron, who attended as guest speaker.

Even before Mr. Cameron’s arrival, member Pat Gill, a former statewide treasurer for the organization, brought up proposed changes in homeowner payment for fire protection, which ad valorem tax has covered in the past. 

She called a fire districting plan under consideration “a double whammy” for low and middle income households in St. Johns.  Her sentiments were echoed by other members who found the fees regressive, as the poor would pay the same as the rich.

 “And not only would the poor pay a higher percent of their income, but it means you can’t take it off your income tax,” said Gill.

After Cameron delivered a prepared speech on indigent health care, the women asked him to address the proposed changes in fire service.

While he did not refute Gill’s assertion, he said the old method (payment by ad valorem tax) is unfair to newcomers to the area.  Many home buyers who move into new condominiums in areas far from existing fire stations must pay considerably higher insurance rates.

And If the poor are unable to pay a fee for fire services, they would not lose their homes, but have liens placed against them, and the fee would be paid when the house changed ownership, Cameron added.

“The current wave from the governor’s office is cut, cut, cut,” he said.  “But we still have to remember we have made these people dependent (on services previously covered by ad valorem taxes) and you can’t just walk off.”   

He noted that poor neighborhoods are usually heavier users of fire services, as single family wooden houses burn down more often than concrete and steel condominiums.

Advising the League to bring reasoned arguments before the commission, Cameron said, “Remember, politician are like surfers.  They don’t make waves, they ride them.  You’ve got to make waves.”

In his presentation on health care in the county, the assistant administrator painted a passable picture of services to the poor at the present and called mental health services in St. Johns County “the best in the state.” 

Since 2003, the county has run a primary health care clinic for indigent patients, but he predicted future tax cuts would be felt throughout the system.

Many people don’t understand that health care is a $700 million industry countywide, and “There are no simplistic approaches.  You can’t just cut,” he said.

While the commission already has completed a first round of cuts, eliminating $26 million in property tax and cutting inefficiencies, “This time we have to reduce some services.  There’s no free lunch.”

Cameron pointed out that the law requires funding for environmental health, communicable disease, and primary care services be covered by available funds.  He heavily stressed the word, “available.”

“The state took funds away.  They’re no longer available,” He said. 

Listing five options for indigent health care, he cautioned that all had pro’s and con’s. 

The options are:

-To hand health services over to the state Department of Health.

-To renegotiate the county’s existing contract with Flagler Hospital, which currently serves the indigent. 

-To search for outside health providers to assume services.

-To charge fees for services.  

-To run a comprehensive health care delivery system akin to socialized medicine. 

While Cameron would not predict which option he thought the county would or should take, he listed fewer difficulties when discussing the possible renegotiation with Flagler Hospital, which currently oversees many indigent services. 

“All that would be required would be to renegotiate and renew the existing contract and renegotiate the existing Hastings Clinic contract with Dr. Marathe from Flagler Hospital to St. Johns County,” said Cameron.   The hospital does not want to continue as service provider for a Hastings Clinic operated by Dr. Marathe.

In addition to Flagler Hospital, providers of indigent health care in St. Johns include the County Health Department, the Council on Aging, Good Samaritan (a volunteer service in Lincolnville) St. Vincent’s weekly clinic for migrant workers in Hastings, Dr. Shriram S. Marathe’s Clinic in Hastings and an effort by several dentists who work with Reverend Ron Stafford of Mount Moriah Ministries in West Augustine. 

”If we turn it (indigent health care) over to the state, we lose control.  There would be a certain reduction of termination of services,” Cameron cautioned.

The next LWV meeting will feature Bob Schiavone of the County School District Speaker’s Bureau who will discuss the Home School Program. 

The group regularly meets the second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in  St. Augustine Beach City Hall.  Non-members are welcome.  For information call unit president Barbara Hendee at 794-0714.