My View: Legacy of the spending blob

I’m sure the Legacy Trail and its ever mounting cost is nice for those people who live near it — and who like to bike and have bikes. But that is not a large percentage of the people in Sarasota County, and not a great reason for public policy.

The trail starts south of Clark Road and goes south to Venice, not particularly convenient for the population center in the north. I don’t see myself ever using it in that I live in the northeastern part of the county. It would be about a half-hour drive to get to the northern part of it. (Hey, were road impact fees levied on this development? Ha!)

I doubt any of my neighbors or others in that region of Sarasota County will ever use it. In fact, I suspect the vast majority of all Sarasota County residents will never use it.

But we all get the warm, tingly honor of paying for it. Because, golly, at least we are helping some people have fun biking on it. There is surely a greater good here somewhere.

I’ve been spitting into the wind on this issue for years. It seems few others are concerned about the cost, the timing, even the philosophy of using taxpayer funds for such a geographic- and demographic-specific entertainment enterprise. Even other conservatives just sort of chuckle.

But I will ask again: Why is government in the entertainment business? Why do local governments own theaters and give taxpayer money to the symphony, orchestra, opera, ballet and ugly lumps of twisted metal alleged to be art? Why does local government own a baseball stadium? Why does local government own boat ramps and swimming pools and tennis courts?

And why is local government in the bike trail business?

How many taxpayers never go to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, to a spring training baseball game, to the opera, symphony or ballet, but have to subsidize all those? How many don’t go because they can’t really afford to — but are forced by the power of law to subsidize those who can afford to go?

And how many of those who cannot afford a $30, $50 or $70 ticket will go to an $8 venue to watch a movie — something that is not only not subsidized, but it is taxed?

Why should local politicians and bureaucrats decide which entertainments are to get the largesse of the public purse and which will have to pay taxes — in essence, subsidizing entertainment dollar competitors?
Who — stepping back from his favorite subsidized entertainment — can say this is a fair idea for government originated on the concept of protecting freedoms? Oh we’ve come a long way, baby. But to where?

Well, to an incredibly expensive bike trail at the moment.

We’re going to subsidize, that’s obvious. But who is keeping track of this tab? This is important because the expense of this dubious public policy just keeps growing and growing and growing.

To wit:
• $12 million for the purchase of the railroad land.
• $14.6 million for the initial design and construction of the bike trail.
• $3 million for the new trestles over Dona Bay and Roberts Bay.
• $3.1 million for the fancy new biking and pedestrian bridge over U.S. 41 in Osprey.
• $2.9 million for the land to build a trailhead (Florida DOT tax money).

Total: $35.6 million. And growing.

In the midst of a deep and difficult recession, while local governments bemoan their shrinking tax revenues, it just keeps shoveling money at the Legacy Trail. Where will it end?

It won’t.

Not until taxpayers pay enough attention, stand up and shout “Halt!”

Unless, of course, most of you like paying for other people’s entertainment.

Rod Thomson is executive editor of the Gulf Coast Business Review and can be reached at [email protected].