OUR VIEW: Jackson demise for the best

Contrary to prevailing establishment opinion, Sarasota County did not “lose out” on the Jackson Laboratory deal.

The state and the county were able to save money for a much better deal, or series of deals — if public financial incentives to private entities is how officials insist on spending taxpayer dollars. We prefer an open-door business climate to all comers and existing businesses, where the welcome sign is hung out through low taxes, modest regulations and a minimum bureaucracy in place to help businesses succeed.

Late last week, the Maine-based biotech nonprofit and pulled its request for $100 million after being asked to submit a much smaller request. Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta said: “Hopefully it doesn’t send the message to companies looking to come to Florida that the state is not open for business.”

Au contraire, Commissioner. Hopefully the message being sent is that the state is open to all businesses, but that it is not open to massive handouts to private non-profits that only hold out a cross-fingered hope of big returns. Roulette wheel-spinning is not the formula for invigorating or diversifying our economy.

The Jackson deal was always a shockingly expensive, extremely high risk venture for government. Jackson wanted about $100 million from the state and $100 million from the county.

For that, it promised to create a grand total of 432 jobs — over 20 years. A mere 100 jobs would come in the first five years. All the rest of the big numbers tossed about in connection with the deal — 1,800 to 3,000 jobs and $550 million in economic impact — came from the hoped-for spinoffs that would result from the lab’s work.

Let’s be honest. Those numbers are better suited to Las Vegas than Wall Street, and certainly not Sarasota and Florida taxpayers.

In fact, Collier County thought the same thing when it balked at coming up with $130 million, along with $130 million in state money, for the same Jackson deal just last year. The non-profit says that it has had talks with Texas and Utah. Good luck getting anyone to fork over that kind of money for such meager returns in this economic environment.

Florida’s previous attempts at building massive biotech hubs have shown pretty modest returns so far, nothing to suggest that such rose-colored numbers are a viable expectation for Sarasota.

And, it is instructive how quickly the Maine non-profit jilted the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which had worked tirelessly to get Jackson here and was willing to offer foundation land. President Teri Hansen, who had worked hard to bring Jackson to Sarasota, said she was taken by surprise at Jackson’s abrupt exit, and did not expect it to end that way.

All for the best. Jackson could not promise much for the amount they asked, and when the chips fell, they didn’t appear too loyal or grateful to their friends.

The demise of the deal may yet prove providential for Sarasota and Florida, as better opportunities will come. Now if only leaders would just stop picking winners and losers with our money.

+ Stop public advertising
At first blush, it can appear that Sarasota County’s decision to sell advertising space in public parks is just good stewardship — get some return on taxpayer investment.

But like so many things the government gets involved in, there is a price being paid beyond the surface.

There is a finite world of marketing dollars that businesses can spend to advertise their wares and services.

The dollars are spread between multiple mediums and outlets, from newspapers and television to Web sites and billboards. But those are all private venues.

When the government starts offering something already being done in the private sector — in this case, providing advertising space — it is literally taking business away from taxpaying private businesses. Any dollars spent with the county to advertise are dollars not spent with private advertising companies such as The Observers, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, WWSB-TV, WLSS radio and so on.

Getting advertisers is highly competitive and a lot of work. Sarasota County just made it that much harder for dozens of taxpaying entities. No taxed companies should have to compete with tax-supported government for their livelihood — a principle violated almost daily.

The county should stop the advertising.