MISSION STATEMENT
The Taxpayers’ Association of Indian River County
The Taxpayers’ Association of Indian River Country is a non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to develop recommendations for the County Commission and local municipal governments on current and proposed tax policies and allocations in order to promote government efficiency and protect taxpayers from unnecessary taxes. We serve our members through research and advocacy on significant tax and spending issues and foster taxpayer awareness and informed action through study, research and public dialogue.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
President's Message | Glenn Heran| MAY 2012
“There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.” Ronald Reagan
“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!”Ronald Reagan
"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." Thomas Jefferson, 1824
Great conservatives understood that the machinery of government is the greatest threat to freedom. Vero Beach has been struggling for years with a government run electric utility. The community has been very clear in its desire to pursue the sale to FPL as noted by a referendum where almost 70% of the voters chose to do so. Yet the greatest challenge we face is freeing ourselves from the FPMPA, a government bureaucracy. Recently in the press, an FMPA spokesman, when writing of Vero’s involvement with the FMPA said “will likely prevent Vero Beach from ever selling its electric utility”.
This is precisely what the above quotes refer to. The public has been clear in its will, yet must battle against a government bureaucracy, one that appears to see itself as perpetual.
The public good must be served. We cannot accept the status quo and continue to lose $21 million per year in rates. However, with hard work and creative minds, rational and just solutions will prevail and the public good will be served.
Glenn Heran
