The Art of Myth-Making and Wreath-Laying...

Commissioner Mulvehill cites this study from Leon County as evidence that residential development costs more in government services than it provides in revenue.  That is true for rural counties that are seeing their open space being devoured by new residential subdivisions.  That is NOT the case where Lake Worth is concerned.  If anything, we have existing infrastructure - roads, schools, utilities - and we are an URBAN area.  If you look at the city of Lake Worth as a whole, about 75 percent of the land is already residential.  Taking this argument to its illogical conclusion would mean that the city would save tons of money if we got rid of all these residential units.  We wouldn't have anyone living in Lake Worth, but that's o.k. - it could be pastureland or commercial/industrial property and it would make a lot of money for the city.  This residential development thesis is a "myth" and it is misplaced when applied to Lake Worth's circumstances.

These are the same people that point out that residential taxes provide the bulk of the revenue taken in by the CRA, so the CRA should give more money to residential projects.  When, in fact, since we have so much under-utilized commercial land within the CRA district, the larger contribution by a residential tax base is a distortion and not typical.

Residences or hotels filled with people in them have incomes (hopefully) that can stimulate the local economy through their spending, which makes for a more vibrant commercial/retail market which in turn attracts additional investment and ad valorem tax revenue for the city.

It is the type of half-truth we have come to expect from this Commissioner and her ardent supporter.  These videos are from the October 16, 2012 City Commission meeting.  It was Commissioner Mulvehill's last regular City Commission meeting of her four year tenure.