LETTER TO THE ED:

Higgs Beach could be a bitter pill for all. So get ready to swallow.

The City of Key West is considering taking ownership of Higgs Beach from Monroe County. If this happens, taxpayers will be saddled with tens of millions of dollars in costs for seawalls, drainage, repairs, and facilities that we already fund through county taxes. It would be a financial boondoggle Key West simply cannot afford.

For years, our city has been plagued by bloated, mismanaged government and a “Bubba System” of sweetheart deals that drain public funds. From one-dollar-a-year leases like the Yacht Club’s, to countless below-market agreements, City Hall has a track record of giving away public resources while ignoring fiscal responsibility. Now, they want to add Higgs Beach to the list of bad decisions.

If title is transferred, the City of Key West—not Monroe County—would assume full financial responsibility for:

· Capital improvements: a new seawall, pavilion repairs, drainage systems, and replacement of Reynolds Pier

· Facilities: two dog parks, two playgrounds, an adult fitness park, and multiple sports courts

· Amenities: parking lots, restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and bleachers

· Infrastructure: miles of sandy beach and deteriorating utilities

This low-lying acreage is highly vulnerable to flooding and storm damage and would require costly insurance at ever-rising rates. Every dollar of these burdens would fall directly on Key West taxpayers.

And what would we get in return? Almost nothing. The costs run into the tens of millions; the revenue would amount to pennies on the dollar. We are already paying for Higgs Beach through countywide taxes. To take on these new liabilities would be fiscal insanity.

The City Commission should reject this reckless transfer. Key West doesn’t need another endless money pit—we need fiscal sanity and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Let your voice be heard: Stop the madness before it begins.

Greg Lloyd