By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 30, 2010
DUNEDIN — Three years or four years?
For city leaders, that one decision could make a big difference. Residents on Tuesday will vote on a referendum that could lengthen the commission's terms from three to four years, saving money on elections but drawing criticism from one commissioner as being "self-serving."
Here's what it would do: cost less. Four-year terms mean fewer elections. Former city clerk Jerie Guegan estimated two decades of elections, on a three-year cycle, would cost $700,000 in equipment, paper and postage. Four-year terms would trim those costs by $10,000 a year.
Here's what it wouldn't do: give the sitting commissioners more time. The four-year switch, if approved, would begin after the 2012 election, and the two commission seats filled next year will still cycle out by 2014.
Commissioners this summer also asked whether residents wanted to change their votes from March to November, when the higher offices are elected. Lining up with other elections, they said, would cost less and bring out more voters. That issue didn't make Tuesday's ballot, though officials said they hope to talk about it later.
Mayor Dave Eggers said the term shift would allow for "better government," as commissioners would gain more time and experience to get acquainted with city affairs. The switch could also save money by cutting down on campaigns.
"Look at the elections — millions of dollars are going into these advertising pieces at a time when the economy's really hurting," Eggers said. "My gosh. Can you think of better ways to use that money?"
But Julie Scales, elected to the commission alongside Eggers in 2003, said she has never felt comfortable "fooling around" with the city's elections. Lengthening the commission's time in power, she said, seems a bit self-centered. She also wasn't persuaded by the possibility of a cheaper bill.
"You know what?" she said. "They could elect me for life, and that would save a lot of money."
Contact Drew Harwell at dharwell@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4170.