Legislative Session Begins; State Rep. Murzin Speaks Out On State, Local Issues

March 4, 2009

Times in Florida have changed, and it is now time for Florida to change with the times — that was the message from Florida Rep. Dave Murzin as he weighed in on Florida’s budget and issues like government consolidation in Escambia County.

As the Florida legislature convened on Tuesday, lawmakers were facing an unprecedented budget shortfall perhaps as high as $5 billion.

“It’s not going to be pretty, and it is going to get worse,” Murzin said. “It is going to be 2010, if we are lucky, before we turn around.”

During his State of the State speech Tuesday night, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist urged the legislature to approve gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to raise $100 million per year for educatio.

Murzin is not sold on the gambling plan.

“We are desperate for money if we turn to Indian gambling for a few dollars,” he said.

murzin10.jpgMurzin said Florida has survived and thrived with a service based economic focus for far too long, services related to tourism in particular. Now that tourism is down, service jobs are being eliminated.

“When gas to $4 a gallon, people don’t go to see the mouse,” Murzin said, referring to the decline at the Orlando area amusement parks. “If people are worried about their jobs, they don’t go see the mouse.”

The overall Florida economy relies on sales tax and people coming into the state to spend their money, the state representative said. Now that tourism is faltering, so is Florida economy.

Additional problems arise with strict government regulation in the state, he said.

“We need to streamline the process,” he said of growth management in Florida, giving the example of a business that might be required to install turn lanes in order to build or expand. “Eventually you reach this point where it gets to be cost prohibitive.”

Here in Northwest Florida, local governments face an additional hurdle with economic expansion — Alabama.

“The state of Florida loses to Alabama because Alabama does a better job than Florida in economic development and incentives,” Murzin said.

On the subject of education, the state representative from Pensacola said that the state must restore funds cut from educating the state’s children.

“I don’t know where we will get the money to restore the cuts,” he added. “But we have to find it.”

On a more local note, Murzin said there may be problems with the possible consolidation of the Town of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County governments.

“There will be issues with things like the debt on the Maritime Park,” he said. The Pensacola Maritime Park will incur about $40 million in expenses.

“County residents did not have an opportunity to vote on the issue, but the debt is going to be spread to county residents,” he said.

Murzin is leaving the Florida House due to term limits. He is an announced candidate for the state senate seat currently held by Durell Peaden, Jr. State Rep. Greg Evers is the only other announced candidate for the post.

Pictured above: State Rep. Dave Murzin addresses the Tri-Cities Rotary Club recently. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Legislative Session Begins; State Rep. Murzin Speaks Out On State, Local Issues”

  1. who cares on March 4th, 2009 11:18 pm

    What happens to the LOTO money?

  2. bob hudson on March 4th, 2009 1:08 pm

    If you do not agree with consolidated government, simply do not input into their meetings and when it comes up for vote, vote it down, I do not care to listen to what they have to say because in the long run we in the county will be the loser’s. the city needs to learn how to save their own rear end’s . Every one need to look at who their supporter’s are and what they do for a living, you will find that this is a down town cause and they are only looking out for what is best for them. Pensacola would sell it’s soul to the devil if they thought that it might bring in a tourist dollar.

  3. Jay on March 4th, 2009 12:16 pm

    Ok, Trish, we’ll have it your way and gladly take an increase to our property taxes for the good of Pensacola. No way! Not if I can help it! We all need to vote NO for consolidation! On another comment, yes I’ve retired once and I’m working towards retirement number two; it’s what I call positive prior planning.

  4. W.R. on March 4th, 2009 10:53 am

    Too much crying too late. The sate of Florida has stabbed itself in the back and cut off the hand that feeds them too many times. It is next to impossible to get a buiness started because of the many silly restrictions and inspections in this state just to give someone a good paying job and in most cases the inspector hasa snotty attitude when the show up. It’s next to impossible to build even a outhouse on a piece of property Especially in Escambia County due to more of the silly restrictions and inspections. I live here because I am stuck here. Unable to sale my properties but still pay dearly in taxes and insurance to own them. MORE Doom time is ahead for sure…………..

  5. Trish on March 4th, 2009 10:47 am

    I agree with you about running off the small businesses in the area. They keep saying that it is the small business that keeps our country going but every time you turn around they are making laws/regulations that make it more difficult to open a small business. Does not make since to me!

    I don’t agree with you on the waterfront park. I am a north escambia resident, I would hate living in the city. But I think the park will be a great asset for our area.

    Regarding your comment about the increasing debt service on the city’s retirement system. Probably 75% of those people put their whole lives in working for the city and doing a wonderful job. It has been the stock market which has made it hard on the city. They take all of that money the employees put into their retirement fund and the city puts it in the market to make money. Is it the employee’s fault that the city made bad decissions? But that is what these powerful Finance people do. It is the common worker who gets short changed and jerked around. Are you saying that no one should get a retirement? Are you retired? Are you getting social security? City employees don’t get social security retirement, so how about us taking your social security away from you. The social security system is in the whole too, or haven’t you heard.

  6. bob hudson on March 4th, 2009 9:42 am

    Even Murzin is smart enough to realize that the county will take over the debt of the city if consolidated government is passed . well that is good enough for me. So when is is brought to a vote we all need to vote NO.

  7. Jay on March 4th, 2009 8:14 am

    Listen up everyone to Murzin concerning the debt that the city of Pensacola is racking up for this boondoggle waterfront park, and don’t forget the ever increasing debt service on the city’s retirement system. If this consolidation thing goes through, we’ll be stuck holding the bag and we will have to bail them out because it’ll now be “our debt.” Besides, it’s only going to take the next hurricane to wash the waterfront park and our money away, so from where I stand, the park is a no starter.

    The only good thing Murzin has to say is restoring the funding for our schools. We can’t hold off on educating our children.

  8. RonnieC on March 4th, 2009 6:57 am

    You reap what you sow!
    Six months ago we tried to open a business in Florida at the State line. We spent $1500 going through the process only to be told by the Health Department that the State of Florida was a tourist State and not friendly to restaurants.
    Six months later were about to open in Atmore. 15-20 jobs and 100% of the revenue will now be in Alabama.
    How many times does this happen?
    Seems like our State and local leadership should work on trying to partner with business in these hard economic times to create jobs and grow revenues versus trying to drive them to other States…. I know…. CRAZY TALK>>

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News