When I started my term in November of 2006 I was aware of the hard times that were ahead for all of us. St. Johns County had gone through one of the fastest growth periods in our history and we had too much growth. Real estate values were going upward constantly. The credit market was already deregulated and was full of greed. It had to collapse and it did.


My term started in November of 2006 and the county budget had grown to $733 million dollars for the year 2007. In three income categories we were bonded out to the year 2027. Over $70 million dollars of this had been borrowed during the previous four years. Some spent on items that were needed, some totally wasted.


We still owed the state a promise to complete Hwy2209 from Race Track Road to Hwy208. This agreement was to free up the level of service on I95 so that the county could approve more development. There is still over $100 million of that project not built and we have a time limit to complete the road. It has been extended twice.