Submitted Thursday and printed in  the Saturday April 23, 2011 edition of the Florida Times Union:

FEE HOLIDAY

Title: BAD IDEA

  I would like to express my urgent concern and opposition to Council President Jack Webb's legislation to suspend the city's "fair share" payment system.

  That growth will be generated on the backs of the taxpayers when infrastructure needs to be upgraded.

  Given the budget crunch and the many vacant recently built offices and strip malls in our neighborhoods, this "cookie cutter" approach is imprudent.

  Make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

  Require these businesses to guarantee the number and types of jobs before committing limited tax resources. If we (taxpayers) have skin in the game, why not the business that is seeking accommodation? Let us stop repeating the mistakes of the past and expecting different results!

Pete Miller, Jacksonville