County Commissioners Approve Review of Ave Maria Fiscal Impact Findings

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Published on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 14:34

An independent third party will take a look at the findings of an analysis that concluded in 2010 that Ave Maria had a net positive impact on the county of about $10 million over five years.

The report in question was prepared by the consulting firm of Fishkind and Associates to meet the county land development code's requirements that special districts such as Ave Maria submit reports every five years demonstrating that they have at least a neutral fiscal impact on the county overall.

The report, prepared and submitted in July, 2010, was accepted by county staff but Commissioner Georgia Hiller had questions when it came before the commission for routine approval later that year. The commission voted to have Clerk of the Courts Dwight Brock, who also serves as the county auditor, review the findings. More than a year later, Mr. Brock told the commission that he could not determine whether Ave Maria's fiscal impact was positive or negative, and he challenged some of the reports modelling assumptions.

When the report's author, Hank Fishkind, disagreed with the clerk's findings earlier this year, the board voted to have a third-party review and in its vote Tuesday, authorized the expenditure of up to $25,000 to look at the somewhat conflicting findings.

The board vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Jim Coletta dissenting. "I don't think we should go through this and spend the money," he said.