[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNITION OF CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF ERVIN HIGGS

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 1996

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, for the past 60 years in Monroe County, one 
man has been at the forefront of fighting for the needs of the Florida 
Keys. Ervin Higgs has taken a leading role in finding solutions to our 
communities' problems. In recognition of all of his civic achievements, 
I would like to take this time to outline all that he has done for 
south Florida.
  The Ervin Higgs story began on April 30, 1936 in Key West, Florida. 
On that day, Ervin Higgs was born into a family of ``conchs'' who trace 
their heritage to Spanish Wells in the Bahamas.
  In an attempt to contribute his energy to the community, Ervin sought 
out public service as a profession. He was first appointed by Governor 
Askew in 1976 as the tax assessor for Monroe County, FL and has served 
in that position ever since.
  When the local government was mandated to adopt a comprehensive plan 
in compliance with certain state mandates, Ervin was acutely aware of 
the higher taxes paid under the school funding formula. Even at the 
early stages, he foresaw that the funding formula could, and probably 
in the near future, reach a point where local taxpayers would be 
required to pay more into the state school fund than would be allowed 
to be expended by the local school board. In order to ensure that all 
properties were properly reflected on the tax roll when the country 
adopted the initial comprehensive plan, he realized that the mapping of 
the environmental features of properties was inadequate. He hired his 
own consultant and eventually produced maps that were adopted by the 
county.
  Through the years Ervin has been in office, he has defended the 
equity of the tax roll and even fought in the courts to ensure that 
everyone paid their fair share. He has cost-effectively modernized the 
Property Appraiser's Office, passing cost-savings back to the 
taxpayers.
  As he grew older, Ervin developed into one of those endangered 
species that is currently being threatened in south Florida as a result 
of an attempt of almost every level of government to influence and 
control the future of the Florida Keys. As a ``conch'', he has always 
been acutely aware of the need to preserve the existing natural beauty 
of the Florida Keys while at the same time attempting to keep the local 
economic base viable. For all of his work, I would like to take this 
time to honor his achievements.

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