OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It can be a challenge to achieve the outcome you’re striving to create, without having a plan in place.  It takes a team to create a clear vision of what the community will look like in five, 10 or 20 years.

“We must maintain a constant dual perspective of looking ahead to anticipated needs while fulfilling existing responsibilities,” says Kathy Bryant, Marion County Board of County Commissioners chair.

It’s that vision and comprehensive plan that provides a blueprint for the long-term direction, and it’s being able to communicate that vision that will help the community achieve its goals.

“In fact, the term ‘future’ is addressed 137 times in the 2045 comprehensive plan, 54 times in the county’s land development code, and 41 times in the county’s code of ordinances,” says Bryant. “We’re constantly balancing the needs and wants of today with the benefits and consequences of tomorrow.”

The challenge of having the proper infrastructure in place to accommodate a growing population, one that will increase exponentially in the next few decades, calls for setting and completing short-term goals.

“Our transportation-related departments, under the name of the Office of the County Engineer, publish five-year plans,” says Bryant. “These plans list funding resources for each highlighted project and are reviewed for revision every year. The five-year plans meet the statutory planning requirements and typically feature sections or phases of projects rather than listing road projects in their entirety.”

However, long-term, large-scale projects can take up to two decades to complete and require a similarly long-term funding commitment, says Bryant. The passage of the 20-year Penny Sales Tax was crucial for the county’s future.

“We constantly monitor federal and state grant opportunities to fund our community’s transportation and utility-related growth needs,” says Bryant. “This diligent approach supplements property tax revenues. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Marion County has a lower millage rate than 23 other counties. Marion County is Florida’s fifth-largest county by land area and the 18th largest by population.”

By carefully considering future needs and balancing them with current responsibilities, Marion County is positioning itself for a bright future.