When we talk about efficiency in county government, the conversation too often narrows to purely financial considerations — minimizing expenditures, trimming budgets, or finding ways to do more with less. While fiscal prudence is important, true efficiency also dictates meeting the needs of the people that government serves. Projects and programs that fail to address citizens’ needs — even at low cost — are, by definition, inefficient.
A case in point is Manatee County’s recently unveiled plan to redevelop Country Club East Park into a $6.4 million youth baseball complex designed to host competitive play among teams within and beyond county limits.
As currently configured, the park has successfully met the needs of both local residents and the families of students attending Willis Elementary School for more than a decade. It is an unassuming little park, with a recently refurbished playground, a pavilion providing shade for several picnic tables, a barbecue grill, and an open field for soccer or other sports…