In WOKV’s continuing local coverage of the fiscal cliff, we’re now hearing thoughts on its potential effects from the President of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

“To some extent, if they’re unable to come to any agreement, it’s become almost or will become somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Kirk Wendland said.

He believes that once consumers get nervous and reduce their levels of spending, it will affect the businesses that they’re not purchasing from, which will in turn affect unemployment levels.

“A lot of businesses are nervous about adding payroll right now,” he said.

Wendland also said there is a lot of “disaster” talk from people and the media coverage right now.

“So I think that in itself is going to cause certainly some negative perceptions from the consumers, which won’t help anyone’s business.”

He doesn’t see the fiscal cliff having more of an effect on one particular county in Northeast Florida.

“I think that the impact will be felt fairly universally throughout the entire region,” he said.

Wendland did have some good news for St. Johns County, which he said is “very fiscally fit.”

“We don’t have a lot of the same issues that other counties might be facing,” Wendland said.  He mentioned city pensions as one of them, which Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is trying to reform right now.

Wendland hopes Washington can at least agree to extend the deadline past January 1 so they can take more time to reach an agreement.