The Miami Herald Can’t Calculate

This is a gross mistake by reporter Elaine de Valle of the Miami Herald. A rate of 5.995 mentioned by the Mayor represents a 14% increase over 2008-2009 rate of 5.25. Even if the commission settles on a 5.75 rate that would be close to a 10% percent increase. That is a full real rate increase since there is has been no inflation this year.

He said he believes the tax rate will go down Tuesday when the city commission votes at its final budget hearing. Earlier this month, commissioners adopted a preliminary 5.995 tax rate, an 8.27 increase over the previous year’s rate.

The higher rate reflects the city’s lower property values and higher costs.

Mr. Slesnick refers to a tax rate decrease when it is really a 14% or 10% increase! How curious.  This sounds like misinformation to confuse Coral Gables residents who will certainly discover the truth when they get their final property tax bills.

A Few Questions on the Budget

1. Why should the citizens finance merit increases during a period of economic austerity and no inflation.

2. Can you tell me if the Museum amount included in this year’s capital budget is fully financed by the nonprofit contributions or is the city financing a good part of this expenditure?

3. Is the capital budget a multi-year or a one year budget. Please show us a multi-year budget.  Small expenditures in one year (e.g., the museum design, preparation and construction) invariably lead to multi-year expenditures that are justified on the earlier smaller expenditures.

3. In the capital budget, which projects are fully financed out of donations and other sources and do not require additional borrowing or property taxes payments?

4. Is there no information on the 2008-09 budget execution? Why does the city always compare the “budget” of the prior year with the new “budget” instead of the actual budget results. We should be comparing our 2009 budget with the actual final (including estimates for the last month) execution of the 2008-09 budget?

5. Why hasn’t the Building and Zoning staff be reduced even more?  With the fall in permit fees many staff are not justified.