Coral Gables: The Real Issue–Time to Stop Bailing Out the Commissioners
December 9, 2010 Leave a comment
While the national political debate is when and how much to cut taxes for most people, even for the wealthiest taxpayers, the Commission of the city of Coral Gables debates every year, come hell or high water, as they say, on how much to increase taxes and fees.
This is equivalent of the taxpayers of the city of Coral Gables bailing out the consistently bad decisions of the commission over ten years, as government quietly raised salaries, pensions and benefits to now highly paid employees, and expanded services beyond the capacity of the city to pay.
Soon the Commission will face even harder decisions to manage a permanent scarcity of financial resources, decisions they would rather postpone for future commissions. They would rather let the taxpayers bail out their incredibly bad financial management in the city. Most certainly, this commission would raise property taxes again.
It is time to change to commissioners and mayor who are politically willing to confront labor unions…cut salaries and benefits…the number of employees…cut back on services…and that is the only real issue facing candidates and voters in the coming months.
About Stephen E. McGaughey
Coral Gables Watch 