More On Gov. Scott Killing Florida’s Growth and Environmental Management

June 1, 2011 Leave a comment

I copy this email for your information.

1000 Friends of Florida to me
show details 11:22 AM (3 minutes ago)

Future Role of Florida’s Regional Planning Councils?

We now understand that when he signed the budget last week, Gov. Scott line-item vetoed $2.5 million of general revenue in state funding for Florida’s Regional Planning Councils. In return for a portion of this funding, every year the state’s 11 RPCs each enter into contracts with the Department of Community Affairs to provide specified regional planning services.

Effective July 1, the RPCs will no longer receive this funding and will need to determine what services they will provide for their state-mandated functions. It is important to note that this funding is typically a small portion of each RPC’s annual budget.

While HB 7207 made sweeping changes to many aspects of Florida’s growth management system, it left the statutory functions of the RPCs largely intact. How or if RPCs will interact with local governments on the review of comprehensive plans, amendments and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) as required by state law is unknown at this time.

On a related issue, the growth management bill HB 7207 was transmitted to the Governor’s Office last week and he has 15 days to sign it into law.

1000 Friends will continue to provide regular updates on the many changes to Florida’s growth management process brought about by the 2011 Legislature and Governor Scott. Please visit www.1000fof.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@floridafriends) for timely updates.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Environment, Florida, Management

Krugman’s Notes Should Be For Coral Gables

May 26, 2011 1 Comment

Let soothsayers of good times ahead–including city managers who are speeding up investments and refinancing debt–recognize that we are not slipping out of a recession and we may be slipping back into a recession.

Put together

  • declining property values and revenues for the city of Coral Gables,
  • resistance from unions to accept really important sacrifices,
  • new city debt and ambitious capital program (admittedly, some of which may essential maintenance of city infrastructure),
  • a faltering Biltmore lease,
  • a faltering, sickly real estate market,
  • sluggish retail sales, and
  • candidate promises of no new taxes
and you may get continuing financial weakness and more taxes in Coral Gables.
We note now that

…estimates now suggest that we have now gone through a year and a half of “recovery” that has failed to make any progress toward closing the gap between what the economy should be producing and what it’s actually producing.

via Third Depression Watch – NYTimes.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables, Finance, Taxes and Fees

Bank of Coral Gables Continues on (Unofficial) List of Problem Banks

May 25, 2011 Leave a comment

Here is the unofficial problem bank list for May 20, 2011.

via Calculated Risk: Unofficial Problem Bank list increases to 988 Institutions.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables

Silly Economics from the South FL Business Journal

April 18, 2011 Leave a comment

I would call this “silly economics,” a close cousin of “voodoo economics.”  Of course, gasoline prices do not change instantaneously with oil prices, but there is a delay in transshipment, processing and local demand and supply conditions.

Despite lower crude oil prices, gasoline prices jumped about 3 to 5 cents a gallon in South Florida last week, according to the latest Fuel Gauge report from AAA.

Two more weeks of increases like this and the price for unleaded regular would average more than $4 a gallon.

via Lower crude prices don’t help at the pump | South Florida Business Journal.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Economy

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