What Think the Candidates about the Budget and Taxes?

September 22, 2010 Leave a comment

We have seen published several names of possible and likely candidates for positions of Commissioner or Mayor.  Nevertheless, to my knowledge none of these new candidates have appeared at the Commission budget hearings with a view on taxes,  pensions and benefits.  With the exception of Mr. Kerdyk whose views are well known, it is quite surprises that the other candidates haven’t stood before the Commission to state their views.

This silence is very concerning.

A candidate who does not speak his/her views on the budget stands in full agreement with the Commission. [Quien calla, otorga]

Filed under Budget, Coral Gables

More on the Same Depressing Subject

September 20, 2010 Leave a comment

It is hard to imagine that except for very extraordinary conditions the economic recovery will be hard and long.   Coral Gables will not feel a recovery any more than any other area of the country. Beware City of Coral Gables for further declines in property values.

…the extraordinary length of the recession that…began when the collapse of the subprime mortgage market triggered the most severe financial crisis since 1929.

An official end date for the recession also makes it official that the recovery since 2009 has been unusually weak and jobless. That gives evidence to those who argued that recovery from a recession caused by a financial crisis would be slow and painful as households struggle to pay down their debts.

via FT.com / US / Economy & Fed – Downturn longest since Great Depression.

Filed under Coral Gables, Economy, National

Simple Pension Proposal for Coral Gables Commission

September 19, 2010 Leave a comment

All Coral Gables Commissioners and the Mayor should forego a pension.  This relieves them of having a conflict of interest when they raise or lower the pensions of city employees.

Also, Coral Gables Commissioners should forego a salary, accept a small additional amount to cover their personal city-related expenses.  This is justified since they have a part-time job, in the public interest, and they have private sources of income.

In other words, the City of Coral Gables Commissioners and Mayor should be treated like the Board of a nonprofit organization with a fiduciary responsibility, but acting as volunteers in the interest of the community.

In 2010 all candidates for Commissioner or Mayor should offer not to accept a salary or pension from the city.

These sacrifices would make our Commission and Mayor exceptional and outstanding community leaders in this time of great personal and business austerity.

Filed under Coral Gables, Government, Pensions

Not Enough Pension Cuts, Yet

September 18, 2010 Leave a comment

While a good start with the benefits of general employees, the big costs are in police and firefighter salaries and benefits.  If these are “untouchable” then little will be gained in reducing pension liabilities.

Police and firefighters, whose pensions are determined by separate contracts with the city, will not be affected by these cuts.

via Coral Gables OK’s pension cuts for employees and managers – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Coral Gables, Pensions

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