Higher Property Taxes in a Housing Recession

August 24, 2010 Leave a comment

This is not a good formula for Coral Gables’ taxpayers.  We need help from the City of Coral Gables.

Higher property taxes will drive housing prices even lower because buyers will be scared off by this city’s taxes and fees.

“Home sales were eye-wateringly weak in July,” said economist Paul Dales of Capital Economics. “It is becoming abundantly clear that the housing market is undermining the already faltering wider economic recovery. With an increasingly inevitable double-dip in housing prices yet to come, things could get a lot worse.”

via Double-dip in housing prices may be around the corner – Aug. 24, 2010.

Filed under Government, Housing, Property Values

FYI: Status Procedures for Negotiations with Teamsters and Employees

August 24, 2010 Leave a comment

Citing the Public Employees Relations Commission, Florida (PERC)  Handbook

After Special Master Proceedings

Upon issuance of the special master’s recommended decision, the parties are required to discuss it and accept or reject each recommended item within twenty days. Specific rejected items must be settled by vote of the public employer’s legislative body (for example, a board of county commissioners or a school board) unless the parties reach agreement before the legislative body meets. Each negotiating party makes recommendations to the legislative body, a public hearing is held, and the legislative body then takes the action it thinks is in the best interest of all concerned on each issue before it.

After this legislative action, a proposed collective bargaining agreement is drawn up containing those issues agreed upon in negotiations and the disputed impasse items which were resolved by the public employer’s legislative body. If this proposed agreement is ratified, the matter ends with a collective bargaining agreement. If not, the action taken on the disputed impasse issues is implemented and remains in effect for the rest of that fiscal year. On all other issues, the employer and employee organization are under duty to return to negotiations.

Filed under Coral Gables

Home Sales Fall Again: Take Note Commissioners–No Rosy Picture for Real Estate

August 24, 2010 Leave a comment

Take note City Commissioners (I am sure you will).  This is not the right time to hit the taxpayers of Coral Gables with more taxes.

Sales of U.S. previously owned homes slumped more than forecast in July and the number of unsold houses swelled, evidence the market is depressed by foreclosures and limited job growth.

via Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Fall More Than Forecast (Update1) – Bloomberg.com.

Filed under Coral Gables

Coral Gables Exceptionalism?

August 24, 2010 Leave a comment

Do the leaders of Coral Gables believe in exceptionalism–perhaps?

Exceptionalism is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is “exceptional” (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles. [emphasis added]

via Exceptionalism – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I trust that our leaders do not think that Coral Gables is immune from the current economic crisis in the US and Florida.

We are still in a crisis that has led to companies closing in Coral Gables, a dramatic decline in family assets, the failure of major real restate projects, sluggish retail growth, decline in new construction, increased unemployment, uncertain retirement income, a breakdown of the Biltmore Hotel and the Country Club of Coral Gables and, especially, slow reform of the City of Coral Gables because of a reluctance of the City Commission to make mature, hard decisions.

Filed under Coral Gables

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