Please, Mr. Kerdyk, No More Spending

I sincerely wish that Mr. Kerdyk at his investiture this morning had not listed his spending priorities, including purchasing more green space.  While green space is a highly laudable and good priority with which I agree, we should start by fixing our financial problems, avoiding more taxes, fixing pensions, etc. (we know the list), before we start spending money on green space or even Miracle Mile.  Borrowing money, even at a low rate, still has to be repaid by future generations of taxpayers.

(Repeated) A City Agenda For Coral Gables

This is the list of issues, problems and ideas that might form part of an Agenda for the City of Coral Gables.

  • Prepare and discuss an overall NEW AGENDA for the City of Coral Gables to face the major pending problems, such as unfunded benefits, taxation, staffing and organization;
  • City Manager should routinely report to taxpayers progress on the budget and organizational changes;
  • The city needs a new Code of Ethics;
  • Change the election dates for Coral Gables to coincide with national and state elections.
  • Prepare and publicly discussion a long-range financial plan for the City of Coral Gables
  • Target a freeze and/or reduce actual amount of taxes paid by citizens (not millage rates) during the next three years;
  • Accelerate a plan of reducing pensions and health benefits, especially for firefighters and police;
  • Prepare a plan and publicly discuss how to reduce unfunded pension liabilities during the next five years;
  • Have a community town hall meeting at least twice a year to discuss the budget and other current issues;
  • Develop a realistic and flexible agreement with the Biltmore that protects the taxpayers not just now, but in the coming years;
  • Undertake a review of financial mechanisms and the defective EDEN system to establish a modern, functional accounting of spending and revenues.

Tax Cuts and the Debt

Proposal: Create a COMMUNITY CONVERSATION in the City of Coral Gables

This a modest proposal to establis a monthly or bi-monthly meeting of the city of Coral Gables called the COMMUNITY CONVERSATION (or other relevant name).  This would be a regular meeting attended alternatively by the mayor, one or more commissioners, the city manager and senior staff.

The purpose of the meetings would be to hear presentations by the city manager, mayor or senior staff on important city issues and to get community feedback in an atmosphere of civility and organized conversation.  The agenda could be highly focused or there would be sessions of a general nature.  All meetings would be open to individuals and organizations of the community.

This COMMUNITY CONVERSATION would satisfy an urgent need to create an open and ongoing forum where citizens can make informal comments and proposals to the city.  This might evolve into a regular place of civil exchange of opinions about the future of the city.