Coral Gables Environment, Politics and Government
February 23, 2011 Leave a comment
Increases in home sales in South Florida should lead to a reduction in assessed property values and further reductions in city and county revenues at the current tax rates.
This may lead to increases in property taxes and fees next September just to hold the line on tax revenues.
When will the commissions of Coral Gables and the county get us off this roller coaster.
February 23, 2011 Leave a comment
There was not a bit of good news in the S&P/Case-Shiller data about the housing market for the last quarter of 2010. The National Index was down 4.1% from the same period last year. Many markets reached lows which matched home prices in 2000. The trouble in cities which include Las Vegas, Detroit, and Cleveland was particularly bad. But, almost no city has escaped the powerful down draft.
via In Housing Trouble, The Seeds For Recovery – 24/7 Wall St..
February 22, 2011 Leave a comment
The recent S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices show a pronounced double dip in house prices throughout the country. Coral Gables will face another year of declining property values. The pressure to increase taxes again will be enormous.
Data through December 2010, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller1 Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index declined by 3.9% during the fourth quarter of 2010. The National Index is down 4.1% versus the fourth quarter of 2009, which is the lowest annual growth rate since the third quarter of 2009, when prices were falling at an 8.6% annual rate. As of December 2010, 18 of the 20 MSAs covered by S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices and both monthly composites were down compared to December 2009. (Source: S&P Press Release, Feb. 22)
Question For Candidates
Since house prices continue a double dip decline in Miami, do you favor property tax increases for Coral Gables in light of declining property values for the city?
February 22, 2011 4 Comments
The firefighters and police unions have supported the governor of Wisconsin in his bid to undermine unions in the state.
In Coral Gables the police and firefighters are reluctant to concede salaries and pensions, apparently because of a belief in an acquired right over the taxpayers.
Unfortunately, the commissioners have shown no spine whatsoever in pushing back on the unions, except for the much weaker general employees. Also, the mayor has openly and blindly supported all union benefits.
This system will not lead to better budgets or “quality of life” in this city.
Coral Gables Watch 