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

What I Learned during the Budget Hearing Tonight

September 14, 2010 Leave a comment

I  learned a few things from the Commission meeting today.

  • The Director of Finance sings the same song every year, and he has for many years.  “We have a great millage rate.”  “We really need the money.”  “We are a great city that needs the money.”  “Don’t worry, Miami-Dade is taking a much bigger share of the rate so our tax rate isn’t that bad, really.”
  • The City Manager has a plan to reorganize, restructure and right size the city’s government.  [I wonder what is the plan and whether we, the citizens, hear about it in more detail.]
  • The City Manager feels that the employees have sacrificed a lot and when the economy comes back the sacrifices can be rectified. [Many citizens think it is the taxpayers that have been sacrificing, rather than the employees.  Maybe the Manager is just playing up to his staff.]
  • One Commissioner reminded us that employees haven’t received salary adjustments for a couple of years.  [I am personally reminded that there is been literally no inflation for two years, so their salaries haven’t gone down in real terms for two years.]
  • Mr. Kerdyk said that there are 1,000 housing units in “pre-foreclosure” out of 16,000 so times are really, really, tough for the community.
  • The City Manager said that there are plenty of candidates for the jobs of police and firefighters.  [Economics tells you that we don’t have to pay the police and firefighters as much in these conditions–supply and demand.]
  • There are 7 police officers and 2 lieutenants positions that are unfilled and will mostly remain so as a financial buffer.
  • The reserves have taken a huge hit because of the FEMA double billing debacle.  We just have $3.3 million after repaying FEMA.
  • I have the feeling that the City Manager and the Commissioners are praying for a strong economic recovery as a way of digging out of the financial mess. [The City Manager said we have a financial mess (in so many words).  Don’t count on a strong economic recovery.
  • Nothing, nothing was said about the Biltmore.  [Maybe, I missed it.]

Filed under Budget, Coral Gables, Finance, Taxes and Fees

“Quality of Life” in Coral Gables and the Budget

September 13, 2010 Leave a comment

I am impressed by the number of Coral Gables politicians, commissioners and the mayor who use the expression “quality of life” as something to be protected or that is facing impending loss. Certainly, we have heard the mayor and other commissions use the expression, and now we have at least one candidate, Brad Rosenblatt who has done the same.

Brad Rosenblatt, president of the Coral Gables Business Improvement District and a commission candidate, said he hopes city leaders forge a fair compromise on the budget.

“We are living through extraordinarily difficult economic times and I want to be sure that the city does everything possible to cut expenses without reducing our quality of life,” he said.

via Coral Gables tightens its economic belt – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.

I conclude that “quality of life” might be a metaphor for raising the tax millage rate and revenues in these hard times.

Filed under Budget, Finance, Taxes and Fees

City of Coral Gables is said to Double Bill FEMA

September 13, 2010 1 Comment

One might hope that this Coral Gables Gazette story is not quite as bad as it looks initially. However, it does not engender enormous confidence in the finance director and auditing functions in Coral Gables, to say the least.  No great confidence that the City is able to keep track of others’ money, let alone the taxpayers.

Florida has ordered Coral Gables to reimburse over $1.2 million  of federal funds the city had apparently doubled billed and was paid twice for clean up expenses of three 2005 Hurricanes: Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

via City ordered to repay 2005 storms cleanup monies.

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance, Government

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