Who is to Blame for the Education Mess?

October 11, 2010 Leave a comment

It is not self-evident that the quality of teaching and teachers are mainly responsible for our education slipping backward?  I think that experience in running complex enterprises is that in some cities and schools it is the teaching that is to blame, in others, it is school management, teaching methods and materials, community culture of education and bad (or good) school boards.

I would place enormous weight on school boards and the community that sets the priorities for education.  Teachers will gravitate to places where teachers are trusted and respected.

I am very suspicious of single approaches to solving big problems.

It’s time for all of the adults — superintendents, educators, elected officials, labor unions and parents alike — to start acting like we are responsible for the future of our children. Because right now, across the country, kids are stuck in failing schools, just waiting for us to do something.

So, where do we start? With the basics. As President Obama has emphasized, the single most important factor determining whether students succeed in school is not the color of their skin or their ZIP code or even their parents’ income — it is the quality of their teacher.

via How to fix our schools: A manifesto by Joel Klein, Michelle Rhee and other education leaders.

Filed under Community, Florida, Miami-Dade County, National

Miami-Dade County: Comparing Real Estate Taxes in the US

October 11, 2010 Leave a comment

Tax Foundation information show that Miami-Dade County–compared to 1,822 US counties with more than 20,000 inhabitants–is ranked 92nd, with 4.61% of median income paid in property taxes; ranked 793, with 0.90% of property values paid in property taxes; and ranked 176, or $2,748, in median real estate taxes.

By national standards Miami-Dade County property taxes has a pretty big impact on incomes and the county is well above average in the dollar amount of property taxes.  This and much more information on property taxes in the US can be found at the Tax Foundation website.

I imagine that from the state and local government’s viewpoint high property taxes more than make up for the lack of a state income tax.  This is the illusion of “no income taxes” except for the very wealthy.  Governments cost so much and they will find ways for you to pay the taxes.

Filed under Miami-Dade County, Taxes and Fees

Mayor Alvarez has Key Supporter–the Miami Dolphins

October 9, 2010 Leave a comment

We were all waiting with great interest, and finally with some astonishment, to hear the opinion of the Dolphins on us paying more taxes in Miami-Dade.  Yes, we need yet another professional team feeding at the trough of public subsidies with our tax money.

“I don’t think a recall effort is going to move the county forward,” team CEO Mike Dee told a meeting of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce at Monty’s restaurant on Biscayne Bay.

“We need to work together to find solutions. It’s easy to point out problems.”

The Dolphins would need County Commission backing to fund a partial roof and added seats for the team’s stadium — a proposal the Dolphins floated earlier this year. Under that plan, Florida’s Legislature would change state law to allow commissioners to raise Miami-Dade’s hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent. Earlier this year, Alvarez said he opposes such a plan.

via Norman Braman’s drive to recall Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez gains supporters – Miami-Dade – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Miami-Dade County, Taxes and Fees

Real Estate Taxes Higher Relative to Income in FL and Miami-Dade

October 8, 2010 Leave a comment

See a major study on real estate taxes across 50 states .  While Florida does not seem to bad, information shows that real estate taxes are relatively higher as a share of median income in Florida compared to other states.  It is even worse for Miami-Dade Country (presented later).

The median property tax paid on a home in Florida was $1,773.00, ranking it at No. 23. New Jersey homeowners paid $6,579.00; in Louisiana, the median homeowner paid only $243.00. The median property tax paid nationwide was $1,917.00.

As a percentage of the home’s value, Florida ranked No. 22 based on a median home price of $182,400. New Jersey again ranked No. 1 based on a median price of $348,300, while Louisiana’s median home value was $135,400. The national median home value used for the study was $185,200.

Using a percentage of homeowner’s income, Florida ranked No. 18 based on a median of $53,595.00 per household. New Jersey’s median income was $88,343.00, while Louisiana homeowners made $50,545.00. The national median income was $63,306.00.

via State Real Estate Taxes: Florida in Middle of the Pack | Southwest Florida Blog.

Filed under Florida, Miami-Dade County, Taxes and Fees

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