Coral Gables Note: Unfunded Pension Liabilities Will Increase

July 12, 2011 Leave a comment

The current slow patch in financial markets is likely to increase pension liabilities for Coral Gables with the decline or slowdown in returns of pension investments.  In any case, the unfunded pension liability is about $2oo million and the city has elected to make the minimum necessary contribution in the next budget cycle.  Rather the city prefers to increase its debt and expand capital spending, rather than try to deal with its big liabilities.

Are you sure that Mayor Slesnick was defeated?

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance, Pensions

More On Debt And Taxes

July 11, 2011 Leave a comment

The Republican got a good deal–take it says the Economist.

And the closer you look, the more unprincipled the Republicans look. Earlier this year House Republicans produced a report noting that an 85%-15% split between spending cuts and tax rises was the average for successful fiscal consolidations, according to historical evidence. The White House is offering an 83%-17% split (hardly a huge distance) and a promise that none of the revenue increase will come from higher marginal rates, only from eliminating loopholes. If the Republicans were real tax reformers, they would seize this offer.

via America’s debt: Shame on them | The Economist.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Economy

America’s Debt And The Economically Illiterate

July 11, 2011 Leave a comment

From the best and seriously conservative Economist, it is embarrassing to our nation that the US is led by people who haven’t the slightest idea about basic economics, or have chosen to ignore economics for personal advantage.  Either way we are stuck in a stagnant economy, huge unemployment and nothing happening to reverse course.

The sticking-point is not on the spending side. It is because the vast majority of Republicans, driven on by the wilder-eyed members of their party and the cacophony of conservative media, are clinging to the position that not a single cent of deficit reduction must come from a higher tax take. This is economically illiterate and disgracefully cynical.

via America’s debt: Shame on them | The Economist.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Economy, National

Is Bad Job Report Good Or Bad For Coral Gables

July 11, 2011 Leave a comment

It is bad for Coral Gables if you think that sales on Miracle Mile are important, if you agree that sales taxes are important, if real estate is to come back, if you think that businesses depend fundamentally on consumer spending directly or indirectly, if we depend on our ability to finance good infrastructure, if you think that UM needs a prosperous economy to pay it way…

In May, the unemployment rate for Miami-Dade rose from 13.1 percent to 13.4 percent, matching a record set in 2010. In Broward, it crept back up to 9 percent. Adjusting for seasonal hiccups in hiring, Miami-Dade payrolls shrunk by 3,500 between April and May while in Broward they stayed flat. May ended a string of monthly gains in South Florida jobs in 2011, just as the national May employment report of 54,000 new jobs was the first lackluster gain of 2011.

via Dismal jobs report for June doesn’t bode well for South Florida numbers – Business Breaking News – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables, Economy

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