Another Vote For Amendment 8

October 18, 2010 Leave a comment

Another vote for amendment 8.  It seems reasonable not to run a school system based on very rigid formulas.

The 2002 class-size amendment basically mandated that elementary schools have a cap of 18 students per class, middle school 22, and high school 25. Amendment 8 would keep those caps as averages, giving districts leeway. And there would still be caps of 21, 27, and 30 respectively.

And it will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The group Florida TaxWatch estimates it will save at least $350 million a year. Newspaper reports have put the savings at $7 billion over the next ten years.

This is a no-brainer. Vote for Amendment 8.

via Broward Palm Beach – Broward Palm Beach News – The Daily Pulp: Bob Norman’s Blog.

Filed under Florida

What Think the Candidates? (3)

October 18, 2010 Leave a comment

So far several candidates have been collecting substantial funding for their campaigns.  Hopefully, we will hear from one or more candidates on the themes of their campaign and their thoughts on the main public issues in Coral Gables.

See the pages on this blog–A CITY AGENDA and CANDIDATES—for current information on the candidates and important public issues in Coral Gables.

Filed under Coral Gables, Election, Politics

Take Note Coral Gables Commissioners: Unpleasant, but Necessary for the Taxpayers

October 18, 2010 Leave a comment

This is probably hurting the firefighter chiefs and officers more than it is hurting the lower ranks.  The upper limit on retirement is unpleasant, but essential.  It is too bad that firefighter unions were so greedy–they are to blame equally with politicians that get us into this stew.

“It’s a very painful time for us,” said Robert Suarez, president of the Miami Association of Firefighters. “Our firefighters are very upset. We are looking at 20 to 30 percent pay cuts. The attendance of the mayor and commissioners would have created a hostile event out of something that is very positive.”

Firefighter salaries were cut between 5 and 12 percent. But after factoring in cuts to other bonuses for education or specialized jobs, union leaders say the actual cuts are more than double. Pensions were also capped at a $100,000 a year payout. The moves were designed to help close a $105 million city budget hole and avoid laying off one-third of the city’s workforce.

via At union’s request, Miami leaders stay away from new fire station – Miami-Dade – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Coral Gables, Miami, Pensions, Taxes and Fees

Constitutional Amendment No. 2: Collins Center for Public Policy

October 18, 2010 Leave a comment

AT A GLANCE: AMENDMENT 2

Sponsor/Originator: The Florida Legislature

Title on Ballot: Homestead ad valorem tax credit for

deployed military personnel

Official Summary: Proposing an amendment to the

State Constitution to require the Legislature to provide

an additional homestead property tax exemption

for members of the United States military or military

reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its

reserves, or the Florida National Guard who receive

a homestead exemption and were deployed in the

previous year on active duty outside the continental

United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of military

operations designated by the Legislature. The exempt

amount will be based upon the number of days in the

previous calendar year that the person was deployed.

The amendment is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

What it would do: Instruct the Legislature to enact an

additional homestead exemption for Florida homeowners

on active military service outside the country. The size

of the tax break would be based on the amount of time

served overseas in the previous year.

Arguments for: Military personnel based overseas

are performing important services for our country at

considerable sacrifice. This amendment would help

compensate them for that service.

Arguments against: Providing an additional exemption

to certain property owners would reduce tax collections

by hard-pressed local governments.

Filed under Florida

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