Open Thread
It looks like the E-One discussion is becoming “old news”, so we are going to open up a new thread for other topics you might have on your mind.
It’s your thread. So give us your point of view on any issues you want to discuss that aren’t covered on other threads of the PH Blog.
Complete our survey and give us your feedback about our Blog. Click on the link below:
http://www.insitefulsurveys.com/Survey.asp?SI=578554012385
posted by Blog Master @ 6:37 PM
76 Comments:
Haven't seen much about city/county consolidation. With all the county utilities dept. problems, might now be a good time for the county to let the city take over the county utility operation? Just a thought.
Not yet. the new guy heading up the county utilities has only been on the job for about a month. Give him a chance, he has a mess to clean up.
No way should the county get hooked up with the City utililities. That group has enough problems of its own!
C. Thurow:
I voted for Ron Crawford and believe, from what I've read, you did too.
Based on his recent behavior at a School Board meeting, think we both made a mistake?
Don
(OTOW)
An indication that things are going to get tougher for local government budgets---from a Tallahassee newspaper:
Florida House members were put on notice Tuesday that next year’s budget appears so tight that the state can’t afford to fund requests they make for local projects.
“I’d rather talk about the realities today ... let’s be straightforward about this,” Budget and Policy Chairman Ray Sansom said as he delivered the bad news to a meeting of about 30 House members.
With budget forecasts down about $155 million from earlier projections, Sansom said, “we won’t fund any community budget requests.”
Community budget requests are the chief way for lawmakers to bring home money for constituent-driven priorities. House members had already filed more than 2,000 community budget requests totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
The majority of requests filed by lawmakers don’t make it into the state’s final budget, but Sansom’s declaration closes off the tap completely for projects that get pushed by local governments at delegation meetings leading up to the legislative session. The projects could still make it into the budget if they are included in agency programs, but Sansom’s announcement about declining tax forecasts leaves little room for maneuver.
The state’s last pork-free budget was for 2003-04 triggered by the economic downturn following 2001 terrorist attacks.
Lost in the Star Banner story about Ron Crawford's outburst is the purpose of the meeting where his outburst came:
It is my understanding that one of the purposes was to discuss employee health care costs. When Jim Warford became Superintendent, I took him the results of a pilot program at the county where the county commission self insures the second $250 (first $250 is employee deductible) of a claim. The county staff fought the second $250 program, and in the last five or six years it has saved the county about $1.3 million -- without costing the employees a single dime extra.
If this program was implemented at the school system, it would save an estimated $1 million a year. The school system's insurance benefit director, Nancy Hayden, has refused to even consider it. The school insurance carrier lobbied hard against it.
Warford was so busy battling staff with his effort to bring the system into the 21st century he never had time to work on the insurance program before he left to go to Tallahassee. I lost interest and never bothered to take it to Yancey.
I can not imagine why any staff member would refuse to bring to the school board a plan that would save the county $1 million a year and cost the employees not a dime more, but this is the case, and that was just one of many reasons that Crawford popped off, I suspect. School staff people do not like anyone, even a school board member, from questioning their decisions.
Ron may have been over bearing and impolite, but my priest at Grace Episcopal Church told me one time that sometimes you just have to take a sledge hammer and put it to work!
By the way, wouldn't you think that perhaps the "businessman" who is so informed on everything would have jumped at a chance to save the county $1 million a year? Never a word from him, however.
Crawford, Mosley and Herring have tried but the bureaucracy fights hard.
So, I am not sorry I voted for Crawford in the primary or in the general election. We may disagree on tactics, but he has done a pretty fair job, my friends who do not like him to the contrary.
Subject: Zero Based Budgeting
Received an e-mail from one of our bloggers with the text of comments made at a recent City Council meeting. Some very good points were made. We have been given permission to post the comments:
"All Florida local governments are facing funding and spending issues. Funding is big question mark. Spending must be curtailed in anticipation of revenue shortfalls.
With these thoughts in mind, I advocate Zero Based Budgeting.
Zero Based Budgeting is all about establishing and maintaining control over the budgeting process enabling spending reductions.
The governmental budgeting process is driven by political forces that blur lines of control.
City managers and city budget directors routinely have to tiptoe through political mine fields to exercise their fiscal responsibilities. It is difficult, if not impossible, for these managers to maintain rigid control over the budget process.
Budget bloat exists because political pressure has favored departments, tenured department heads, patronage appointees and pet projects. Unnecessary or ineffective expenditures big and small have subtlety been legitimized, their need unquestioned, their bloat ignored.
In the process, with increasing government revenues from growth, Increased revenue has been taken for granted. Caution is often ignored. Fiscal restraint diminishes. Budget and spending control has been relinquished.
Zero Based Budgeting is a new beginning. Every budgetary line item must be justified or it is deleted. Departments, their divisions and their managers are forced to defend their very being. Control is established.
Fiscal responsibility is perpetuated by annually following the same budget disciplines.
Initial adherence to Zero Based Budgeting can be difficult .
Very positive community support of Zero Based Budgeting can be expected for Zero Based Budgeting according to a straw poll recently taken on a local blog site. 86% of respondents favored Zero Based Budgeting.
Zero Based Budgeting is an idea whose time has come of age in Marion County. I ask that Ocala city council act positively, by passing a favorable ordinance as well as supporting it’s enactment .
By doing so , council will demonstrate their willingness to maintain sound fiscal control over Ocala finances as well as sensibly exercising their fiduciary responsibilities.
Thank you."
PWF: OK, I'll accept your points about Ron Crawford.
Don
(OTOW)
From a friend it Texas. No, not George W.
Question - When you apply for Welfare in Mexico what does the Government give you?
Answer - A map of the United States!
Ron Crawford is an arrogant twit and has always been, and will never change. He should not be holding any office in our county, no matter what PF says!
Looks like E-1 has become a dead issue. Nothing much here or on the Star Banner blog about them.
There have been a few comments about E-One. Most recently from people suggesting that E-One employees should volunteer to share more in the pain of keeping the company here. As an example, volunteer to take less in wages and benefits or other “sacrifices”. Don’t just put all the responsibility on the back of the taxpayer.
I'm now coming around to that same point of view. I feel your pain, but let's share it.
The Governor’s tax reduction plan will cost Marion County $23 million in tax revenues ($40 million if the school districts are included). We all had better get ready for some big hits in reduction of our local services. A great idea from the “People’s Governor”, shift all the burden to the local people. Give with one hand, and take with the other. I’m becoming very suspicious of the new Gov.
Critic wrote..."get ready for some big hits in the reduction in local services."
Ahhh music to my ears!
Wonder what "wonderful programs" will be the first to go?
I GUESS WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE EDC WOULD BE ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST OF WONDERFUL PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE.
i suggest schools ie directors who spend their time on this blog like CT does.
The governor’s honeymoon is about to come to a quick end around March 6. I see divorce by the people in the cards for Crist. Many of his promises are nothing but political posturing. He is soon going to find out that the speaker of the house and president of the senate are the real powers in Florida, not the governor. Both of these individuals have so far seemed content to give Crist all the rope he needs.
Yup. Eliminate funding to economic development agencies and all of the coporate freebies at the local, state and federal levels.
What the hell is a "school ie director"? Is "ole blogger" ingesting too much demerol?
Hey politico...where you by any chance a Gallagher supporter?
What about the Bozo judge handling the Anna Nicole Smith case? The guy is a fool. No wonder the Florida judicial system is a laughing stock!
sorry i mistyped.it should have said IT director not IE.
but you knew what i meant.
Ole blogger aka PWF:
First I am not the IT Director for the "schools". You're not nearly as clever as you think you are.
I am IT Director for the county. I would be happy to give you a tour of our system and show you first hand what I do here. I would also invite you to make an appointment with our county manager to discuss my position.
Of course you'll never do that because you're just full of hot air.
Ct -- Wrong again.
"Old Blogger" aint quite me. I wasn't around my computer over the weekend. Others have opinions besides you and me.
--pwf
Right On!!!
There are many others who have opinions other than just CT and PWF.
I saw an article the other day where a candidate for Tampa City Council wants to reduce local property taxes by 30%. That would be even more than under Crist's plan. I bet the guy gets elected!
Mr. Thurow
To answer your question: No, I did not support Tom Gallagher.
And, I did not support or vote for Crist either.
Politico...I was just wondering what your thoughts were on Crist and why. He's an interesting fellow and we're all kinda suspect...ya know?
Anonymous 3:10:
"Right On" indeed!!
Thats what blogs are for: To hear what everybody has to say. The more that have something to say the better the blog.
Lets hear more from you!!!
Hey Paul....let's you and I publically agree to get along better. We can agree to disagree on a number of things.
What say you?
I thought we had gotten along fine since my new policy of ignoring your attacks and not commenting on anything you said until you accused me of being ole blogger. That is how I choose to have our relationship. I have no comment on your comments and claims. That policy starts anew now. This means we will get along just fine. Just dont blame me for others having opinions. -- pwf
I just love all the government bashing CT does while he sits at his taxpayer funded desk, taxpayer funded computer, et al.
I would love to take a tour of the "facility here" as you say CT. Would there be a break in the tour so you could blog about wasteful government spending. Does some of those cuts include making govt employees more efficient during work hours?
REMINDER
“Town Meetings”: Congressman Cliff Stearns
Saturday, February 24, 2007
McIntosh:
9:00 – 10:00 AM
McIntosh Civic Center
5975 Avenue F
Ocala:
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Quail Meadow Community Center
3158 NW 49th Street
Silver Springs Shores:
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Silver Springs Shores
Community Center
590 Silver Road
Ocala:
2:45 – 3:45 PM
E.D. Croskey Recreation Center
1510 N. W. 4th Street
Are we ready for this? Current thinking in the Florida Legislature on property taxes:
House Republicans are developing a proposal to eliminate property taxes for all homesteads while increasing the sales tax by a few pennies to make up the difference.
The plan, which has quietly gained favor among House leaders in recent days but lacks detail and has yet to be announced, also calls for capping property taxes on businesses, second homes and other non-homestead property. The cap would likely be tied to population growth and inflation.
"Everyone's pretty excited about it," Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said after emerging from a property tax summit in the House on Monday afternoon.
Property taxes promise to be the most challenging issue in the Legislature's upcoming session, in part because of the inequities in the current system, which favors long-term homeowners over new residents while pushing more of the burden on non-homestead property.
An increasing number of lawmakers feel the best remedy is to simply get rid of property taxes homestead owners pay to schools, cities, counties and special taxing districts. The idea is contained in House Speaker Marco Rubio's book 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future. Doing so would require a voter-approved change to the Florida Constitution.
To offset lost revenue, the sales tax would be bumped up nearly 3 cents. The current sales tax is 6 cents per dollar, although some local governments have gotten voter approval for slightly higher amounts.
Each cent increase generates about $3.75-billion.
"I don't think it's a tax increase; it's a tax shift," said Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami.
But an increased sales tax could hurt businesses in North Florida, where shoppers could go to Georgia or another state. Also, sales taxes hurt the poor more than other income groups. Vacationers, too, would pay more to visit Florida.
"The devil will be in the details," said Sarah Bleakley, a lobbyist for the Florida Association of Counties.
I'll take an extra 3% sales tax any day of the week over paying any property taxes. Bring it on!!
Another give to the rich and take from the poor plan and the Democrats seem to be in the boat with it.
See the full text of the Property Tax Proposal made today by the Florida House:
blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/files/pr_property_tax_plan.pdf
Read this carefully before you too quickly jump on the bandwagon.
Let's all blame the Democrats for all imagined ills.
After all, the Democrats have big majorities in the State House of Representatives, The State Senate and the Governorship here in Florida just like the states of Texas, Idaho and South Carolina who have restructured their Taxation.
Seiously as stated by Politico the power is in the Republican controlled state senate and house.
The changes come from Speaker Rubio's playbook and the enthusiastic reception quoted is by a Republican.
As far as I am concerned, Florida's taxation system is out of the stone ages.
I do see however, a danger in relying solely on a consumption tax.
The inevitable deline in consuption, which I think is going to happen sooner than later,will make consumer taxes a bad choice, especially if that is the only form of taxation. If you go this route you must have contingecy spending plans in place than can be enacted quickly.
I do not see yet a realistic plan for Florida. I am hopeful such a plan developes.
I think the plan is a good first set of cards on the table. They can do some shuffling of the deck and hopefully come up with a good hand for everyone.
The tax problem answer: state income tax. Now that would take some gonads!
The blog by anonymous was by Agent who goofed up submiting.
From today's sptimes: A family living in Pinelis county earning $64,280 annualy and living in a $241,000 house pays annualy in taxes.
Property tax $5652, sales tax $951, for a total of $6603 a year. Under the proposed new plan of just a sales tax the total would be just $1290, a difference of $4362.
Wow !! Marion County would be different of course but the disparity in numbers would be similar.
You be the judge, good idea or bad idea?
This plan is obviously from the minds of "simple think" as I call it.
Now let's see what those stinking Democrats come up with.
If Agent's figures are correct, which I imagine they are, this is a no brainer! How could anyone not vote for changes like these. I guess non-property owners may kill this idea.
On the "no property tax" issue: Using an example like Carlton Arms apartment community, consider a tenant now living there. That corporation will keep 700,000 dollars per year. Do you believe they will pass the savings on to the renters. A big "NO" on that. Yet every citizen living in that community will average 800 dollars more per year paying additional sales tax. Just another way of shifting the tax burden from business to the struggling families in our state.
Yes and it's about time some people other than property owners start sharing more in the costs of running our government. Apartment dwellers also need to pay their fair share. Perhaps they have been getting a free ride at the expense of home owners.
E-One’s mother company Federal Signal had outstanding sales and profits for 2006. So would someone please tell me why they need to come to the taxpayer’s trough for money here in Ocala. Makes no sense to give “welfare” to someone who doesn’t need it.
Argenziano doesn't make PSC cut.
State Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, will not be interviewed for one of the two vacancies on the Public Service Commission.
Argenziano was one of 66 applicants.
A nominating council today selected 19 people. Candidates will be interviewed March 9.
E-One... After the government nearly doubling the 13 million dollar offer, they are already hinting it's not enough. I say double thier taxes for the time they have remaining, and my statement to e-one execs... don't let the door hit you pimps on the way out.
I'm glad the Senator is staying on the job. Would much rather have her working for us than in the PSC job.
Conclusions of our morning coffee group: there will be a property tax reduction but not elimination of property taxes; sales tax will increase but about half as much as proposed; there will be no caps imposed on local spending.
Let E-1 go. Enough is enough. Payton seems to be one of the few seeing through these guys at E-1.
Once the County Commissioners see all the support for keeping E-One at the hearing on Tuesday, they will have no problem in voting to provide the money needed.
Wait until the tears and hard stories start flowing at the public hearing on E-One. When the commissioners hear how many new cars and trucks are going to have to be returned by E-1 employees (especially those deluxe F-350 trucks), how many kids are now going to have to move from private schools to public, how many summer homes in N.C. are going to have to be foregone, how many boats are going to have to go back, etc. the meeting will turn into a real love fest of hardship.
P.S. to LOW: the meeting is Tuesday, March 6 not this coming Tuesday.
Regarding E-1 :
What annoys me is that E-1 did not send any officials to the City Commission meeting and from the sounds of it will not sendGufstason to the County Commission Meeting.
Instead they communicate by sending letters to the employees who are asked to carry water for management.
This is cowardly on the part of Federal Signal and Gufstason, tho typical of corporate bullies.
The E-1 employees are being used as pawns. They deserve much better.
Clayton S. Ellsworth Jr. AKA Agent
YEP, COUNT ON IT. THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE CARRYING THE WATER AT THE MEETING.
A comment about the property tax proposal.
Our niece and her husband recently moved to Ocala from Alabama. They rent an apartment and are working toward buying a home. They mentioned to me the advantages of the property tax reduction proposal in their situation. The sales tax increase would result in them spending about $480 more a year. However, they would get a big break on property taxes, when they are eventually in a position to buy a home, to the tune of a savings in monthly payments of around $200; a net advantage to them of $1920 a year. I imagine there are quite a few other young, first-time home buyers who may view the property tax change in the same way.
Too bad Nancy Argenziano did not get a spot on the PSC. She would have been good for consumers. Oh well, she can still fight the battles for us as a Senator.
The magic words: state income tax.
Do away with property taxes, but replace them with the income tax and not an increased sales tax.
A good idea. Why not, everything else is on the table.
The Ocala/Marion Chamber of Commerce Board voted to support the E-One deal. My question is: does that decision really reflect the opinion of the Chamber’s many members? Having talked with some of the members, my prediction is that it does not. I think the Chamber Board is way out of touch with its membership.
City Guy asks is the Chamber Board decision represents the view of the Chamber members.
I was a member of the Chamber for 43 years, and very active in it for a number of those years including serving as Chairman of committees several times and serving on the Board for a period.
Many of the board members are friends of mine and I have admiration for many of them.
The decision is the Chamber Board is simply the collective opinion of individuals. I have seldom found the decision of the Chamber Board to be the view of the members, in fact many times it is in direct opposition of the members.
Few chamber board members want to get into a debate and get their opinions on record. It is sort of like serving on a church board and opposing the view of the pastor.
Unfortunately, the Chamber's effectiveness has declined in the last 20 years. They had 2,500 members 18-20 years ago, and the population was 80,000 to 100,000. Today, they have about 1,700 membners and a population of 300,000 plus. Small businesses no longer join as they once did.
Having said all of that, there is a role for the Chamber in Ocala and I hope they continue and grow. But they do not represent the view of the majority of their members on many issues.
This is just one former member's personal opinion, just like the board's decision is an opinion.--pwf
I always start my day looking in on the Politically Homeless blog and then I click on the link provided to the “Sayfie Review”. Meaning no disrespect to the Homeless blog, but Sayfie is one of the best political blogs I have seen.
An observation since I’ve been reviewing Sayfie: I have never seen anything quoted from the Star-Banner. Many of the other Florida news organizations are used as sources for Sayfie, but not the Star-Banner. Frequently the Gainesville paper is a source. Could it be that Sayfie doesn’t see the S-B as one of the influential big guys in journalistic professionalism?
Where is the Sayfie Review link?
The Sayfie Review can be accessed via our Link “Florida Political News” on the main page of the Blog.
Sayfie is a website, not a Blog. However, it does provide access to other Blogs around the State.
cvymxxmnMike Shore,re getting rid of property tax :
Yes it would help young homeowners.
However they will face a new obstacle, that of getting home loans. Belatedly, lenders are tightening up lending standards, realizing that approxamitly 33% of home loans during the boom days should never have been made.These loans are the so called subprime [bad credit] loans, interest only, "liar loans ", fraudulent real estate agent initiated applications, ARMS baited with low beginning payments , no down payment, etc.
Young home buyers typically have no or low down payments and very negative net worths.
In our market there will be an exception to this for awhile. Bank America has been aggresively soliciting the hispanic market, documented and undocumented for home loans and credit cards .
If interest rates go lower , this will be helpful for some buyers but not enough to stimulate a meaningful rebound in housing.
Young home buyers will be forced to the sidelines until they clean up their personal balance sheets.
Realistically, many home owners , young and old, with little or no equity, have just been renting their homes from the banks while undertaking more expense with taxes, insurance, maintainance, etc.
Times have changed, they had to change.
Clayton Ellsworth AKA Agent
Damn Meds!
Something is wrong with the synapses in the control tower. PWF is beginning to make sense.
( Chamber post)
Is this going too far?
A Florida lawmaker wants the state to stop using the term "illegal aliens," saying the second word should be changed to something less ... foreign.
"I personally find the word 'alien' offensive when applied to individuals, especially to children," Sen. Frederica Wilson (D) told The News-Press. "An alien to me is someone from out of space."
"We don't say 'alien,' we say 'immigrant,'" she said.
Wilson, who represents thousands of Caribbean immigrants, has introduced a bill that would ban the term "illegal alien" from any official documents developed by the state though no penalty would be applied if the language slipped in.
The Board of the Chamber of Commerce doesnt deciede to do anything. For the last 4 or 5 years the chambers internal structure has changed and it is now run by the "executive" committee. This means that 5 people or so are really driving the ship. The "board" is really there to rubberstamp the decisions of the executive committee. Anyone with any history with the Chamber knows that the executive committee was set up to handle issues when the Board could not meet. Today the executive committee meets makes a decision, presents thier decision to the board. The board asks a few questions and its approved. The executive committee runs the Chamber.
The chamber claims to support the small buisness (which make up the majority of its membership) but has policies the say otherwise. I believe the chamber could one day be what it was but it will take a change at the top to do it. Maybe then i will be willing to re-join.
LOW,,YOUR SUGGESTION HAS TOO MUCH COMMON SENSE TO IT. GOV'T DOESN'T WORK WITH THAT.
Anonymous at 12:02 PM, March 01, 2007 says the Chamber is run by the executive committee and the board rubber stamps. That too is muy opinion, having watched it for so many years. I probably wouldn't be willing to rejoin regardless, but don't get your hopes up. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the power at the chamber changed when they made the hired execuitve the President and CEO instead of someone who does what the board directs. But again, we still need a chamber. Just don;t think they speak for Ocala any more than I speak for Ocala. --pwf
This morning the CEO of the Chamber mistakenly sent out an email that had conversations between her and members of the Chambers executive committee. The jist of the email was how the Chamber was going to "push" the E-1 line and show support for giving them money. This email proves an earlier point about who is really running the chamber. The executive committee decieded the chamber would support E1. They got the board to sign off on it and now the membership is upset. They are upset because they werent polled or asked if they wanted the Chamber to take a stand on this or what stand they should take for the membership. The Board just put the rubber stamp on what the executive committee wanted!!! Of course now the Board is going to have to defend there decision and wont admit to just giving in the executive committee.
Did I miss the local housing numbers for January ? The national figures are out.
Re. Housing :
This quote from The Yamamoto Forecast Newsletter : 2/21/07
"The housing industry remains on the verge of a massive collapse. In our estimation, this real estate debacle is only in the top half of the second inning of a nine inning game".
I agree.
A good website for information on the property tax proposal:
www.nomorepropertytax.com
I was amazed to find out recently that when our local EMSA (ambulance service) went out to bid a while back that our local "partner" E1 didnt even bid on the project. Do they not make all types of emergency vehicles? If not i apologize..
January Marion County housing numbers :
New construction starts, 239, down 1/3 from December 2006.
Sales of existing homes down 36% from January 2006
You be the judge, normal correction or not?
Nancy Argenzianao is back in the race for one of the PSC Commissioner jobs. She will be interviewed tomorrow. If she gets it, that may create some interesting political jockeying on the local scene to repalce her.
Post a Comment
<< Home