Current Issues: What's Bugging You?
We have a couple of weeks before the special elections campaigns begin to really heat up. In the interim, we would like to hear what's currently concerning you politically, economically, etc.
Click on the link below and complete our "Current Issues Straw Poll". Also, give us your comments on any of the issues you selected (e.g., why they are important, what you would like to see done about them, etc).
http://www.insitefulsurveys.com/Survey.asp?SI=284627212544
Please continue to review our blogger's comments and add your comments to the discussion threads in progress on other topics. Don't be bashful!
posted by Blog Master @ 9:41 PM
100 Comments:
Cut my property taxes totally, I like the no taxes bill.
I added improving the quality of education to the issues. It wasn't there, and to me is the most important one we face. And it impacts so many other aspects of life in Florida.
Property taxes, property taxes, property taxes............
For those of us concerned about protecting the environment as one of our current issues.
Sheryl Crow, the singer and Governor Crist’s new “friend”, has announced her plan for saving planet Earth.
Crow’s grand plan to protect our earth is to reduce toilet paper consumption by using just one square per toilet visit. One square!
I’m not even going near trying to speculate the personal hygiene results of her plan.
That will interesting to watch since the majority of "global warming" "save the planet" people are full of ....!!
That's the best comment I've seen in a long time!!!!
Property Tax Discussions:
Senate property tax negotiators just said they would adjust their rollback and cap plan to include all special taxing districts (previously, only cities and counties were affected) and replace the first-year tax freeze with a 5 percent cut.
Net result: An overall savings of $15.3-billion over five years, up from $12.3-billion. The House plan is at least $41-billion.
The House listened briefly to the counter offer then abruptly adjourned the meeting.
Is Tax Reform going down the tubes?
I SMELL SPECIAL SESSION.
I find it odd that Tallahassee is so willing to cut local taxes but won't do anything serious about the state budget which has ballooned in the past decade. I'm not at all happy about my property tax bill which more than doubled from what the previous owners paid. It's not fair that there are people down the street from me with homes twice the value who pay less than half the taxes. If you're complaining about taxes and you've lived in the same home since before property values went through the roof, shut the hell up. Count your blessings that your assessed value can't go up more than 3% each year. Mine went from $80k to $180k in one year.
Local governments need their own ability to generate revenue. Like it or not, it costs money to pay for police and fire and schools and roads. Maybe there are some local programs that could be considered "luxuries," but the vast majority of the money we're paying in property taxes pays for truly essential services. Let's not tie the hands of our local governments to try this experiment.
The one thing I really don't like about the tax issue is that, as far as I can tell, it doesn't address renters. If I read this thing right, the proposal only eliminates taxes on primary residences, just like the homestead exemption (please, correct me if I'm wrong). As property values will continue to climb in the future, there will be more and more renters in our community. Taxes on rental property will continue to go up, and that gets passed directly to the people who can't afford to buy a home.
Lastly, putting all our financial eggs in one basket isn't the answer. Look back a few years and see what kind of hit this state took right in the wallet after 9/11 and the recession that followed. Tourism slows and the state budget gets overwhelmed. Now, we're going to do that to all of our cities, counties and school boards as well. I just don't see this as a wise choice.
I'm not against wholesale reform of our tax system. I'm just not so sure that Marco Rubio's gamble to further his political career is the smartest option.
Jackie,
Check your facts and you will see the State budgets have not grown nearly as fast as those at the local level.
Do you believe homeowners should have to bear a larger burden for essential services than do renters? To me, that's the center of the problem...inequality.
Of course the senate budget hasn't increased as much as local governments - they are burdening local governments with unfunded mandates that the locals have to comply with. Just look how much Article V has impacted us locally - new judges, new courthouse....millions!
And, with regard to renters not paying their fair share, what kind of logic is that? They actually pay more because the owners are not eligible for homestead exemption on those homes. Taxes are much higher and are passed to the renter. You don't think these homeowners are, out of pure generosity, absorbing the cost of property taxes? Of course not. The renter pays. His name may not be on the deed but he is paying his fair share and then some.
Jackie-
Thank you for being (what sometimes seems) the only person who truly understands what's happening in Tallahassee in regards to this so-called "tax reform" measure.
CRIST'S PLAN
Gov. Charlie Crist today unrolled his own proposal, calling for $33.5-billion in cuts over five years.
The plan, which does not include increasing the sales tax, has several parts that are implemented over three years.
Rollback to 2003: In the first year alone, local government would lose $3.9-billion, or 24 percent. That is higher than the Senate plan but lower than the House. The Crist rollback would save the average taxpayer $340 next year, and $1,987 over five years. Schools would not be affected.
Double homestead exemption: Would kick in in the second year.
Save Our Homes portability: Would begin in third year.
25 percent tax reduction for first-time home buyers.
Exempt first $25,000 of business tangible personal property.
This is about half way between the Senate and House versions. W
What do you think? Enough savings or too much compromise?
I could buy Crist’s plan, with one addition:
Allow each county (with voter approval) to eliminate schools from property tax and replace it with a 1 cent sales tax increase.
Works out to a 8.5% reduction for me.
Crist's plan is pure CRAP!
THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING.....
E-One's announcement leaves me with the inescapable conclusion that they were just car pricing, not shopping. The decision makers were really not motivated to move anywhere, across town or to S. C., but they just wanted to see what money would hit the table.
The EDC, The Star Banner, the City, the County, and the State had zero impact on the decision, although I suspect some will try to take credit. All the angst, hand wringing, ugly editorials, letters-to-the-editor, mean comments, and sleepless nights by employees, was for naught. Man, what a waste of energy, time and manpower.
Maybe what we, (the observers/public/officials), failed to realize that E-One's financial plight is so dire that the parent was not willing to throw its millions into a move (even across town) simply based upon Mr. Gustafson's promise/projection that the future was rosy. Maybe the parent wanted proof. (It is an interesting note that when Federal Signal's money was at stake, FS was careful, while our local officials were more capricious when it was just taxpayer money). That may be a lesson for our government officials. Look before you leap with taxpayer's money. Investigate, and a look with a critical eye, at the promise of bad times to come, should be the order of the day.
I suspect that other suitors for our development money will soon materialize, but hopefully, not before we can have some elections.
WELL, MAYBE ITS NOT FALLING TODAY, BUT TOMORROW IT WILL, ...I PROMISE.
Very well stated!
There were only a few of our local politicians who understood and took a stand that the E-One incentives did not make financial or economic sense. The action taken by Federal Signal’s Board confirms the wisdom of that small number of elected officials who voted their fiduciary conscience on behalf of the taxpayers. We now have to wonder what the others were thinking in supporting the fishing expedition/charade foisted on many of our community leaders by E-One.
Stone, McClain, Kay, Ruse, you guys saw the light.
I just about tossed my cookies watching the local politicos on the TV news “spinning” the scamming they just got from E-1! They really think they had something to do with E-1 staying here. What a bunch of jokers. If E-1 stays beyond another year it will be a miracle. Just ask some of the E-1 employees who are willing to speak out, which ain’t very many.
Cut 10% off the State Budget. Then you could reduce the State Sales tax from 6% to 4%. That's the way to go after the Sales tax "swap". Don't swap it, eliminate it.
On E-One: those who said the incentives were not the responsiblity of government under the circumstances, were wise politicians.
If you want to make money from the E-one fiasco, "short " Federal Signal stock.
Many, many , many blogs ago I pointed out the irratic earnings history Federal Signal has had, as well as the incompetence Marc Gufstason exhibited in handling the E-one reguest for government funding.
To not make significant internal changes, deflate employee moral and divide the community for not, is despicable, but not unexpected as far as I am concerned.
Truly disgraceful.
Clayton Ellsworth
Anon suggests "Allow each county (with voter approval) to eliminate schools from property tax and replace it with a 1 cent sales tax increase.
Anyone know how much the almost ten mills the school board now levies raises? I doubt the one percent sales tax will be enough.
--pwf
The comment by the Big Cheese for Federal Signal, that the new Ocala facility was "..too expensive and too risky..." tells me that the EDC expert, and the EDC proponents of E-One were;
1. Completely, full of baloney, and
2. Have no creditability.
Shame on them for taking public money, espousing to represent the public, and be so far off base. Their actions stink.
Wolves in sheep's clothing!
PWF:
Sales tax of 1% would only generate $45 million (forward estimeate).
That's just a drop in the bucket of the Marion school system total budget. The sales tax swap is not a good idea.
Anon writes:
" tells me that the EDC expert, and the EDC proponents of E-One were;
1. Completely, full of baloney, and
2. Have no creditability."
___________________________________
Wow how perfect can one statement be?
Let's see that would be Pete Tesch chief idiot at the EDC and his consultants. Charles Dassance, El Presidente of CFCC and Tesch's mentor. The "leadership" of the Chamber. Kent Guinn of the failing faction of the city council and Jim Payton. Jim is one big dissapointment. I mean big. Sorry Jim but when you run with morons you get labled a moron.
TAKE THE COUNTY MONEY AWAY FROM THE EDC ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!
It was already posted but the big winners in the E-One boondoggle:
Charlie Ruse
Kyle Kaye
Stan McClain
Charlie Stone
and the biggest winner:
Chip Morris and the Drive Time Happy Hour The Sky 97.3
I’m happy about two things, my friends at E-One are keeping their jobs (for the time being) and the taxpayers do not have to foot the bill.
On the other side of my happiness, I’m not confident that E-One will stay here for the long term. Not as much as I was a month or so ago. My E-One neighbor feels the same way.
Chip called it right on E-One. There were several local idiots taken for a ride on the deal, but Chip wasn’t one of them.
Hmmmm, let see what Mr G., and Fed Sign'l really said....
"...when we get more profitable, we'll be back to get money we won't need, because we are profitable."
I agree take the county and city money away from the EDC, I hope a County Comm has the B***s to ask how much money the EDC wasted on that stupid marketing campaign to save E-1
Can you believe these E-One guys? Now they are trying to keep the $5 million the State was going to give them!
They sure have some big gonads.
Rubio sure has guts:
House Speaker Rips Compromise Tax-Cut Plan
Rubio, who hopes to eliminate property taxes, called a Spanish radio show to blast the governor's tax-rollback proposal.
The legislative stalemate suffocating House Speaker Marco Rubio's tax-cut plan had finally gotten to him. So he called a Spanish-language Miami radio show and portrayed himself as the victim of a ''fix'' engineered by local-government lobbyists who had won the governor's ear. ''I am upset with the governor'' said an agitated Rubio, who had learned earlier that Gov. Charlie Crist had proposed a rival plan while dismissing the West Miami legislator's proposal. On the Wednesday night talk show, Rubio said the lobbyists had ''descended on the Capitol'' to oppose significant tax cuts.
Were these the off-the-cuff remarks of a true-believing, thin-skinned 35-year-old politician with ambitions of higher office? Or was it all an appeal to sympathetic listeners of Radio Mambi's La Noche y Usted show to help him push a reluctant Senate and eager-to-please governor for deeper cuts?
Rubio's political chess-playing and brinksmanship during the now-stalled negotiations over property taxes have political strategists guessing. Most surprising is that Rubio -- one of the two most powerful legislative leaders -- told listeners he wanted them to back a referendum drive to bypass the Legislature and eliminate most homeowner property taxes in favor of raising sales taxes 2.5 cents.
Rubio is a real Republican. We don't have many who would stand for what they believe like he has.
A real Republican willing to totally undermine local democracy. I'm going to continue my rant against his brand of tax reform. If our taxes are too high, then vote out the schmucks on the city council, school board, and county commission. Don't forget tax collector and property appraiser. They're the ones responsible for our local taxes and WE, no, mostly those of you complaining about your taxes, voted for all of those REPUBLICANS (with the exception of Ms. Fitos of course).
This is worse than an unfunded mandate, it's an "unfunding" mandate. Once Tallahassee takes control of our local purse strings, we're screwed and will NEVER get that control back. If this goes through, we're abdicating all our power to the lobbyists who we all know really control the agenda in the legislature.
Jackie, why would you be upset with the property appraiser who is doing what the constitution requires: assess your property at it's "value" (a defination that gets muddied but when you study it, it works) and who, if he did not do as he does, would be liable for removal from office? (By the way, I don't especially like the fact that my commercial value incraesed!)
Or be upset with the tax collector who has no choice on anything except the manner in which he makes collection services available to you. He gets a list of properties with the value from the appraiser, he gets a list from various government agencies that says how much the rate shall (not may but shall) be, and then he applies the rate to the value and sends you a bill.
They are the two who have no part in the spending at all. Get mad with the school board and its dysfunctionality, get mad with the county commission, get mad with the councils, get mad with the department ehads and their inflated budgets, and the administrator who has presided over a spiraling increase in the last four years, but the appraiser ands collector just do what their job title requires. --pwf
Perhaps Jackie should listen to one of the taxpayers from that liberal bastion up north of us called Alachua County. There is likely more sentiment for the House version of tax relief than she might imagine.
“Senate Blocks Tax Reform”
Floridians have the tremendous opportunity to finally rid ourselves of the most onerous tax of all, property taxes, thanks to House Speaker Marco Rubio. There is one glitch — the Florida Senate.
Government has taken billions from us while doing absolutely nothing. All it took was over-hyped real estate values and assessments — and now the Senate and all the Democrats want to keep taxing us on these ill-gotten gains.
Now add to this the massive increase in local government's appetite for our money — and many of us are being taxed right out of Florida. What does the Senate (and Democrats) give us? Instead of signing on to eliminate property taxes forever, they give us a plan that a good New York pol would love.
They tell us they are worried about the poor and needy. The feds give the poor and needy income tax credits. If the Democrats and Senate are worried about the poor, do the same. But don't use the worn out class warfare argument as the ruse to stop the elimination of property taxes.
Call your state senator or representative and say you won't take it anymore. Back the House plan. Tell them you won't accept anything less than total elimination or you will back their opponents in the next election.
Mark Generales,
Gainesville
(From a letter to the Gainesville Sun)
IMO, there is one good solution to the current Tax Reform gridlock.
Let the constitutionally mandated Taxation and Budget Reform Commission spend the next several months doing research, holding public hearings around the state and take testimony from tax/financial experts and taxpayers.
The members of the Commission can analyze the inequities, consider various solutions (Senate, House, Crist’s, etc.) and prepare any constitutional amendment(s) needed to reform Florida's “unbalanced” property tax structure. Any amendment(s) could be ready by the 2008 general election, in plenty of time to let us voters decide the fate of tax reform.
Seems a more impartial and fair way to handle a very complex and politically charged issue. I would like to have my say (vote) on what is going to happen, How about you?
Anon at 8:22am,
I could care less what gets published in the Sun. It's not just about lowering our taxes, it's about who's responsible. If you're not happy with your property taxes, take it up with the Republicans running Marion County.
Are taxes too high right now? Mine sure are. But eliminating local control of OUR revenue streams is just plain short-sighted. God forbid there's another 9/11, but what happens to our local governments if there is and tourism comes to a standstill? Answer - we can't pay to educate our kids, fix our potholes, or keep criminals off the streets. All because some politicos think they know better how to run our lives than we do. Of course, it doesn't have to be nearly that extreme. Remember a few years ago when the state was scrambling to figure out how to make up for a revenue shortfall? Under the new system that chaos is going to be tacked on to every county, municipality, and school system in the state. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
PWF - I include Smith and Albright simply to point out the entire system is controlled by one party, a party that claims:
"That the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well, by individuals, and that the most effective government is government closest to the people."
That's the first line of what Republicans are supposed to believe in, at least according to your REC website. Any of you R's out there actually believe that?
You could care less what gets published in the Sun by citizens up there.
Frankly, I could care less what gets published on this blog by you. Your opinions have no more weight than the guy in Gainesville.
Are the Republicans perfect, NO!
Have the Democrats offered anything of substance, other than constant complaining and whining, NO!
I'm with Stan's suggestion.
You ignored the question. Do you truly believe that the most effective government is government closest to the people, or are you one of the new breed of big government Republicans who have completely forgotten what it means to be a conservative?
I believe in government closest to the people and I don’t like mandates from Tallahassee. All that said I believe the mandate to reduce local spending and cut taxes will actually put government closer to the people. Local politicians had better get the input of constituents in making priorities as to where they are going to spend money. If they don’t and make dumb budget cuts, some will be out of work.
The true conservatives will surface when they must live with some belt tightening like the rest of us, forced or not. The test will come soon. Some Rs will survive and others won’t, come election cycles. Let’s see how tough or not Ms. Fitos the D is when the proverbial s... hits the fan!
Maybe voters will have to recruit Randy Harris back into action. That thought probably raised your blood pressure several points!
Randy again! Oh no Lord, please tell us it’s not so! Now I’ll never get to sleep tonight.
Jackie, I accept your explanation about the collector and appraiser. And it is the GOP elected officials who got us in this positition, er msss.
One of the real answers is to go do what Clayton and Stan suggested several weeks ago.
If we had ZERO BASED BUDGETING the department heads would have to justify their own existence; the bureau chiefs would have to justify their existence, and the administrator's survival would depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of govt. Instead, we just keep adding more and more to each level of govt.
I know of no business, for example, that still has a $250 deductible for health insurance. We have gone from $40,000 a month in insurance premimums to about $125,000 a month and will soon be at $150,000 a month. Changes in the way we do insurance would save us more than one million a year and that, while small, is just a start.
But keeop up the dialogue. When they are snipping at your heels, you know you touched a nerve. Idea is just to stay a few steps ahead of them or you too will have some scars to show for your effort. Good job. --pwf
Why don't we have ZBB pwf? Where would it work and where has in been done?
In the big picture people want to spend less on government so why does local government shoulder the burden? Why doesn't the State roll back the sales tax from 6% to 4%? I don't care where the savings comes from so why not let the State tighten their belt too? That would be easy and they need a diet!
Good question about the state spending. I saw an article the other day that said if the state reduced its budget by 10% they could reduce the state sales tax from 6% to 4%.
Hey Jackie, here is what the most popular governor in the history of our state is saying about local government spending:
{"I think it is more complicated," Crist recently said of the tax issue, adding that he would continue his strategy of hammering cities and counties as he hammered the insurance industry.
"Local government entities or local programs that squawk about it ... are not squawking as loud as the 18 million people I work for," he said. "And even if they do, I don't really care."
In the tax battle, as he did during the insurance campaign, Crist has adopted slogans. He has staged news conferences with human props. He has gone on the road to drum up public support.}
STRAW POLL: FINAL RESULTS
(Participants 63)
What are the three most important issues currently of concern to you?
81% Property taxes too high.
56% Out of control government spending at local/county levels.
48% Homeowner insurance premiums too high.
40% Impact of growth on our water supply.
30% Lack of confidence in our local/county elected officials.
24% Too few good paying jobs.
11% Gasoline prices too high.
10% Other (*)
* Other Items: Education (2); Roads (2); Global Warming; Iraq War
You get no argument from me about state spending. They can find millions to kick in to E-One on a whim but can not finance repair of their own roads it shows they have no priorities. When they can financee the lucrative elected officils retirement, the best medical insurance in the world but can not fund construction of the school buildings they themselves mandate . . . well, if I keep going I will get under the skin of my friend Larry Cretul, so I better stop now. But state spending is OUT OF CONTROL just as is city, county and school spending. -- pwf
Cutting the State budget by 10% will only make things worse at the local level. All those programs the locals draw funds from will likely dry up. You can bet anything in the State budgets supporting local govt. will be the first to be cut.
Which raises the question; who do you want to represent the interests of local citizens the cities and counties or the state?
I'll give you my answer to your question: ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Each has certain responsibilities in representing our interests. One can not exist without the other. I would never want to be totally dependent on only one. Don't think that is possible.
Poll results are interesting. More concern about local government spending than insurance. Who would have thunk it.
Zero Based Budgeting :
A recent convert is Broward County for the reasons I articulated on this Blog many times .
My statements on ZBB to city council are a matter of record on this blog. Blogmaster please repost same.
Ocala has required all departments to shave 8% off their budgets which is 2% less than I told them they would reduce budgets by using ZBB. Their actions are a positive step in the right direction. I think they will end up with around 5-6 % in budget reduction.
Meantime the county has approved budget increases of 5-5 1/2 %. Yes , you read that correctly.
I have exhausted my patience and efforts on reducing local spending.
If you ever have wished their was a hole you could hide in, then you know the feeling I had from the reaction I got from Ocala department heads after my statement to city council which followed several hours of e-one discussion [???].
You need to remember that the revenues they spend are theirs to spend not yours to spend in their minds.
I will yield the floor to PWF who knows about the behind the scenes, back room manuevering that took place.
The actions taken by County Manager
Howard are a sad commentary of political malfeasance.
Clayton Ellsworth
Clayton,
Maybe you should run for office.
Tax reform is an issue, but so is finding a good paying job; even though that didn’t score very high in the straw poll. Higher pay means an opportunity to spend more which means higher tax revenues. An article from an AP release sure paints a sorry picture for Florida college grads.
“Number of College Educated Poor on the Rise”
A rise in college attendance coupled with downsizing, outsourcing and a shortage of high-paying jobs is bolstering the ranks of the educated poor - people with college degrees who don't earn above the national poverty line, economists said.
"It's rough. It's actually embarrassing," said Michelle Donaldson-McIntyre, a college-educated single mother who earns about $15,000 a year as a teaching assistant in South Florida. "I struggled to get a higher education. I did it with my kids; I did it working two jobs. I have higher expectations of myself - I want more."
According to recent U.S. Census estimates, the number of college graduates earning below the poverty line has more than doubled in the past 15 years to almost 6 million people.
The problem is more acute in Florida where the state economy is powered primarily by tourism and retiree industries with an abundance of service jobs and not high-paying jobs, said Dave Denslow, a University of Florida economist.
(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
I'd vote for Clayton. However, smart people like him have no interest in running for office. Therein is the problem--we get too many dumb ones!
So the founding fathers were dumb??
Big deal if Clayton is smart. Thank god for the ones who will put themselves on the "firing line" and try to make a difference. "Smart people", as you say who will do nothing but sit back and fire from the cheap seats wouldn't make it in politics either. There is talking and then there is walking my friend.
To Anon.
Sitting back and firing from the back seats hardly describes me. However I will not bore you with my biography. I have a feeling that the desire to be informed is not one of your strengths.
But if you are really interested as others have been recently and want to pay Dun and Bradstreet $149 for a report on me, as two others from Marion County have, then be my guest. By the way, I haven't provided D and B with information for many years so don't be surprised if you don't learn anything.Think of this as my having saved you $149. The other 2 inquirers could have saved $149 by calling me. Oh well, "a fool and their money----"
On February 14th the Blog Master posted my comments on Zero Based Budgeting to the Ocala City Council.
I post this information for new bloggers who were not posting back when there was a lot of discussion about ZBB .
Clayton Ellsworth
We have had only one "smart" politician in the last several years--Randy Harris. Say what you want about his personality, he knew the county budgets and operations inside and out. We could use him again. Maybe we will see him back.
Hate to say it but you are probably right.
On Randy Harris' return... Please, we have enough construction related business owners on the board. All board decisions are based on growth for their own selfish interests.
Let’s get serious. How could you have any discussion about smart elected officials and not include Mary Sue Rich. She is unquestionably the most intelligent elected official in all of Marion County. I have never seen such intellect, knowledge and vision in anyone that come s close to her. She sets the standard for smart when it comes to our political leaders.
surprised you didn't include norm perry. old timers like pwf will remember norm and his intellect..
People should live in their district before running for them (i.e. Baxley and Corcoran).
roflmao....
It's good to see someone has a sense of humor around here.
tallahassee gator girl,
Could we call them carpetbaggers?
Dean is my choice.
What’s bugging me?
All these old farts at Spruce Creek who think they have some special rights to use more water than the rest of us and don't want to pay for it on top of that! Hope they all go back to wherever they came from. They won’t be missed.
NO AGREEMENT ON TAX REFORM: SPECIAL SESSION
Legislative leaders announced today that they were suspending talks on property taxes and will hold a special session to consider the issue. Senate President Ken Pruitt said the tentative dates for the session will be June 5-15. The session will be called by legislative leaders.
Water momma..
The fact that some people want something for less than cost (as opposed to free) does not bother me much. That is human nature.
What bothers me is that the Commissioners, whose paid, sworn duty is to properly run the business of the County, knows the financial plight of the water system, and is not willing to make the unpopular, but correct decision and raise the rates.
We need business people on the board, not someone who is trying to hold on to the best job of their life.
Yep! People need to live in their district before annoucing to run.
This a big district from Tallahassee to Ocala to Jasper. Heck, I even live in the district way up her in Tallahassee. Corcoran could have lived on the East side of Tally (when he was the highest paid State employee), but I guess, the East side wasn't "fancy" enough.
T-Town Gator Girl,
Give us the T-town skinny on Charlie Dean. Got a mailer from him today.
NEW DATES FOR SPECIAL SESSION:
The special session on property taxes has now been officially scheduled for June 12 through June 22.
Best thing that can happen for Florida is all Baxleys to lose their elections and disappear from politics.
Tally-town has received...
4 to 5 mailouts from Corcoran
1 mailout from Dean
None from Baxley
Special Session, no problem. Better to do the tax reform right and not fast.
Darn, now I'm going to have to wait for that big savings on my property tax bill. Just like the one I just got for my insurance (premium up 5%).
I have a bad feeling that property tax reform will end up like property insurance reform earlier this year: one big joke.
The legislature just hosed us real good. All the talk about lowering property taxes. They have just departed Tallahassee and have voted in an increase in our taxes for schools. Can you believe it? And still no reducing of our taxes in sight. How about some new faces in Tallahassee in 2008?
Yes but our automobile insurance will drop in October. Only thing is it won't, to use our Democrat governor's term, drop like a rock.
Whoa, my bad! Now governor Charlie is asking the legislature to reinstate the PIP coverage during the special session. So we better not spend our car insurance savings too fast. Thanks guv!
I noticed the joking about the intelligence level of our elected officials. Even discussion about how “visionary” they are.
A reminder on what Einstein said: “vision without execution is a hallucination”. Unfortunately, that applies too most of our politicians. Taxpayers are given many visions but little in execution!
That is an awesome quote.
I'm going to save about $200 every 6 months on my car insurance. That's nice, but I would really like to eliminate my $2300 a year property taxx.
More money in school taxes being given to our local board to spend. I wish I had confidence that it was going to be spent wisely, but I don't. How about you?Enough is enough. Next year I would like to see some roll backs in the school tax part of our property tax just like our governor is doing in 2007.
If you are interested in reading a good summary of Governor Crist’s options in trying to get Property Tax Reform enacted, copy and paste this link:
www.miamiherald.com/458/story/97882.html
Tucked away in the sweeping elections bill that set Florida's presidential primary for Jan. 29 and paved the way for new voting machines is a provision giving State Party heads more authority.
Local leaders for either party will have to be more careful about running afoul of the State Party. The provision added to the law gives the Party Chairman much more leeway to remove a local party officer. The State Chair could remove a committeeperson or local chair "without clear cause and without an avenue for appeal".
I see the use of this provision by Crist’s hand picked State Republican Chair to clean up the Marion County Republican Party Executive Committee! Starting at the top.
Applies to the local Democrats as well. They also need some "cleansing".
Yo Blogman---Here’s an idea to increase the number of folks posting comments to your blog. Do what the Star Banner is doing with their blog. They pay people to post. A friend of mine told me she is getting paid for each comment she adds to the Banner blog. How about doing that here?
Don't know how you could say the local Democrats need some cleansing. Bruce Seaman, elected party chair a few months ago, is one of the most decent people you'll ever meet. And he's got the party going in the right direction. He just needs more Democrats to get off their duffs and get to work.
It really won't have a bit of impact of the Democrats. They're just happy to have people show up at the meetings. There are county's all over the state that don't even have a DEC.
Why can't the Democrats field a candidate for the House district #24?
About that election bill.
Charlie Crist's attempt to make the Republican Party more moderate and take advantage of his election may be appealing in the short run , but all it will do is destroy the Republican Party in the end. If people are given a choice to vote for a real Democrat or a fake Democrat, they'll vote for the real Democrat every time.
Blogger who posted yesterday @ 7:15 PM
We don't have the financial resources of the New York Times backing us, so can't do what you suggest. I asked my boss and he said "no way!".
No matter, things are flowing pretty well on the blog. Seems all someone has to do is mention E-One, Randy Harris or Kurt Kelly and the threads fill up!
However, two of these discussion topics are now of little importance. Will be interesting to see what happens with the third.
Kelly is just like Harris, only difference is he smiles more than Harris.
And that's the truth!
at least when harris smiles, he is sincere. just watch the schcoole board on tv and the insincerity of the kelly smile is apparent.
Charlie Crist's defining moment will be the budget. Due to a smart move by Rubio and Pruitt, Charlie now can't use the budget to force his way on the tax reform work of the special session. Actually, he may get some backlash on getting what he wants if he vetoes some of the wrong items in the budget. Is he or is he not a conservative? We're about to find out.
Great move Rubio and Pruitt!
Re: article in paper about "metal detectors". So now we need to spend the money to fence all the schools and buy metal detectors. Wouldn't it just be easier and more cost efficient to just lock the excess doors and only have once entrance?
In this day and age, Mosley's suggestion needs some major attention and thought. We should do anything we can to be sure our kids are protected.
The schools are in such serious trouble with parents to blame. The parents have sat back and let the schools raise their children and we all know government isn't good at anything. My suggestion? In almost all the school killings teachers KNEW the guilty students had problems. So, why not start by calling parents in to give them a chance to help their kids? Granted, some won't react BUT the majority will. That is what they did in the "good ole days" when I was a kid. We called that communication?? Course in those days school officials didn't consider parents to be "of the devil". I wish Sue would suggest a COUNTY WIDE push to communicate with parents on LITTLE things before they mushroom and I bet she would get results.
Okay, I've had it; just had to comment re: Herring. Read the minutes of the last school board meeting. He is STILL trying tp change the stautes so he can bid on projects with the school boards. The law is the law Mr. Herring. If you want to do business the School Board(s) then get off! Why is our School Board wasting time with this crap...there are more important issues that need your focus then trying to figure out ways for you to make money through our Schools.
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