Author Archives: M_Blank
Senate Bill 686 and the Cost of Corruption
Update: There’s mention of a grand jury report in some of the linked newspaper articles. Here it is. I saw this news item while browsing the web: Almost every top official in Texas city arrested in federal corruption case. It really … Continue reading
Posted in Bubba System, State government
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Fact Checking the “White Paper”
County Commissioner, Heather Carruthers, has proposed a new sales tax, the Emergency Services Surtax (ESS). She describes it as a “tax shift”. Emergency services are currently paid for through property taxes. Unfortunately, this proposal is being supported with some very questionable … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Fire and Ambulance
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Wastewater Funding Disparity Update
Now would be good time to revisit the wastewater funding disparity situation. For one thing, there’s been a bit of progress. Hurray! See here and here. For another, I think it’s necessary to demonstrate once again how straightforward this calculation really … Continue reading
Posted in KLWTD, Wastewater
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County Capital Project Costs Out of Control
Sigh. From the KeysNet.com: County capital-project costs skyrocket by $38 million. This is what happens when you’re allergic to math and to reality in general. Remember that thing I said about capital projects. It’s true! It’s really, really true. Capital … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Budget, Financial Condition, Monroe County
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Monroe County – Allergic to Math
Update: Received this follow-up from Comm. Neugent about improved collections for emergency service. I think this is great. I support anything the county can do to improve things financially. I’ll present everything I get in the interest of providing a clear, complete … Continue reading
The Friday Papers
I’m a bit tardy, but I did read Friday’s Blue Paper. As always there are quite a few items of interest. Affordable Housing Public Form: This is hosted by the Democratic Party, and contains this very intelligent statement. Missing has been a … Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, Bubba System, Media, Monroe County, Wastewater
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Emergency Services Surtax – Public Records
As it was with sewer, so it is with fire service. Monroe County squandered enormous amounts of taxpayer money on Big Coppitt and Cudjoe Regional. They forced taxpayers from the rest of the county to make up the difference. Now it … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Fire and Ambulance, Monroe County, Public Records
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Emergency Services Surtax – Property Taxes
The Emergency Services Surtax (ESS) is shady right out of the gate. Immediately it’s being justified with some very questionable claims. That alone makes me very suspicious. Monroe County’s fire service is much more expensive than any other entity in the Keys. Why? And … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Fire and Ambulance, Taxes
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Emergency Services Surtax by Income Bracket
The sales tax is a regressive tax. This has been mentioned in Keys media more than once, as a point of concern, in regards to the topic of the Emergency Services Surtax (ESS). In it’s “white paper“, Monroe County has made some … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Fire and Ambulance
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Peary Court Mind Bender
Saw this in the paper this morning: City staff: Wait on seeking Peary Court lender. So Key West voters are supposed to vote on purchasing Peary Court without having any idea what the terms of the loan are? Really??? So … Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, Key West
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The Real Poop 