Monkey Math – Emergency Services Surtax

Posted on January 21, 2016 by M_Blank
monkey w laptop

Meh!  Math is hard.  Let’s just lie instead.

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is considering an additional sales tax to pay for fire service.  The proposal has been put forward by commissioner Heather Carruthers, who likes to call it a tax “shift”.

Here is the county’s story:  the county will impose the additional sales tax which will enable them to lower property taxes.  The standard line is that 60% of the sales tax is paid for by tourists, which would theoretically reduce the contribution needed from the locals.  In fact, the law requires that ad valorem taxes be offset by the amount of emergency services tax collected. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Fire and Ambulance, Monroe County, Taxes | 1 Comment

More About Greg and Danny

Posted on January 19, 2016 by M_Blank

Update:  It’s not entirely clear whether it’s Danny Kolhage or Dan Kolhage who’s involved here.  My understanding is that Dan is the son of Danny.  Danny is the former Clerk and current county commissioner.  All these bubbas are so enmeshed and interconnected its hard to figure out who’s who sometimes.  Either way, bubba-system dots are connected.  Research is ongoing.

I found this document about Danny Kolhage’s Kolfin Corporation and Greg Veliz’s Tiles Etcetera, Inc.  The document says that Kolfin was doing business as Tiles Etcetera.  It turns out that Kolfin/Tiles Etcetera failed to pay sales tax.  As a result they owed almost $7,000 to the state.  The debt was eventually settled in October 2000.

I wrote more about Greg and Danny’s beautiful friendship here and here.

 

Posted in Bubba System | Leave a comment

More About That “Vow”

Posted on January 17, 2016 by M_Blank

pinocchio-560653__180When Richard Toppino was first appointed to replace Melva Wagner on the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) board, KeysNews.com published a story:  Toppino vows to avoid voting conflicts.  I don’t think much of the story or the “vow”.  I wrote about that here.

But now that the appointment is made, this nebulous “vow” is all the ratepayers have to protect themselves.  I suppose the only recourse is to try and hold Toppino to it.  The first step would be to determine exactly how much money the Toppino companies have made off the ratepayers.  And that means finding information on any subcontracts they might hold.  One would think, for the sake of keeping the “vow”, Mr. Toppino and the FKAA might freely part with that information without being asked.  So far, nothing. Continue reading →

Posted in Bubba System, Conflict of Interest, FKAA, Public Records | 1 Comment

Update on Greg Veliz and Danny Kolhage

Posted on January 16, 2016 by M_Blank

Update 2:  The Kolhage involved in this particular situation might be Daniel Kolhage (former City of Key West commissioner) rather than Danny Kolhage (current Monroe County commissioner).  It’s hard to say.  Research ongoing.

Update:  Looks like Greg and Danny got into some trouble for not collecting sales tax.

You can submit a public records request to the City of Key West from their website.  It’s really handy.  You submit your request and they send you a reference number.  Then you can log in periodically and check up on it – sort of like tracking a UPS package.

Anyhow, I asked for Greg Veliz’s job application and resume.  I wanted to verify what I read about him working for one of Danny Kolhage’s companies, Kolfin Corporation.  The city sent the documents right away and sure enough, there it is.  Kolhage also provided a reference and so did Richard Toppino.

The same names just keep popping up.

Posted in Bubba System, Key West | 1 Comment

Connecting the Dots and Following the Money

Posted on January 15, 2016 by M_Blank

puppetI was gobsmacked by the governor’s decision to appoint Richard Toppino to replace Melva Wagner on the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) board.  Governor Scott couldn’t have picked a worse candidate.  It’s not because Richard Toppino is a bad guy.  It’s not because he’s incapable of doing the job.  I don’t know the man.  He could be a saint with a genius I.Q.

Toppino is a bad candidate because he’s an officer in two family businesses that do a lot of work for the FKAA – at least $12 million in the last nine years.  It’s a set-up for a major conflict of interest. Continue reading →

Posted in Bubba System, Conflict of Interest, FKAA, State government | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Monroe Park Reality Check

Posted on January 13, 2016 by M_Blank

stress-explosion-concept-exhausted-businessman-45371680The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (District) is still hemming and hawing over Monroe Park.  Here’s the story from the Free Press.  (And another letter on KeysNet.com.)  The District board tends to get stuck in vacillation-mode sometimes.  The only thing that can possibly pull them out of it is context.  And context is exactly what’s missing here.

Let’s start with some basic priniciples. Continue reading →

Posted in KLWTD, Wastewater | Leave a comment

Single Member Districts Endorsed by Key West Citizen

Posted on January 12, 2016 by M_Blank

board-953155__340A citizens group, SMART Districts for the Florida Keys, has proposed a solution to inefficient and corrupt Monroe County government.  The idea is to replace the current “at large” districts with single member districts.  Under the current system, county commissioners must live in their district, but are elected by voters county-wide.  With single member districts, county commissioners would be elected only by the voters in the district which they represent.  This would ensure that each district has control over who represents them.  I’ve talked a little about the idea here and here. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Key West, Monroe County, Single-member Districts | 1 Comment

3406 North Roosevelt Boulevard Corporation

Posted on January 12, 2016 by M_Blank

puzzle-210785__340In yesterday’s post about “Connecting the Dots“, I mentioned 3406 North Roosevelt Boulevard Corporation (NRBC).  It turns out that NRBC is a corporate entity that contracts with Monroe County to provide administrative services for the Tourist Development Council (TDC).  It’s customary for a county commissioner (presumably the Mayor) to be named as an officer.  Murphy’s been named as an officer.  So has George Neugent.  In other words, there doesn’t appear to be anything improper about Kolhage’s role on NRBC.  It’s routine and customary.

I do have some observations though. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System | 1 Comment

Monroe Park

Posted on January 11, 2016 by M_Blank

I somehow missed this excellent letter on KeysNet.com.  It was published on Friday.

The state law requiring advanced wastewater treatment puts the onus on the property owner not the local wastewater utility.  In other words, it is the property owner who is required to comply and will face consequences for not doing so. Continue reading →

Posted in Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, KLWTD, Wastewater | Leave a comment

Connecting the Dots – Kolhage

Posted on January 11, 2016 by M_Blank

used car salesmanMonroe County Commissioner, Danny Kolhage, has been tied into the bubba system for decades.  He served as the Monroe County Clerk of Court for almost thirty years, he served on the Key West City Council, and he currently serves on the Board of County Commissioners.

As a county commissioner, he’s successfully driven the cost of the Cudjoe Regional project up by $43 million over the initial bid price, while attempting to position himself as financially responsible.  He’s also succeeded in whipping up sentiment against all aspects of fairness for Key Largo and the Upper Keys. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County | 1 Comment