I really need to get something off my chest. It bugs the snot out of me when people in the Lower Keys complain about Rowell’s Marina. Unfortunately, I still see these comments on a regular basis. Rowell’s Marina – a $5 million park in Key Largo – has repeatedly been used by the county to justify the $100 million wastewater funding disparity. Continue reading
Cudjoe Regional, Rowells Marina and the Reality Warp
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County, Taxes
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Monkey Math – Key Largo is “Overfunded”?
The county’s own records show that they have distributed $100 million less to the Key Largo sewer project than to the sewer projects in the other unincorporated areas. The Key Largo project is about the same size as the other projects combined. It’s clear that Key Largo citizens pay higher assessments. A single EDU (equivalent to a single family home) will pay $4,500 in Cudjoe Regional. In Key Largo it can be as high as $9,000 per EDU. Key Largo citizens will also pay for their project out of rates. Taxpayers in the other unincorporated areas will not.
Despite all this, the county has claimed the Key Largo project is “overfunded”. The term has been used by the County Administrator and repeated by the press. But nobody knows what it means. It’s undefined. When I asked, the county provided a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is actually included as Appendix 2 of the Wastewater Funding Analysis. The analysis details the many problems with the spreadsheet, but I would like to present it in a way that is more accessible. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing the “overfunded” word again in the future. Might as well put a stake through its heart now so I don’t have to do it later. Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County, Wastewater
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Key Largo’s Loss is Marathon’s Gain
From KeysNet, former Key Largo Operations Manager, Dan Saus, is now the Utilities Director at Marathon.
Dan definitely has the ability to turn things around. He’s a straight-shooter who will tell the council what they need to hear. I just hope they’ll listen.
Posted in Marathon, Wastewater
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Revenue Sources – Infrastructure Sales Tax
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think Key Largo should incorporate. I talked a little bit about what revenue sources are available. In this post, I’ll go into more detail about the infrastructure sales tax in particular. Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Incorporation, Key Largo's contribution, Key West, Taxes
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Monkey Math – the Craptacular Spreadsheet
I am unimpressed with your craptacular spreadsheet.
I ran across some interesting documents while researching my post about infrastructure sales tax revenue that would be available to Key Largo if the citizens choose to incorporate. There are a few items I want to share because they epitomize the county’s fundamentally dishonest approach to the funding disparity issue. The documents are old news, but the situation is not. Key Largo citizens still pay too much for their sewer system and that will have a damaging financial impact for years to come. I remember the first time I met with the county about the issue. I was provided with a deceptive document I like to call “The Craptacular Spreadsheet”. Continue reading
Revenue Sources – An Overview
Key Largo citizens should definitely give incorporation some serious thought. Monroe County has demonstrated that it is incapable of governing in a fair and competent manner. Key Largo citizens need to get the very best deal they can. Incorporation guarantees that a certain amount of their tax dollars remain under their control and in their community. Key Largo has demonstrated that it can provide competent, cost-effective service when it comes to wastewater and fire service. The per EDU** cost of the wastewater project is now $10,000 less than the Cudjoe Regional project. The cost of fire service is two-thirds less than the fire service provided by the county. Continue reading
GM Drama at the District
Reading the papers again. I saw this one about the District, “Attempt to oust GM falls short“. In a nutshell Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District Commissioner, Andy Tobin, called for the termination of General Manager, Paul Christian. Comm. Tobin’s concern is a lack of transparency.
A little background – transparency has always been a big deal at the District. The commissioners have always expected to be kept in the loop. And rightly so. They cannot effectively do the job they were elected to do without knowing the facts. The first General Manager, Chuck Fishburn, and the second General Manager, yours truly, didn’t need much encouragement on this front. The Board’s main responsibility is to hire a qualified General Manager and make sure that he or she is properly doing the job. This position typically requires a bachelor’s degree (at least), several years of experience in the industry (design, construction, operation), and often (but not always) a professional engineering license. Continue reading
KeysNews.com – “Sewer Utility Seeks Damages”
Here’s an interesting one. At KeysNews.com there’s an article titled “Sewer Utility Seeks Damages“. Apparently, Key West Resort Utilities is suing Last Stand, an environmental group in the Lower Keys for $471,438 to cover legal fees and court costs. Last Stand sued Key West Resort Utilities over the use of shallow wells at their plant on Stock Island. Continue reading
Posted in Wastewater
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Hilarious Typo
So I was reading through some news articles on KeysNet.com and found this one: “Likely county budget tops $400 million“. It contains the following quote:
If adopted as drafted, the budget would impose “an aggregate millage rate of 3.7239, which is 5.5 percent under [this] year’s rate (3.9386) and .03 percent below the rolled-back millage rate (3.7250),” Gases said.
I think “Gases” is supposed to be Gastesi. It’s a Freudian slip I guess – a really funny and strangely accurate Freudian slip.
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Financial Condition, Media, Monroe County, Taxes
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Marathon’s Not the Only One Having Trouble
The situation with Marathon’s wastewater system is very serious. The new City Manager will have to turn things around. But Marathon isn’t the only one with long-term problems. Continue reading
Posted in Big Coppitt, FKAA, Wastewater
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The Real Poop 