I’ve been following the Marathon story on KeysNet and I saw the latest – a letter submitted by Mike Cinque, the former Mayor of Marathon. Let’s fact-check this thing. Continue reading
Fact Checking Mike Cinque
Posted in Marathon, Wastewater
Tagged Florida Keys, Monroe County, wastewater projects
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From KeysNet – County Chief Protecting Perceived Turf
There’s a nice letter on KeysNet by Key Largo Fire and EMS District Chairman, Bob 
Thomas. According to a previous newspaper article, Tavernier taxpayers are inquiring about the possibility of the Key Largo Fire District taking over the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department. The letter is a response to comments attributed to Monroe County Fire Chief James Callahan. Continue reading
Paving – Signs of Intelligent Life?
I read through Monroe County’s Pavement Analysis Report dated February 3, 2014. It actually looks like they made an honest effort to evaluate the roads using relevant and objective criteria. If they actually organize the project in accordance with the findings of the report, the roads in the unincorporated area might be repaired in a fair, reasonable, cost-effective manner. Is this a sign of intelligent life? Continue reading
Key Largo’s Contribution – Taxable Property Value
When it comes to the infrastructure sales tax, Key Largo is a donor community. The Upper Keys, in fact, contribute about $3 million more per year than they get back. If the Village of Islamorada were not incorporated that figure would probably be around $4 million at least. The Middle and Lower Keys roughly break even. You can find detailed discussions here, here and here.
The situation with the infrastructure sales tax made me curious about other revenue sources. Ad valorem taxes are the county’s largest revenue source. Therefore, I thought I’d look at those first. Continue reading
Posted in Key Largo's contribution
Tagged Florida Keys, Monroe County, property taxes
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I Send Emails
One of the best things about my resignation as the General Manager of the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District is that I can express myself freely. In my three years of being General Manager, I was often accused of not being “diplomatic” or “nice” in my dealings with Monroe County. Guilty as charged I suppose. Unfortunately, the situation did not call for “diplomacy” or “niceness”. The county has not only refused to address the enormous funding disparity, they’ve repeatedly denied its existence in the face of documented fact. They have also deliberately interfered with the District’s federal funding source in an attempt to divert funding away from Key Largo. The county is desperately in need of cash to fund its irresponsible handling of the Cudjoe Regional project, which is now $43 million over the bid price. This desperation fuels the unprincipled behavior described above. Continue reading
Bad News for the Keys
Update: See follow-ups here and here.
Saw this on KeysNews.com this morning.
State Cuts Keys Funds for Projects
No more sewer money this year. This is unfortunate. I’d like to take a closer look at certain statements made in the article. Continue reading
Commission Approves Fund Swap – Part 2
Will the swap agreement enable the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (the District) to provide financial relief to its ratepayers? Will they be able to lower rates or assessments? That’s what this agreement should be about. Is it really worth doing otherwise? The money would be better spent on projects that reduce costs or increase revenue as a way to provide financial relief. Continue reading
From Keysnews.com – Commission approves fund swap
There’s another article about the fund swap agreement between the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District and Monroe County on keysnews.com, Commission approves fund swap. If I wrote the headline I would add “with lots of spin”. Continue reading
Millage Rates
The property appraiser has provided some very helpful reports about millage rates on its website. Here are some links: 2012, 2013, 2014. One of the first things you might notice is that millage rates in the incorporated areas tend to be lower than those in the unincorporated areas. The prevailing logic is that a larger government unit will operate more efficiently than a smaller one, resulting in lower taxes. That does not seem to be the case with ad valorem taxes in the Florida Keys. The unincorporated areas have some of the highest millage rates in the county. Continue reading
Infrastructure Sales Tax Wrap-up
Update: Because of the continuing out-of-control cost escalation of the Cudjoe Regional project, the funding disparity now stands at $125 million.
The county has implied that Key Largo has benefited from the infrastructure sales tax to such an extent that the $100 million difference in wastewater funding is justified. That $100 million difference has resulted in a $26 million over-contribution from Key Largo taxpayers. I already wrote about spending on parks, but there’s a bit more to cover. Here I’ll wrap up the loose ends. Continue reading
The Real Poop 