P u b l i s h e d i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h T h e M i a m i B e a c h C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– S u p p o r t i n g L o c a l B u s i n e s s e s s i n c e 1 9 5 8
OCTOBER 6 - 19, 2010 –––––––––––– www.communitynewspapers.com –––––––––––– Phone: 305-669-7355
City Approves Budget that Reflects Current Economic Realities BY JORGE M. GONZALEZ
Miami Beach City Manager I was recently asked what the hardest part of my job is. I didn’t have a quick answer; indeed, there are many challenges that as City Manager I address on a daily basis. But finding a way to provide our residents and businesses with the services they tell us they need and want, efficiently and with fewer resources, has been an important focus of my administration – especially during tough economic times. After months of review and discussion, on September 20th the City Commission approved our new fiscal year budget. Our budget, much like your household one, has been dramatically affected by a variety of factors and, just like you, we cannot budget to spend more than we have. The “General Fund” (the major source of funding for the most City services), includes revenues from various sources – the primary source being property tax revenues. Since their peak in FY 2007/08, our city’s property values have declined more than $4.7 billion (18%). In these three years, the General Fund absorbed almost $43 million in recurring reductions, representing almost $50 million and 245 employee positions across this and all funds. This year we were challenged with an additional $29 million revenue gap to fill. The other part of the budget equation is managing expenses. These range from costs for providing services, which increase just like market costs increase. And, just like many other governmental
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BUDGET, page 5
Proposal to Refund Miami Beach Millage Increase ommissioner Jerry Libbin will place an item on the next City Commission consent agenda to permit the Commission to deliberate further on cuts that can be made from the budget that was just approved in order to provide tax relief to our residents. Commissioner Libbin said, “I was disappointed that my fellow Commissioners who voted against the millage increase and the 2010-1011 budget, failed to make specific suggestions on what they would like to cut from the proposed budget.” The Commission had many months to deliberate over how to cut the budget to balance it, and after voting in July to approve 4 out of 5 Union contracts, which do not permit layoffs or further salary cuts, it was disingenuous to vote against the millage increase without making specific recommendations on where to find the $10,000,000 still needed to balance the budget. Although we have now approved the budget and a millage increase, Commissioners now have the time to continue to direct the City Administration on cuts that we want, and my proposal is that the Commission direct the Administration to send a refund check to every tax payer in the City before the end of the fiscal year based upon the revenue
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COMMISSIONER JERRY LIBBIN
that the Commissioners agree to find through cuts said Libbin. City Attorney Jose Smith said that this would be possible and is legal so long as the funds that are returned to tax payers are not generated from ad valorem taxes or from resort taxes. This means that all other funds in the General fund are available if the political will is there to make tough decisions by the Commissioners. I look forward to fruitful discussions with my fellow Commissioners, all of whom should be excited to now have additional time to find ways to send our taxpayers back some of their money.
To Our Community G reetings, Fellow Chamber M e m b e r s ; If I’ve learned anything throughout my career, it’s the power of relationships. When launching my first company, Sudsies Dry Cleaners, I joined the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce with the hope that it would help me uncover networking opportunities. However, any member soon finds that an affiliation with this organization is so much more fulfilling than simply advancing a business – it’s about the people. Throughout my tenure, I’ve been able to tap into the minds of the area’s greatest industry leaders, whose shared experiences and best practices have marked my life both professionally and personally. My once-small business has now grown into several companies, but most importantly, my networking relationships have grown into friendships. Sitting on the Board of Governors for 14 years, I’m excited to now lead and advance the Chamber’s exceptional culture. I’ve watched this group evolve into an A-list team of passionate, dynamic people who all understand and are eager to answer the needs of its membership. With their support, I’ll be able to drive opportunities and policies that benefit the organization, but also demonstrate our priority to foster a strong community in which businesses, residents and visitors can thrive. Joining the Chamber has proven to be an invaluable experience and it’s my personal mission to ensure the same rewards for our existing and future members. From the seasoned to the promising, each member has the power, through strong relationships, to impact and contribute to the development of this great city. As your leader, fellow member, mentor, learnee and friend, I look forward working with you. A t y o u r service, Jason Loeb, Chairman