Today we learned that our population in the State of Florida has grown by 21,285. We know that the illegal immigration population is getting smaller and stands now at around 675,000, down from 1.2 million (no jobs). We have been in a major depression. I read that there are 14.9 million Americans out of work. Job creation must happen. The Stimulus was supposed to do that but instead just brought us more debt.
In the meantime, Nadine Burns of the Chamber of Commerce forwarded a notice regarding the upcoming meeting of the PAC formed by Shanon Materio, objective of which is to support Carla Blockson and Lisa Maxwell, seemingly blaming our state of affairs on our city commission, a ridiculous notion.
We as business owners pay ridiculously high utility bills. We carry a significant tax burden and our customer base is whittled away more and more every month as Lake Worth families move away. BACPAC, Businesses Aligned for Change, political action committee was formed to provide a united voice for members of the Lake Worth business community and supporters, who believe as we do, that a vibrant local economy is critical to the revitalization of our city.
There’s nothing QUAINT or CHARMING about empty storefronts or merchant after merchant going out of business. "Now more than ever is the time for Lake Worth residents and business owners to get involved in choosing our city leaders." . . . Mayor Rene’ Varela.
STANDING TOGETHER FOR A CHANGE-- Let’s come together and give Lake Worth a real chance for success.
We all agree that we have an economic problem. Lake Worth is not unique as every city in the United States is suffering. I hope that the PAC and its supporters can come up with solutions to turn our economy around. If you don't have a job, you don't shop. When people don't shop, businesses close.
After its meeting on September 8, the PAC can then share its new found solutions with President Obama. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce will fill us in on how it will attract businesses here as it has a major impact on the economy and well being of Lake Worth. The Chamber needs to also explain why it continues to dabble in politics.
We are all hurting. It is not just businesses. To continue to play the "blame game" gets us no where.
8 comments:
Lynn as a business owner I know that much of the economic issues I face are not the fault of any commissioner. However when I open my utility bill with water, sewer and electric rates so much higher than any other city in Florida I have to blame my local government. These high rates are not the result of the economy but the result of wrong decisions by our commission. Susan Mulvehill voted to raise our utility rates for the next 5 years. This is killing our local business and keeping new business from coming here. I say that we charge the same business rates as FPL and cut water rates for business for the next 2 years. This could help rent some of our vacant properties.
John Rinaldi
Wow--I can't believe that you even said that. If it were not for Mulvehill, our rates would be 5 times higher. She is one of the Commissioners who voted to get out of FMPA. At least now we have a chance to have lower rates in 4 years. We have to pay for our RO. Even if we had gone with City water, we would have had to pay for it and it would have been $3.5 million dollars higher. Ask Becky Mattey why she wants to spend $7 million for a new 138kv tie-line. High rates are not the fault of this commission. Get the Mayor to do a forensic audit on our Utility LIKE HE PROMISED and let's find out where the problems are. We have waste after waste and no bid contracts for millions during the year. We can lower rates but the millage will go to the max. Is that what you think is better? What are the solutions of your candidates that make sense?
And let's stop the BS. Here is an old blog on Suzanne Mulvehill. Please read.
http://lynn-a.blogspot.com/2010/01/commissioner-mulvehill-looking-out-for.html
Are you suggesting that the residents subsidize the businesses and pay a higher rate so that they can get a lower rate? What about collecting all that $9 million that is owed for last year in unpaid utility bills. Would that help? The Finance Advisory Board has asked for an accounting here and it has not been provided. I want to see who the deadbeats are. Are they businesses or just little people living on 25 foot lots? If you want to come up with your first solution, hire an independent contractor to collect all the millions owed to this City starting with the sub-regional sewer bills instead of taking the side of those cities that owe us fortunes.
Mulvehill voted in 2009 to raise our utility rates each year for the next 5 years. Give me a break. She has done nothing to lower rates but has voted to raise them over 50% in the next 5 years. The voting record is there for all to see. Can you tell us why we pay almost 40 cents of every utility dollar to the general fund? It's because commissioners like Mulvehill allow it to happen and then they have the nerve to tell us they lowered our rates. Business rates are the highest in the State of Florida and that rate is set by the vote of the Commission. Mulvehill can't get away from her vote and the fact she has done nothing to lower the business rate. So the blame falls where it belongs. Our rates are the highest because of our commission not the state of the economy.
John Rinaldi
Utility Financial Solutions was hired to do a “study” that supports the increase.
residential 3.9%
commercial 3.1
It is pathetic that we MUST use the Utility in order to operate the City. I have always wondered why and what's up with that. We should be a wealthy city having our own Utility. Stanton says that this must change. It is up to Staff to figure it out. Do you honestly think that the commission can just say "no" to that? No one on the Commission did and if they had, they would have had to come up with a way to bring in the over $2 million dollars that the increase will generate. Our commercial rate is the highest because of Staff. Look for the waste at the utility. Something is and has been going on that we do not understand--not the commission, not the CM, none of us. No one agreed with the Electric Utility Chair who did have some solutions. Instead, that Board became political and compromised and here we are today--high elec rates. The blame can't all be put on FMPA. When things don't work, I look at management. There are millions in the Utility CIP. Question that in the budget. The Commission sets policy.
Your right. It's wrong to use the utility to pay for city services. Business pays high taxes and than has to pay high utitity rates that make no sense. It's time for each commissioner to say "NO" to this policy and vote "NO" to stop the waste and get our financial house in order. Instead they vote yes for increases and than tell us they worked to lower our rates. That's what get me crazy. If you are going to screw me at least have the guts to tell me the truth.
Ok--we are both getting closer. Stop the DAMN waste. Stop raises. Stop all of the entitlements. Taxes and fees are not getting lower that is for sure. We have an FAB that approved the Budget. God. They approved the CIP. God again. Can't wait to see what the millage will be. We will be conned, once again with it staying at 4.9999? (don't know how they can do that) as every tax on our ad-valorem and non-valorem went up other than storm-water.
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