User profile: lauralbi1
Joined: Oct. 11, 2006
Comments posted: 511
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Comments by lauralbi1
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Posted on August 15 at 4:40 p.m.
MarcoObserver: You really need to see a doctor. You seem to have a schitzoid streak running through you. Any ultimate outcome of this will be put in front of the voters. And the only way it will even make it that far is if the numbers prove out. At that point, it will be up to you and I.
The people spoke (a landslide proportion) in the last election, where were you ?? There is no one man pulling any strings, get real in order to make positive comments and contributions. And most importantly, enjoy life.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 15 at 4:35 p.m.
Contact Lisa Douglass at the City. I think they already have a savings idea program and if they don't they should have !!
Ed Issler
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council
Posted on August 15 at 1:42 p.m.
No, DC 5799, it is you that are wrong. In anticipation of the rollback, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Venice, Miami and many other municipalities have, or had already, implemented Assessment Districts for various services to make up for shortfalls in revnue. I sold a 911/Dispatch system to Miami that had to wait until their Assessment took effect until we could get funding. Please just indicate below and we can call each and every Florida City and County and ask them what they are doing to make up for the Proposition that we approved.
We can get started right away. YOU WILL NOT LIKE THE RESULTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed Issler
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council
Posted on August 15 at 10:36 a.m.
Dear Dr. Biles: With the utmost respect, and respecting your goals, it should be clear to you, based on your experience and education, that our cost per call for Fire response is much higher than that of the County. Without any judgement as to the accuracy of the figures, I do not find it hard to believe that our cost is 3 times higher than that of the County's. They have more calls (to amortize their costs), a lower cost per Station and Fireman, a lower per capita cost, and an already capitalized investment in their Fire Department assets (buildings, trucks, etc). There is a fixed cost that Marco has in it's
Fire Department. If the Fire Department made one call per year, the cost would be $4 million per call. I'm certain that the Police figures are even more skewed (than the County Sherriff) as we have less calls per officer, less calls per capita. But I consider that a good thing !!!
The people of Florida were "politically manipulated" by the Florida Legislature with the Property Tax rollback being approved to be placed on the Ballot. While cities must cut back on expenses, research will result in these Assessments being implemented by almost every City in Florida (many have already implemented them, do you want to contact them with me to make a list) to make up for deficits. It will be interesting to see, over time, if there is a net decrease to the citizens of Florida in their taxes and assessments as a result. It will also be interesting to see how many Police, Fire and Medical responses are delayed and how many result in loss of life or property, when cutbacks are forced as a result of these tax rollbacks.
As the "650" members of your organization are, percentage wise, the highest users of these services (yes, we can work together to confirm this based on average age), it will be interesting to see their reaction if they are the ones that experience this result.
By the way, 911 and Public Safety are just one area of my working expertise, and many (most) Medical dispatches are accompanied by a Fire Department truck. You and your members should restrict your comments to that which you have expertise and knowledge.
And Tongue In Cheek aside, you, of all people, should acknowledge the "bad blood" between Collier and Marco. Why don't you work to get back some of the $140 million in taxes we pay to the County for basically nothing in return.
Ed Issler
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council
Posted on August 13 at 3:49 p.m.
Fossill: Please someday accept the fact that the majority of the electorate voted in the majority of the current Council by what is defined as a landslide. Now we know that in your mind we are ignorant, but we'all would like to inform you that the machine and population are still in place for the next election and you can look forward to more of the same great leadership. The majority of us do not have our heads buried in the sand and realize that it takes a certain amount of revenue to run the City. That does not mean a blank check. But with a cutback in Property Tax revenue, we as with most other Florida cities, need to come up with alternative revenue sources. Study the numbers and make constructive suggestions. We look forward to hearing them.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 13 at 3:42 p.m.
SmokeyJoe: I have been promoting the suing of the County to get some of our tax money back. But I was disappointed to learn that Naples did the very same thing and the suit went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. And guess what. The City of Naples lost. They were trying to get back money for Sheriff Services that were no longer being used or provided. Pretty discouraging.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 13 at 3:39 p.m.
The current staff of Marco Island compares more than favorable to other cities of the same size and population. In fact, we are operating well under a employee to citizen ratio for Venice and Naples (about 1/2 the employees). I do however agree that there are employees that are not needed in their present capacity such as Building Inspectors and such. These employees should be utilized for other functions or let go.
But the elected Council did vote to freeze hiring, so you are being heard.
Ed Issler
Posted on August 3 at 7:05 p.m.
I agree with Fossil on the explanation, but that is why each individual condo is assessed less. As a building, 20 condos equals one house. 100 condos equals 5 houses. Is that fair ?? We need to study sqaure footages to determine this. We should request the studies and figures from the City to see if this is fair.
Ed Issler
On Marco residents may soon see a new fee on water utility bills
Posted on August 1 at 9:22 p.m.
The politicians in Talahassee did just what Politicians do. They legislated without any concern as to the impact. The entire tax reduction effort wwas done to bolster the Political ambitions of those that passed it, and nothing else. Every, I repeat, EVERY, City in Florida had already passed, or is passing, alternative revenue sources to make up for this ridiculous, Politically motivated, Legislation. Marco Island, the only City besides Palm City with a Spending CAP (theirs is 10%), needs to cut expenses, at least not hire new people, and also find additional revenue. Each City is doing the same, not just Marco Island. Rather than throw stones, why don't we do the research together. We can do it on our own, it does not require a Committee. Let's start calling each City and find out what each has done in the last two years and will be doing in the next two years as far as Revenue and we can provide the results to the Eagle for publication. I will check back next week, right here, to contact the volunteers andf we will get started. Just post your interest in finding out the facts and I will contact you through the Eagle and we will get started. I think you will be surprised by the results.
Oh, and I know you will say you don't care about other Cities, but in this instance, you need to as that is what we are, a City.
Ed Issler
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Posted on August 17 at 5 p.m.
I think we all are in agreement that we do not need new City employees. I think we all agree that spending must be reviewed and cut back where available. The issue is if we need to make up for revenue shortfall, then we need an assessment of some kind. Let's see how the numbers come out.
Ed Issler
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council