Friday, June 24, 2011

LET THE PEOPLE VOTE!!!


"LET THE PEOPLE VOTE!!!"

Why not? After all, who would ever be opposed to the democratic process of allowing the people to decide how much money they want to spend on government? I know... crazy idea, right?

Especially when you know 3 out of 5 of your City Council Members want to raise your millage to what would be the highest in Brevard County at 9.875 per $1,000 of assessed value (dangerously close to the State allowable cap of 10 per $1,000). But that's not all, how about a possible $300 annual Fire Fee on top of your tax bill. Sounds unbelievable? Here is the audio below, it's about an hour and forty seven minutes, but considering that Council is about to suck you dry, you should really hear what they have to say:

http://palmbay.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=875

William Capote, Michelle Paccione, and Ken Greene are about to pull magical rabbits out of their hats. They will attempt the unthinkable: to persuade the majority of Palm Bay residents that it is good to raise taxes and add fees in the midst of what most economic analysts are calling a depression. These three Council Members are about to commit a grave error that will economically crush our municipality and make Palm Bay a ghost town in a matter of a year or two if they decide to go along with this glorified theft.

One concerned citizen, Tres Holton, who you hear toward the end of the audio said that adding a fee even if the tax rates were dropped will cause many median priced homes to see an increasing impact more quickly than higher priced homes.

Here is what Tres means:

Let's say you have a house worth $120,000 in today's market. At 7.5 Millage you are paying $900 for your annual tax bill. Now, let's say your house losses 25% of it's value the following year and is assessed at $90,000. At a lower rate of 7.0 Millage you are paying $630 for your annual tax bill. That's $270 less than last year's bill (It's amazing how a half a millage can save you hundreds of dollars - I digress). It's called a wash or a roll-back. But now add a $300 Fire Fee and you pay $930 or $30 MORE than what you've paid last year. So here is how it looks:

Last year:

$120,000 X .0075 = $900 + $0 Fire Fee = $900

Next Year (assuming 25% Loss in Value):

$90,000 X .0070 = $630 + $300 Fire Fee = $930

Now, let's change it up a bit and say you own a $375,000 home in today's market. At 7.5 Millage you are paying $2,812.50 for your annual tax bill. Now, let's say your house also losses 25% of it's value the following year and is assessed at $281,250. At the lower 7.0 Millage you are paying $1,968.75 for your annual tax bill. That's $843.75 less than last year's bill. Now add a $300 Fire Fee and you still pay a much lower $2,268.75 or $543.75 LESS than what you've paid last year. So here is how it looks, again:

Last year:

$375,000 X .0075 = $2,812.50 + $0 Fire Fee = $2,812.50

Next Year (assuming 25% Loss in Value):

$281,250 X .0070 = $1,968.75 + $300 Fire Fee = $2,268.75

Here is a good question: How many $375,000 homes are in Palm Bay? My latest MLS search revealed "0" for the past year from the date of this blog; that is "None" or "Nada" (that's Spanish for nothing). In fact, within a year of the date of this blog, Palm Bay residential homes' median sell price is $68,900 (Brevard County's Median Home Price is $99,475) and just last year alone Palm Bay local real estate market lost over 10% of its value and will see another double digit dip this year as well, according to most real estate analysts.

So if Palm Bay homes are under the median home price for the County, and according to the example provided above we would still pay a higher tax bill even if the millage rate were lower and the fee added; how much more will we pay if the millage rate went up and a Fire Fee were added? What would it do to home values? What would it do to businesses? What would it do to jobs in the private sector? How many more families just scraping by and living paycheck to paycheck will lose their homes?

We are faced with food and energy inflation, devaluing dollar, mounting debt, skyrocketing foreclosure rates, unemployment rates in the 20th percentile by most analysts' real estimates, and declining wages; and now you can add an increase to your tax bill.

Mayor John Mazziotti and Council Member Kristine Isnardi suggested that the Fire Fee go to a vote by the people in a special election. For obvious reasons, the other three aforementioned above voted down that great democratic idea.

I say... LET THE PEOPLE VOTE!!!

Harry Santiago Jr.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

6/15/11 Budget Workshop Cancelled Fo No Reason


Below is an excerpt from an email from Kieth Rigler, Chairman of the Conservative Constitutional Caucus (CCC):

"Palm Bay has canceled to nights Budget Workshop, with no reason given. For now they say the Budget Workshops to be held on 6/23 and 6/30 will be held on those dates. Tomorrow night 6/16 there will be a regular council meeting, and I suggest we make some comments during the Public Comment time, at the end of the meeting, on the presentation given on 6/9. I will be getting a copy of it today and will pass it on asap. I can not understand how the City can start off with $11,000,000.00 short for 2011 and 2012, but our critical needs for the city is $5,000,000.00 of new spending."

It is important that we make to as many of these meetings as possible. It can make a big difference on next year's property tax.

Harry Santiago Jr.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

US Housing Crisis Officially As Bad As Great Depression - CNBC


Here is a very interesting article that has everybody on edge. Now analysts believe that the housing market is going through a depression - and one greater than in the Great Depression of the 1930's. Here is excerpt from the article that I think sets the motif for what's to come:

"Prices continue to tumble despite affordability, which by most conventional metrics is near historic highs." Click on the link below and read more:

US Housing Crisis Officially As Bad As Great Depression - CNBC

There is no doubt in my mind that rising unemployment and dollar devaluation by the federal reserve is causing so many of these low-balled homes remain at a distance from deserving home buyers. During times like this, we need to start thinking out of the box - and for most things go back to the principles of our nation's founders.

Harry Santiago Jr.

The Economic Statistic US Elites Keep ‘Hush-Hush’ by Ron Robins

More on understanding our dire debt situation and how this can all fall on all localities in the U.S.

Stay informed... stay strong.

Harry

The Economic Statistic US Elites Keep ‘Hush-Hush’ by Ron Robins

Monday, June 13, 2011

Are Higher Taxes On The Horizon?


On June 9th our City Council held a special workshop to talk about the city's budget. It's usually in these special workshops where the precedent is set for very important decisions that affects our daily lives, and once again, another decision is about to made that I believe can hurt a lot of Palm Bay residents.

Concerned citizens showed up to hear the decisions of our elected public servants. One of them was the elected Chairman of the Constitutional Conservative Caucus, a local activist group dedicated to the principles of conservative limited government on the local and county level, Kieth Rigler, who noted some interesting details during the meeting.

One of those details was the admission of how the 2011's budget is already starting off with a $4,000,000 short-fall due to declining property values. No surprise there, since Brevard's three major cities have lost a combined 9.5% per quarter from 1st Quarter 2010 to 1st Quarter 2011. Most analysts believe the housing market has gotten worse and will only get a lot more worse before it gets any better. This brings us to 2012's budget short-fall which is estimated to be around $6,000,000 (i.e. $2,000,000 more than 2011).

But don't worry, they will fix it. Apparently there were talks of... wait for it... wait for it... You Guessed It: RAISING OUR TAX RATES! From 7.5 Mil to 9.5 Mil (which pretty much will make us the highest Mil in the county unless Satellite Beach beats us to the punch). And you thought government was all out of ideas. In fact, to add injury to insult, possible new fees are in the works. Among these fees will be a new Fire fee. To quote Keith:

"These are only estimates, but what would happen is they would reduce the avg. households mil by $50.00, what portion goes to fire from your mil, and then would add a FIRE FEE of $250.00 to $300.00 to your TAX bill. Who knows, the new FIRE UNION contract this Sep.(starts negotiations) could increase the FEE even higher."  

Perhaps this is what we want anyway, right? After all, Council Member Ken Greene said that everyone talking to him wants their taxes raised. (By the way, don't you love how he uses the straw men's argument. Who's everyone?).

There will be more budget workshops. These are the dates: 6/15, 6/23, 6/30, and 7/7. I believe it is very important that we start attending these meetings and make our voice heard, loud and clear.

Please call your City Council Member and let them know how you feel and be sure to let your neighbors know, as well.

Harry Santiago Jr.

18 Signs The Collapse of Society Is Accelerating

Here are chilling facts about our ongoing decelerating civil society.

18 Signs The Collapse of Society Is Accelerating

Ordinance Would Force Property Owners to Surrender Keys to Government

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Bankers are Coming! The Bankers are Coming!


Well that's not exactly what Paul Revere actually said in 1775 to warn the revolutionaries of the coming red coats. However, it should be said in our days. It is no secret, now, and even common knowledge that the Federal Reserve is a private banking cartel with government teeth; usurping Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. From the days of the Constitutional Convention, the people's representatives were authorized to "coin money," but as recently as 1913 to present day, a conglomerate of private bankers with the name "federal" next to the word "reserve" have stripped the money-making authority away from the people and into the hands of a few.



Now here is something else everyone needs to know: Since 1954, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands established an annual secret meeting between international politicians and global private bankers, called "The Bilderbergers Group." Every year, this group has converged to set global agendas which affect every facet of our lives from Foreign Policies to Wars and Regime Change to Economic Trends, and yes... the taxes we pay, energy prices, and the inflation rate of our dollars. They've included special participants such as Governor George Pataki, Governor Rick Perry, and other American and international politicians, as well as royalty and well known global financiers - such as the Queen of the Netherlands and George Soros, respectively.

I've recently been looking at what these guys do (since it appears that our votes doesn't mean much anymore these days), and many of the internet's major news outlets have been covering them, as well, such as The Drudge Report and Infowars. Since the mainstream media has decided they don't cover the Bilderbergers (because many of its members own these major news outlets), then I thought I would join in the massive internet news outlets (i.e. new media or alternative media) to expose these "masters of the world." Of course, with some help by some of the better writers on this issue. Here are links on the Bilderbergers (and they will be updating daily):


Friends in High Places: Bilderberg 2011 Kicks Off



Breaking: Secret Bilderberg Agenda Leaked by Mole


Bilderbergers May Give Green Light to Mexican Central Banker as New IMF Boss



Bilderberg 2011: The polished blue line

Intimidating the Media: Bilderberg Security Seize Infowars Reporter’s Passport