Wednesday, August 31, 2011

More people losing property for late tax payments

Florida Realtors® News

Daily Briefing: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A service for members of Florida Realtors

Article Quote: "In the first nine months of this year, the owners of more than 200 properties in Hillsborough County have lost them in “tax deed sales,”... Who’s buying them? Often, it’s financial heavy hitters such as a JPMorgan Chase subsidiary and a former Massachusetts hedge-fund manager."

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Suit aims to rid Palm Bay residents of stormwater fees

Written By: SUSANNE CERVENKA
FLORIDA TODAY
Article Quote: "It's a mess. It's basically a regressive tax... The people with small houses on small lots are paying the same as big houses on big lots."

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Monday, August 15, 2011

When Did Public Servants Become Our Masters?

Below are three, very short, videos concerning the impending dangers looming on the horizon for every State, County, and Local governments across the fruited plain of America. It will make your head spin!








It used to be when anyone wanted a good paying job, he or she would go to either a trade school or college, receive a certificate or degree, and go work for a company in the private sector or start a business. It was hard work, it was competitive, and if you walked away with a six figure salary at the end of the day it was well deserved. After all, you would be paid what you're worth according to your ability to produce; and if you didn't work, you didn't get paid.

Take my grandpa, for example, after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after serving four years in combat missions during the Korean Conflict, he went to trade school and became a Licenced Master Electrician. He and another Veteran opened up their own electrician business. With hundreds of small and mid-sized business clientele, they made a pretty good living and build their own retirement. They finally closed their doors after almost 40 years of business. My Grandpa passed away a few years ago and received a formal military burial ceremony for serving his country with honor.

Another example is my wife's grandpa, who for over 40 years worked as a full-time maintenance man for a private land lord, owned and rented some homes of his own, and also had a painting business on the side. Today, he lives comfortably on an island in the Caribbean, with only the money he has saved up all those years.

I bring up these two examples because this used to be the norm for many past generations. They worked hard, paid their taxes, saved for their own retirement, and never complained about what they were left with after all those years of hard-toil. With the good Lord and good health, they were the masters of their own destiny and earned their keep.

However, all of that has changed, today. The recent Wall Street bubble and Real Estate bubble left many Americans with the euphoria that the good times were here to stay, and not only did greedy speculators capitalize on the artificial bubble, but so did government unions, all over America.

At a time when we're experiencing record unemployment rates and economic uncertainties in light of the fact that for the first time in the history of our nation, our bonds have been downgraded , one would get the sense that governments will be making similar cuts as private sector jobs are, right now. Unfortunately, and much to the chagrin of many hard-working taxpayers, that is not the case.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, from 1989 to 2009, government spending increased 66% to over five trillion dollars - federal, State, and Local. Much of that increase came in the way of higher salary and pensions that have spiked significantly in the six figures - in some cases over a half million dollars a year with free medical benefits and cost of living adjustments. Not bad, when you're the founder and CEO of a competitive company that provides goods that everybody voluntarily purchase without being forced against their will. But when it's a government worker making these exorbitant salaries and bloated pensions at the expense of taxpayers, and they have their own lobbyists and elected members making sure they get all the sweat heart deals; some how I get the feeling that people aren't voting with their feet, anymore.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Residents Voice Their Concerns

For those who didn't make it out to the August 4th Council Meeting, here are some highlights. A lot of great comments and good points were made. Enjoy!

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Monday, August 1, 2011

Why I’m running for Palm Bay City Council Seat 2


After living in New York City for almost 30 years, I realized that I was economically burdened by the following:

  • High taxes and more than one kind of taxation
  • Numerous and out-of-control fees
  • An ever-growing and corrupt local bureaucracy without accountability
After the birth of my son, Antonio, I looked at several towns around America where me and my wife can raise our children and have the economic freedom that we haven’t experienced in the big city. That’s when we found the City of Palm Bay… and we fell in love with this town. We were attracted to the sunny skies, the lush vegetation, the beach and fishing recreation, the mixture of rural areas and small town neighborhoods, and the low taxes – relative to where we lived.

Unfortunately, and much to our chagrin, we find the same elements that turned our previous home into an expensive, crime-ridden city taking root in our city: Increasing property taxes, new fees to grab revenue, and a high-salary, big local government. If we continue this course, we will lose our city and quite possibly our homes.



As your new City Council Member I will bring the following decisive agenda to our City Council:

  • Lower property tax rates
  • No new fees and No old fees that are designed to grab revenue
  • A balanced budget every year
  • A smaller and limited government that will provide essential services at top quality with a renewed focus on infrastructure (e.g. roads, sidewalks, etc…)E
  • Eliminate red-light cameras
  • Look at city ordinances which may be a burden to property owners and businesses
  • Let The People Vote! Abide by the City Charter and allow the people to decide if they want to pay more for services or projects.

I know that I will be only one of five Council Members, but I believe these things can happen with firm leadership, persistence and most of all, your help. I hope that you will lend me your support and help me get elected in November 2012 for Palm Bay City Council Member Seat 2.

I will be making frequent updates and sharing more on facebook as well as the release of my website.

Thank you and God Bless.

Harry Santiago Jr.