2021-09-09
Hello Key Biscayne!
If you’re kind of curious about the technicalities of our municipal budget, but don’t know where to start, this one is for you. That might be the least appealing opening line ever written in here.
Who gets up this early?
We take what we got. Let’s go.
Boring budget banter
It’s budget time on the Key and the Village Council will be deciding exactly how much to spend, and what to spend it on, in the next two weeks. In short, it’s taxes up, taxes the same, or taxes down. Here’s how it works:
The manager comes up with a number of what it will cost to run the town for the next year, the council then discusses the details, and finally they either approve that number or an amended number. Last night was the first of those discussions, and the final vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 21.
A few months ago the preliminary budget number that the manager proposed was a good amount more than last year, but it’s been scaled down a bit now that the discussions are here. That’s normal; you estimate a little higher so that when push comes to shove you’re not caught off guard. Still, the new number is a bit higher than last year (ie. looking like taxes up). You can read more about the details here and here.
A year ago we were deep in Covid, property values were just barely starting to show some good signs after years on the down, and the Council was looking to cut costs anywhere possible. Given the changes since then, it’ll be interesting to see how things turn out this year.
From the peanut gallery
On last week’s Rickenbacker Causeway powwow:
I was at the meeting and I never heard too much (anything) about the proposal itself pretty much what you wrote.
I suggest that the causeway be only part of the deal. The Tennis Center and Crandon Golf are both poorly run and the latter it seems strictly as the golf cash cow. Let’s throw those 2 facilities into the deal as well. The town, preferably, or private ownership has to be able to do a better job.
-GO
On who will be the Key’s next top cop:
I say Freddie Cruz! He’s easy on the eyes. 😂🤷🏻♀️
-C
Ed note: Sorry to say, he didn’t make the cut.
Calendar
Around Town
- Sunday 9/11
- 🗽 You said you would never forget (KB Fire Station)
Last week's sales
| Location | SQFT | Rooms | Prev | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Phare 43C | 875 | 2/2 | '87 $94k | $499k |
| OC LT 411 | 2602 | 3/3 | '15 $1.8m | $1.838 |
| 290 Sunrise 3J | 610 | 1/1 | '11 $203k | $310k |
| KC III 229 | 1532 | 2/2 | '80 $132k | $895k |
| GB Tower 1008 | 2840 | 3/4 | '00 $825k | $2.4m |
| OC CT I 101 | 1330 | 2/2 | '05 $650k | $1.15m |
| Casa del Mar 12B | 1875 | 2/2 | '09 $810k | $1.65m |
| Towers D402 | 1782 | 2/2 | '07 $770k | $1.025m |
| OC RV II PH9 | 1830 | 3/3 | '14 $1.425m | $1.375m |
| OC OT II 407 | 3581 | 4/5.5 | '13 $2.84m | $4.25m |
| 462 Woodcrest | 3190 | 4/3 | '12 $1.7m | $2.8m |
| Galen Breakers 2C | 1325 | 2/2 | '05 $620k | $490k |
| KC I 1238 | 1556 | 2/2 | '02 $640k | $1.35m |
| CC South 603 | 895 | 1/1 | '13 $415k | $550k |
| 240 Galen 109 | 1100 | 2/1 | '13 $345k | $540k |
Motion to adjourn
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It is soooo slow out here. Maybe next week :/
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