2015 Budget Final Hearing, Storage Lot Fees & More...

I want to let everyone know that the Cooper City Commission is proposing, in the upcoming final budget hearing on Monday, September 22^nd at 6:30 PM, to approve a nearly $50 million dollar budget! During the first budget hearing on September 15^th, the only item that was discussed in regards to this entire budget was the Storage Lot Fees. Commissioner James Curran demanded that the storage lot fees remain the same and NOT be reduced, as previously promised to the Storage Lot tenants. Please come to the final budget meeting and show your support for Item 6-D-5, ‘Approving an amendment to the Lease, Lease Rates and Rules and Regulations for the Municipal Parking Facilities – Res. No. 14-9-12’. Come out and tell Commissioner Curran that we are sick and tired of him wasting our hard earned money and not living up to his promises! What do you have to say about this? Let’s keep the storage lot fees low! Please, come out and let your voice be heard!

The issue of the Cooper City Commission giving themselves a hefty pay raise is on the commission agenda for public hearings on Tuesday, October 14^th and October 28th, at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The pay raise is scheduled to be anywhere between 100 and 233%. I object to the pay raise for many reasons as I have previously stated. Please be there to voice your opinion and concerns.

The Education Advisory Board of Cooper City is sponsoring a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, October 15th at 7PM in the Cooper City Hall Auditorium. As your ‘Go To’ Commissioner, it is my pleasure to invite you to participate in this event.

The issue regarding the closure, or opening, of 53^rd street and Palm Avenue has been addressed for the ‘umpteenth time’ at our last commission meeting. I have received many, many emails and calls about this issue, and I have always supported the resident’s wishes on this issue. There are legitimate concerns by the residents who live along 53rd Street that too many vehicles use it as a through street from 106th to 100th Avenues, with many of them speeding while they do so. With the left turn blocked off, this concern was mitigated, but the traffic has had to shift up to 51st Street or down to the Sterling Springs entrance, forcing residents to wander through other streets to get to and from their homes, and simply transferring a problem from one street to another. There are no stop signs on 53rd Street, so it has been the preferred route compared to 51st with its two stop signs, for traversing from 106th to 100th. It is suspected that many of the drivers using the shortcut to 100th Avenue do not live in the neighborhood, making it even more frustrating for locals. In addition, rather than quote all of the details and facts, you can read more about it at http://aroundcoopercity.wordpress.com There is a great amount of detail in addition to the background and history synopsis of this issue which can be viewed at http://www.johnbsims.com/SW53StreetBackground.pdf

The city commission directed the city manager to remove the barrels on a temporary basis, perform another traffic study over the next few weeks if the county approves and agrees to it, which will include traffic counts, and speed monitoring on the neighborhood thoroughfares. This was the only way to get the county to do the study in order to resolve the issue in the long run. At that point, in order to be able to obtain real time and reliable data, the county will remove the barrels from Palm Avenue and perform a subsequent traffic study in order to justify stop sign implementation, enhancing the position that the 53^rd street thoroughfare is unsafe in order to possibly install stop signs in the future.

Cooper City residents will be rewarded very soon since we implemented a recycling points program. Cooper City will offer RecycleBank, an online rewards program that distributes points based on the amount of material recycled. Homeowners can trade those points for discounts at local restaurants, obtain retailer coupons and also obtain free items such as magazine subscriptions and other goodies. Currently, our residents recycle an average 150 pounds of per year which is a 20 percent increase in recycling after the city introduced the larger rollout carts last year. The truck will be weighed after each route and the points equally distributed among those who sign up for the program. Other ways to earn points are to report "green actions," such as riding a bike to the store or walking to school, taking surveys or quizzes and watching educational videos. I certainly hope RecycleBank will increase our recycling efforts, and in addition, the program will certainly help educate all of us on other ways to be "green" and also to help promote local businesses.

If you haven’t seen the new (now old) Face Book page for Cooper City, (Cooper City Community Corner) you’re too late… All of the posts, comments and the entire page have been forever deleted! That’s too bad, especially since there were over 4,000 participants, in addition to some great discussions and issues presented that directly affected you. However, you can visit my Face Book page at https://www.facebook.com/keepsims

Also…you can vote from home! Absentee ballots in Broward County will be delivered in less than a few weeks! I wanted to confirm that you’ve registered to vote by mail. If not, you can do so now, and it only takes a few minutes…Check your status, or order your absentee ballot, by clicking here right now. 

Have your vote from home counted first by voting by mail. It is the easiest and most convenient way to participate in our upcoming election. If you have any questions, email me personally at johnsims@bellsouth.net  or call me on my cell at (954) 445-6997. If you've already registered to vote from home by mail, please forward this email to your Cooper City friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same. Voting from home by mail is simple and it saves time. Sign up now and avoid the long lines and the wait!

More…

• The City Commission will hold a 2^nd Budget Hearing for FY2014-15 on September 22^nd.
• The next Regular Commission Meeting will be held on October 14^th.
• The Education Advisory Board will host a Candidates Forum on October 15^th.
• BSO will be hosting a 1-day AARP Adult Safe Driver Course on October 27^th – Register NOW.
• CrimeMapping Feature on the BSO Website allows you to view Reported Crimes in your area.
• Sign-up to receive Emergency Notifications via Text and/or E-Mail through CodeRED!

• Don’t miss the Annual Community Garage sale on October 11^th.
• The Popular Community Book Swap will be held on October 17^th.
• Register NOW for the AARP 2-Day Adult Safe Driver Course on October 29^th & 30^th.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for my next Town Hall meeting on Monday, October 20^th at 7 PM, at the City Hall Commission Chambers. Please be there to voice your concerns and to show your support!

Thank you for your unwavering and continued support, and if you would like a yard sign, please let me know. Also, any and all donations are gladly and humbly accepted. You can donate any amount on my website at http://www.KeepSims.com

Have a great weekend!

Cooper City news, asbestos, BSO, food trucks and more…

Lately there have been rumors regarding possible asbestos in our water. Let me assure you that this is not true. Our Utilities Director cleared the air and stated the facts at our last meeting, and reassured us that Cooper City still has the best quality water available and it is regularly tested for contaminants.

Cooper City has recently received a state grant for over ½ million dollars to replace our water pipes in Timberlake and have started the replacement process, with more areas to be replaced in the future. The contractors have been doing a very good job in keeping the water turned on, and have been able to accomplish the task with minimal damage to private property.

Thanks to Ron Book (our lobbyist) who was able to help in obtaining the grant money. I supported retaining Mr. Book because he was the right man for the job, even though there was opposition to my support. This grant (your tax) money has allowed us to replace the older water pipes without increasing taxes or fees in order to do so. If there are any issues that you may have with the water or the construction of the new pipes, please let me know and I will do what I can to resolve the problem as your ‘go to’ commissioner.

Our 2014-15 budget season is now upon us and we will have budget meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, July 16 and 17^th. Our budget now tops $50 million annually. There are diverse issues of our proposed budget which may interest you, and if you are interested in receiving a copy you can either email me or go to the city web site and browse the budget department to download it for yourself. If there are concerns please come to the budget meetings and voice your concerns to your commission.

Other good news in Cooper City is that our crime rate is down by nearly 15% from last year. The crime rate went from 2.83 down to 1.8. I commend Broward sheriff’s office for doing a fantastic job in keeping our communities safe. Safety of our community and our families are government’s number one priority and as such, I will continue to support BSO in order to keep you and our local business owners safe.

Our home’s taxable value increased this year. It was 8% last year and is valued at 7.35% this year. Even though this is a substantial increase, those with homestead exemption will see no more than a 1.5% increase based on the current year’s CPI.

Also there has been some discussion regarding the food truck explosion in Pennsylvania. Rest assured that I have addressed this issue with our city manager. I have been assured that the Fire Marshall will be inspecting the food trucks and will require them to have business tax receipts in addition to the inspections in order to do business in Cooper City. I hope that the city will step up and support our local businesses as much as they do the food trucks.

Commentary on the Cooper City Budget Regarding Meals on Wheels and the new 'Soccer Park'

In last month's Davie & the Ranches Magazine, Commissioner's Mallozzi & Curran wrote op-ed articles for regarding the expenses, budget and recreational facilities in Cooper City. Commissioner Mallozzi rightfully noted the sad and abrupt loss of the much needed Meals on Wheels program which is designed to supplement fixed income senior's and to keep them healthy and alive, allowing them to survive within their extremely limited means of doing so. 

Commissioner Curran's article boastfully commented on the city commission earmarking $1.6 million dollars for the new so-called 'Soccer Park' on the West side of Stirling Road and Flamingo Road, among other expenses not designed to do anything except make us 'look good' in his opinion. Needless to say, I found it incredibly but typically absurd that Commissioner Mallozzi would lament the City's loss of the Meals on Wheels program, supposedly for lack of funds (The City will profit to the tune of $13M this year, or more), while Commissioner Curran spreads the self aggrandized joy of a $1.6 million dollar seemingly unnecessary expenditure for a 'Soccer Park' that really is not needed in my opinion. In addition, there have been no meaningful discussions, nor are there any specific facts whatsoever to support this expenditure! 

While I find spending money for the new Soccer Park versus "sorry, we have no money for feeding hungry old folks" deplorable and unconscionable  I regard it as a symptom of a much larger disease that has infiltrated the current Cooper City commission, spending other people's money on 'feel good' items rather than absolute necessities under the guise of "We are cleaning up Cooper City so it doesn't look like West Hollywood"...

Many residents, including myself, want to know why we are spending millions of taxpayer dollars without any "due diligence" having been done regarding the absolute need for a 'Soccer Park', one which will more than likely not be able to be used by the public and their kids...just like at the 'other park' located just East on Stirling Road.

As a final comment, our City Commission has several members who speak of their religious faith and even practice it in government owned facilities, but fail to understand that Jesus' command to feed the hungry comes way before spending taxpayer dollars on seemingly unnecessary recreational facilities, especially one which has no data to support its construction.

To paraphrase a more secular source, pride tends to be at the bottom of all our mistakes. In this case, the self-aggrandizement of a Soccer Park supersedes any interest by the Commission in the Meals program...and oh yes Commissioner Curran, I disagree on one other subject…Kids + Sports does not equal success, Kids + Reading, Writing and Arithmetic makes success!

Cooper City’s 2012 Fiscal Year Budget - Just the Facts

My recent challenge to my fellow commissioners was “What’s the tough choice in 2011 that you’re going to make in order to make Cooper City better, more efficient and less costly to run?” As you witnessed in our recently approved budget, there were no solid initiatives by my fellow commissioners.

Since 2007 our surplus funds have decreased from 50% of budget to just over 15% next year, due to continued uncontrolled spending. Instead of addressing a city on the verge of bankruptcy in 2013 per a recent city manager’s report, and the auditor, your elected representatives ignored making tough choices in order to make this next fiscal year a priority to maintain basic essential services, reduce taxes, fees and assessments, and improve customer service. The millage increased from 5.0479 mils to 5.0526 mils, yet rather than maintain or reduce your tax burden, the commission has increased it...again.

While Cooper City’s nickname has become ‘the taxing champions’ due to the fact that the city raised your total taxes at a higher percentage than any other government agency, the commission majority have again demonstrated gross fiscal irresponsibility. In fact, taxes for the less expensive homes increased more than the others. This regressive taxation scheme, along with the increased taxable amount due to the increase of the SOH assessment, and the double digit increases in the fire assessment negated the decrease in the debt levy millage.

This increase was a slap in the face of residents who have paid taxes for many years to pay off the debt incurred over the past years due to fiscal irresponsibility under the current Mayor, who viewed this with a glance down the nose at those who are currently facing the ugly prospects of unemployment, rising food and gas prices and those on a fixed income to mention just a few.

Special assessments are growing exponentially. In 20 years, assessments levied by government have tripled, increasing over 170%. This is faster than population growth (25%), inflation (27%), and growth in total personal income (76%). Cities have increased non-ad valorem assessments eight-fold in ten years and Cooper City is currently leading this trend.

As an example, the fire assessment, which we are being sued for, increased over 25% annually over the last 3 years which has hurt our lower income residents more than the others. I believe the assessment was based on a fire study which was flawed and incorrect for many reasons, which I have proven and was ignored. At most, residents should be paying less than $100, yet some city businesses are facing a 270% to 365% increase! Fire assessment collections have gone from $600K to over $1.4M in just 5 years. Currently, BSO is costing us over 65% of our general fund revenues and in 7 years BSO increases will be at 100% of our current general fund revenues.

The Mayor objected to lobbyist fees which have saved the city multi-millions of dollars and will continue to do so in the future, yet won’t address our skyrocketing city attorney fees, yet she falsely accued me of unethical conduct based on a picture of me and the lobbyist at a football game. Guess what Mayor, I don't discuss business at football games, and even if I did, it would be quite alright. The commission has again ignored this uncontrolled increased expense (city attorney) and litigation costs due to long term personal and political relationships that were undisclosed by the Mayor...

It’s past time for the commission to address the issue of actually implementing real solutions in order to reduce costs. The likelihood is that your commission majority will continue to be fiscally irresponsible and support 'feel good' non-essential programs. This may change since 2012 is an election year. My take is that the majority will try every way possible to raise taxes again except telling the candid truth; that the waste franchise fees, fire tax and the huge increases in EMS transport charges are just excuses to raise revenues when the city should be doing everything possible to cut expenses and join the citizens in being more cost efficient.

If you are concerned about the city’s fiscal condition, please forward your concerns to me. I will ensure that the commission continues to hear your voice.

2012 Cooper City Tax Increases...

Below are comments from the Cooper City Civic Group Blog regarding the proposed 2012 Cooper City tax increases…

- Bigger % increases on low income families than higher ones?
- Taxing champions --- AGAIN! When people are hurting? [Cooper City] Leads all Broward tax authorities in the tax increases for residents!
- Bad economics--- how are people to increase spending and job creation locally if the Cooper City government takes more of their squeezed incomes?

Hard to believe? Yet that is what 4 commission members [Jamie Curran, Jeff Green, Lisa Mallozzi and Mayor Debby Eisinger] and some on the staff [City Manager Bruce Loucks] seem to be supporting.

1. Their tax/fee package will result in those with lower valued homes paying a bigger % increase than those of us with higher valued homes.

A sample of 13 homes [Data obtained from the Broward Property Appraiser] shows the following % increases in Cooper City taxes…

Market value per Tax Appraiser % Cooper City % increase for all other
tax increase Broward governments

$100,000 to $199,999 6.9 (1.8)
$200,000 to $299,999 4.4 (2.1)
$300,000 plus 3.2 (3.1)

So, Cooper City is raising taxes and fees while the others [Broward County Governments] are decreasing them.

[Cooper City is the…] Taxing champions AGAIN! AND, hitting the lower income folks hardest!!!

Taxes include the normal property taxes and the fire assessment “fee”.

Regarding the Fire assessment “fee’, to paraphrase Harry Truman. "If it is on your tax bill, looks like a tax, is collected like a tax and you pay it with the same check, it’s a tax."
[Don’t be fooled by the politicians in City Hall, Mayor Eisinger, Lisa Mallozzi, Jamie Curran and Jeff Green, it’s still major a tax increase]

This form of taxation is called regressive taxation, where you hit the lower income people by a higher % than those with higher incomes.

I doubt that 5 % of Americans support this or believe it to be just and moral.2. Bad economic policy. It is a form of Cooper City economic de-stimulus.

We all know the hard times many of our people face. Governments taking more purchasing power out of the hands of consumers will decrease consumer spending and job creation. It will add its bit to our economic problems. You can count on a major fraction of the regressive tax increase resulting in lower local consumer spending, jobs and sales.

PLEASE FORWARD and come to the September 14th and September 26th Commission Budget Meeting and sign up to voice your objection to raising your taxes…AGAIN! If you don’t come and voice your opinion, the opinion of the majority on the commission will prevail…

Cooper City, the 'Taxing Champions' of Broward

Please see THIS story which is a link to the Sun-Sentinel article . Part of the story is missing and some of the increases are not shown on your TRIM notice recently recieved by the Broard Property Appraiser. The city commission majority is going to raise taxes, but they are also raising other fees, the fire assessment fees (25+%) again, and EMS transport fees (89%) with the collections clause intact and BSO contract costs increasing another 5% (now at 65% of the budget). City Attorney fees have skyrocketed and continue to increase without even a second on my numerous motions to discuss the issue by any other commission member, not to mention the few recent lawsuits that now plague the city that will cost us millions, and with certainty, more to come…

With a country, state, county and city who’s unemployment is 11+%, foreclosures out of control, daily job loss at an all time high, the DOW down 15+% since July, taxes and fees at all levels of government increasing exponentially, seniors continuing to be starved on a fixed income, water rates that are skyrocketing, and no new solid or plausible proposals by the commission to decrease spending and costs outside of what I have proposed to decrease spending and taxes at the July 25th and July 26th budget meetings, we need another tax, fee and assessment increase like another major disaster. Cooper City has become known as the ‘Taxing Champions’ over the last few years under the Eisinger regime, and the non-essential services spending must stop NOW!

Please attend the ‘Special Meetings’ regarding the first and second public notice of the Budget, Special Assessments and increased Fees on September 14th and September 26th at 6 PM, City Hall, and object, no demand, and say NO to unnecessary ‘feel good’ program tax rate increases in Cooper City, who is already set to increase spending on non-essential services and who is set to implement continued increased spending on other unnecessary and discretionary costs. If you don’t show up and object, out-of control spending at Cooper City Hall will continue…at least until November 2012.

Cooper City Election on Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, vote John Sims!

Why should you vote for me, John Sims, a True Fiscal Conservative?

I have consistently voted against higher taxes.
I have consistently voted against increased city budgets.
I have consistently supported and demanded a balanced budget and lower taxes for residents and business owners.
I have consistently maintained a posture of looking for ways to properly spend only spending taxpayer’s money, only when a need is clearly identified.
I have insisted upon a vetting process for every discretionary expenditure.
I have consistently voted in the best interest of our residents and business owners.
I have refused to vote for any expenditure that did not directly improve the services or quality of life in our city.
I have vigorously attempted to implement a local code of ethics, consistently rejecting the dirty politricks that have disgraced our city under the current leadership and by their candidates.
I have dedicated a tremendous amount of quality time and effort into our city in order to make it the best municipality in the county.
I have consistently supported our BSO police & fire, increasing our 'feet on the street'.
I have consistently supported our local business owners in every way possible in order to create jobs.
I have consistently worked to help our residents and business owners on a variety of issues and concerns, earning the title of your ‘Go To’ Commissioner in Cooper City.

A John Sims vote will:
Continue the fight for residents and businesses to keep more of their hard earned tax money.
Continue the focus on open, transparent government, excellence and accountability,
while fighting corruption.
Continue to protect your constitutional and property rights.
Continue to hold city hall accountable to you and your neighbors.
Continue to improve the city’s financial integrity and long term prosperity.

Government is unsustainable at its current pace at all levels: city, state and national. There are simply not enough revenues to cover the expenses and it’s getting worse. We, as a city, are then faced with 3 alternatives:

• Increase Revenues – taxes & fees, which I have refused to do because we simply do not need to do so in this recessed economy.
• Cut Expenditures – discretionary and wants vs. needs which I have consistently mandated.
• Become more efficient and customer friendly oriented in our operations, which I have consistently demanded.

If efficiency and a business like government is what is needed and demanded “By The People”, then I am the most qualified candidate in the race.

Bottom Line: It’s Your Tax Dollars, Your Hard Earned Money, Your City...Choose Wisely!

Cooper City Absentee Ballots

Dear Cooper City Resident,

Thank you for being a voter in Cooper City, ‘Someplace Special’!

To keep Cooper City that way we all must exercise our privilege of voting. Your support by voting is important to our city’s future and the well-being of all the residents of our community.

When you vote, please keep in mind that I have supported our Police and Fire first responders, Teachers, Optimist Club, our local business owners and most of all, YOU!

I have consistently led the effort to;

Provide for an open government and transparency in all matters of governmental actions,

Develop a strong ethical and fiscal accountability to reduce waste and inefficiency at city hall,

Lead the fight to create opportunities for business to flourish which equates to jobs and successful local businesses,

Fought to protect your rights against those who would seek to reduce or abolish them for political control in order to intrude into our lives.

As one who knows how to manage a business, balance a budget, and build a successful enterprise, I know that this is just what is needed to lead this city government during what is said to be the worst financial recession in 80 years without resorting to the easy way, raising your taxes.

As a successful businessman and one who has actually been successful in building both small and large businesses I believe that we need experienced, well-rounded leaders in our city who will continue the fight to uphold those things that have made Cooper City the place you call home.

Will you stand with me against the city hall insiders who seek to illicitly gain financially from those of us who pay the taxes and to hold them accountable?

Now is the time to vote Keep John Sims as your ‘Go To’ commissioner so that I can continue to work for you, my boss.

With respect I ask that you help me by continuing to support me with your vote so that our city can remain on a road to prosperity and remain ‘Someplace Special’ in which we live and work.

You may click here for an absentee ballot request form: http://www.browardsoe.org/AbsenteeRequest2.aspx

You may wish to go to my website at http://www.KeepSims.com and click on the absentee ballot link or to read more about what I have, and will continue to do for you.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve you, and I look forward to your agreement that my future service in our community is what you want for all of the residents Cooper City.

Thank you for your valued support and enjoy your day!

Best regards,

Commissioner John Sims
954-445-6997

Keep John Sims your 'Go To' Cooper City Commissioner

Thank you for your support and your vote on Nov. 2nd!

Thank you for your campaign donation today!

John Sims Campaign
8708 SW 55 ST
Cooper City, FL 33328-4324

Possible Cooper City Budget and Millage Rate Increase

These are three simple words posted on my blog that guide the job of a city commissioner.

• Policy - To do the job that I was elected to do, and that is serving you. I do not take information or staff recommendations that are provided to me at face value. Instead, I research the facts and attempt to find a better alternative or a more efficient methodology. I feel that my job as your representative is to improve our city’s quality of life, as opposed to taking the politically correct path of least resistance, or making decisions on your behalf in order to fulfill a personal or a political agenda.

• Vision - Working with our community and other true leaders, my job as your representative is to achieve a common goal of prosperity and success, both yours and that of our business owner’s, and keep the vision in continuing to keep Cooper City ‘Someplace Special’.

• Oversight - Oversight is the fiduciary responsibility to ensure our citizen’s money is well spent and accounted for on basic health, safety and welfare of the community. I take that responsibility very seriously as I strive to protect your hard earned tax-payer dollars. In that spirit, I look for facts and data to substantiate our City's proposed expenses. I ask a lot of questions, yet get very few really solid answers.

Regarding the 2010-2011 budget, the city has raised more revenue than expected and estimated more in expenses. The city consistently understates revenues and overstates expenses. This is not the time to be designing in cushions using your money, especially when so many of us need it to survive and pay our monthly expenses and mortgage.

It’s the time for bold honest truth. The city is not being candid, and should not be playing with other people’s money.

Again, no substantial efforts have been made to curtail discretionary spending. Last year when I asked our staff and directors to try to cut discretionary expenses by 10% I was responded to with a frivolous “we have to lay people off” mentality. Not so much as a simple executive summary of where we can look to cut expenses was provided. Just a “the sky is falling approach” to protecting the individual departmental budgets.

The are dozens of examples I can use to save money in this proposed budget which all add up to big tax dollars! We spend on bottled water while at the same time, we brag about how good our water is, and send out high gloss, multi page brochures instead of just posting it on our website. This is just one very insignificant example, but if you look at our budget online, I am sure you can find more pork than I have found to cut. The city needs to set the example!

I’m having difficulty seeing where the real priorities are. Are we really serving the community appropriately with this budget? I believe in, and strive daily for open, honest and transparent government. You deserve it!

This budget should reflect citizens’ priorities, not those of career politicians. Apparently the city does not perceive what the residents and business owners really want. What they want is reduced expenditures and less taxes. There is rampant unemployment, food has gone up, gas is up again, school supplies are up, over 400 foreclosures in our city as of last month…where does it end?

The increases suggested Monday for Citizens Property Insurance Co. would vary by location. In some parts of South Florida, prices could increase to almost 12 percent. We are facing another 2% Water rate hike in November 2010, a 12 to 15% FPL-Electricity rate hike, a 10% College tuition rate hike, the worst unemployment in the last 50-60 years, a 17% drop in school population per the CAFR, and alot more future increases in federal and state taxes and fees, many of which were supported by your city commissioners and Mayor.

If we don't stop spending on wants, not needs now, we will either have to raise taxes, or there will be some serious cuts to make. And...nothing can be held harmless in making those cuts. Every day we postpone acting decisively to rein in wasteful spending and cut discretionary expenses and the debt in Cooper City, we pile even more on the backs of thousands of young residents and many business owners.

We certainly have the ability to spend more wisely, yet we don’t. Just look at the past budgets, financial reports and workshop meetings. What have you demanded be cut, and it was actually cut? Some say the little things don’t matter in reducing expenditures, yet they add up quickly. We need to set the example and the little things add up to tens of thousands of dollars of your money.

The political establishment has kept costs and expenses up, not down. We simply need common sense solutions and minimal sacrifices to quality of life services. We need to re-establish the public trust which has been all but destroyed by this city commission.

This is not “my” city or money but “OUR” city and money! How the city performs its duties along with how “OUR” money is allocated and spent should be transparent and available to everyone.

Your city commission is NOT cutting the budget but inflating it, NOT reducing fees and taxes but possibly raising them, with little or no follow-up on commission directives of the recent past.

It is time to stop the unnecessary spending, and reduce the city’s inflated budget.

Tell your City Commissioner’s to stop wasting your tax dollars. As your commissioner, and as I have done in previous years, I will vote NO on the proposed budget if I see continued waste and unnecessary or excessive expenditures in our budget that are not immediately cut. The city needs to manage their money like you and I have had to do in this recession laden economy.

Tell your City Commissioner’s not to raise the millage rate cap tomorrow night (Special Meeting at 6 PM, City Hall), and to realize that the taxpayer is not an endless stream or source of money to be wasted by them. I will vote NO if the millage rate cap is raised.

Email your city commissioners and say NO to new taxes and an increased budget!

If the city commission indeed raises the millage rate cap and adopts the budget as proposed, all I have to say is "Thank you for helping the Cooper City economy struggle."

Cooper City Budget, Property Tax & Senior's Meetings

I wanted to update you on a few very important upcoming meetings in Cooper City. They will be located at city hall, 9090 SW 50 Place, Cooper City, FL 33328.

On Monday and Tuesday July 26th and 27th at 6 PM there will be workshops held at city hall regarding our 2010-2011 budget.

The 2010-2011 proposed budget can be found online at
http://coopercityfl.org/vertical/Sites/%7B6B555694-E6ED-4811-95F9-68AA3BD0A2FF%7D/uploads/%7BA04BC2CC-2078-4AEF-AD75-BE42727EA307%7D.PDF

On Thursday July 29th, there will be a millage rate (Ad Valorem Property Taxes) workshop at 6 PM at city hall. This meeting is regarding your property taxes. Please be there to show support to my opposition of any property tax increase.

Challenges regarding our budget in Cooper City are mounting. Our surpluses and cash equivalents were $22M+ at the beginning of this fiscal year. As such, we shouldn’t need to even discuss raising the property (ad valorem) taxes. We also don’t need to spend your hard earned tax dollars on a new city hall, as wished for by a majority on the city commission.

Some of the increased taxes and fees the city levies, or is capable of levying, that you may soon encounter, are ad valorem property taxes, the fire assessment fee, the utilities fee/tax, sanitation tax, storm water tax, waste water tax, franchise fee/tax, electricity and telecommunications tax, occupational licenses, permit fees, etc. You get the idea…

On Wednesday, July 28th at 10:00 am a Senior’s forum will be hosted by The Recreation Department. The Forum will be moderated by Stephen Person, Consultant on Senior Affairs.

This forum is designed to receive information from the Cooper City Seniors, Caregivers and other residents attending and interested in our Cooper City Elders activities.

The forum will consist of the following:

1. To determine how to increase awareness and participation in existing programs and services that are offered to those over-60 residents in Cooper City.

2. To solicit ideas from attendees on how existing services can be improved.

3. To identify programs and/or services that would be desired with the focus on improving the quality of life for Cooper City Senior Citizens.

I believe that we need to implement the bus route in Cooper City. I believe the money is available and our seniors so desperately need that service.

Please attend these very important budget workshops, millage workshop and Senior’s Forum to assist our Seniors, caregivers and all interested in improving the quality of life for that Special Segment of Population of our City. Your input is necessary to enhance their daily lives and activities at The Community Center and in Cooper City.

For additional information on the senior’s forum, please call Kathy at 954-434-4300, Ext. 255. Let us all support our Senior Citizens and attend this Forum.

As I have previously stated, the city should and must ‘tighten its belt’ like most of our residents have to do in order to continue to operate ‘in the black’ without unnecessarily raising your taxes. No substantial efforts have been made by staff and the commission to decrease spending, yet the city must be committed to getting serious about your money with decisions on spending made more responsibly, especially in the current economy.

This can be accomplished by removing the political barriers on the city commission, demanding stronger and unbiased leadership, and demanding a lean and responsive city commission and staff with increasing fiscal responsibility toward our residents and business owners.

I simply want to make it very clear, I see myself as a public servant continuing to be increasingly vigilant, fiscally prudent and respectfully responsible to our residents and business owners in the manner in which way we spend their hard earned tax dollars. We should do everything we can to reduce inefficiencies, strive to minimize and reduce taxes and work hard at reducing government’s negative influence on its residents and businesses. It's about what's in your best interests, something that our city government and staff doesn't always place at the top of their priorities.

Remember, Cooper City residents are now able to watch our City Commission meetings live on the Internet at http://www.coopercityfl.org. Residents can instantly replay all or part of the meetings at their convenience through a link on the City’s web site.

I am deeply honored to represent and serve Cooper City’s residents and business owners. I am open to your comments and concerns and would like to continue to help resolve your problems regarding city issues and requirements.

Most importantly, don’t miss the opportunity to vote in our city election on November 2nd. Thank you for your support and your vote on Nov. 2nd!

Have a great summer, stay safe and remember to slow down and look out for the children out of school and playing in our neighbor hoods. Enjoy your weekend!