WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010

New Budget Represents Largest
Voluntary Reduction Of Property Taxes
In More Than Two Decades

On September 28th, the Coral Gables City Commission adopted a budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 which began October 1, 2010 and ends on September 30, 2011. The total budget for this new fiscal year is approximately $144 million — an $8 million decrease when compared to the prior year’s budget of $152 million. The property tax millage rate, which funds approximately half of the budget, was set at 6.072 per $1,000 of taxable value. This millage rate is .117 mills below the rollback rate of 6.189. The rollback rate is the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as the previous year.

The adopted millage rate will result in $3 million less in property tax revenue than the previous year, the largest decrease in more than 20 years, with the exception of the state mandated reduction in fiscal year 2008.

The City of Coral Gables, as almost all local governments around the country, continues to be impacted by these challenging economic times. The approved budget provides a $3.1 million reduction in personnel related costs. As in previous years, City employees continue to work smarter and harder to provide quality services with fewer people. This year’s budget does not provide a salary increase for City employees. In 2009, the City had a total of 870 full-time employees compared to this year’s funding for only 791 full-time employees. The elimination over a two-year period of 79 full-time positions represents a 9% reduction in the workforce. These changes have not resulted in a reduction in the number of public safety positions. This new budget also includes the most significant pension reform in the history of the City.

The budget provides funding for Capital Improvements of $4.4 million. This includes $1.3 million for public safety building improvements and repairs which is in addition to last year’s funding of $2 million. It also provides for approximately $700,000 for necessary repairs to other City buildings including $225,000 for the restoration of the Miracle Theatre marquee.  The Roadway Improvement Program is funded with approximately $800,000 for street improvements. Other capital improvements budgeted include $1.4 million for sanitary sewer force mains, lift stations and sanitary sewer pipe replacements, and $200,000 for stormwater drainage improvements.

At an adopted property tax millage rate of 6.072, Coral Gables has one of the lowest rates in Miami-Dade County. Furthermore, out of the total amount of property taxes you pay to the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office, 38% is directed to the Miami-Dade County Public School System, 31% is directed to Miami-Dade County, 28% goes to the City of Coral Gables, and the balance is sent to the State. With the support of the City Commission, City Manager Pat Salerno will continue to present fiscal policies that are designed to achieve long term financial stability for the City.

Coral Gables Art Cinema
Is Home Of Miami Short Film Festival

This Friday, October 15 is the grand opening and fundraising event for the new Coral Gables Art Cinema, bringing excitement to the showcasing of film genres from all over the world. This Friday’s screening of the Florida premiere of Freakonomics will be held at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., with a reception at 9 p.m. for those with tickets for either show. The Coral Gables Art Cinema is also partnering with other film organizations to provide Coral Gables residents and visitors with the best of world-class cinematography. Thanks to this film art movement, the Ninth Edition of the Miami Short Film Festival has chosen the Coral Gables Art Cinema as its main venue. From November 13 through November 20, short films (between one to 30 minutes in length)  from more than 30 countries, including Australia, Iran, Japan, Mexico and Argentina, will be showcased nightly in two blocks of time from 6:45-8 p.m. and from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 or $50 for VIP passes to enjoy the entire festival. The Coral Gables Art Cinema is located at 260 Aragon Avenue in Downtown Coral Gables.  For more information, click here.

Art In Public Places
To Enrich The Gables Experience

Another major step toward advancing the arts in the City Beautiful took place on September 14, when the City of Coral Gables officially adopted a Public Art Master Plan that is set to enhance the display of world-class artwork in public spaces. A five-year work plan was approved along with funding goals and implementation guidelines. The work plan focuses attention on downtown Coral Gables where major investments in the public realm will occur.  The Art in Public Places Program, which took effect in February 2010, has two distinct goals: the first is to preserve and protect the City’s historic public art. The second goal is to commission and exhibit new public artworks that enhance the character and identity of the City, contribute to economic development and tourism and add beauty and interest to public spaces.

As part of this new program, City-initiated construction projects are required to contribute to the Historic Public Art Fund, while non-City construction projects, other than single family homes, of one million dollars or more are required to contribute one percent to the Art Acquisition Fund. Eligible projects can be sculptures, functional elements such as artist-designated gates, pavilions, pergolas, and fountains; landscape elements such as walkways and gardens; and architecturally integrated features such as mosaics and metalwork. The Cultural Development Board will make recommendations to the City Commission regarding projects using the Art Acquisition Fund while the Historic Preservation Board will provide input with regards to projects funded by the Historic Public Art Fund. The Art in Public Places Program is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment of the Arts. For more information, contact the Economic Sustainability Department at 305-460-5311.

I Will Survive:
Learning How To Defend Yourself

If you never want to experience the terror of realizing that you are not strong enough to defend yourself, this class is for you. The City of Coral Gables is offering a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) self-defense course that teaches women the philosophy and techniques for facing a personal assault. The program consists of 12 hours of instruction including in-depth discussion and exploration of risk reduction and awareness techniques as well as practical physical self-defense methods.  Group classes begin October 19 through October 30, 2010 and are given at the Coral Gables Police Department, 2801 Salzedo Street. Participants meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. Fee is $75 for the entire course which has a free lifetime return and practice policy.  For more information and to download a registration form, click here. 

St. Theresa School
Celebrates 85 Years Of Service

Five months after the City of Coral Gables was incorporated in 1925, the St. Theresa Catholic School, located across the street from the historic Church of Little Flower, was founded under the administration of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine. The school, which included the convent, opened originally to 70 students. Eight decades later, St. Theresa is a parish elementary school accepting approximately 900 students each year from Pre-K through 8th Grade. Since 1991, it has been under the administration of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Generations of Coral Gables families have come through the original walls of St. Theresa School. On Friday, October 15, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., the school is hosting its most popular fundraiser, the 14th Annual St. Theresa Golf Tournament at the Biltmore Golf Course. There will be a post-tournament banquet at Comber Hall. Proceeds from the event will support the restoration of St. Theresa School. For more information on this event, click here.

Biltmore Hosts Health & Wellness Festival

The mind, body and spirit will come together at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, for the second annual Biltmore Health & Wellness Festival. This weekend festival takes place October 15, 16 and 17. Individual, family, community and planetary wellness will be explored in a series of exciting events, beginning with Friday’s Women’s Health and the Environment Conference, workshops with renowned holistic health experts on Saturday, and live entertainment events each evening. The three days will culminate with Sunday’s Acufest, an all-day celebration, featuring dozens of exhibits and interactive workshops with national and local health educators. One of the highlights of the festival is the very popular organic food and wine tasting, this year featuring many of South Florida’s top chefs. The weekend festival will culminate with the world’s largest group acupuncture experience on Sunday. For more event information, click here.

Calling All Paddlers
For The Gables To The Bay Regatta

The Waterway Renaissance Project is hosting its second annual Gables to the Bay Regatta on Saturday, October 23rd. The regatta is a series of fun and challenging low-impact paddle races for canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards, surfskis, dragonboats, outriggers, and any non-motorized craft. Courses will run up to 5 miles through the scenic Coral Gables Waterway and Biscayne Bay with spectacular finishes at Shake-A-Leg Miami in Coconut Grove. The races will be followed by a fun family celebration at the one-of-a-kind Regatta Village where racers and others will gather for the awards ceremony, chance drawings, food and refreshments, and music by the band Live Bait. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to many race classes. Competitors meet at 5100 Riviera Drive which is the southeast corner off U.S.1, with races beginning at 10 a.m. The Regatta is the Waterway Renaissance Project’s largest fundraiser for restoring and preserving the waterways, and improving access for people to enjoy them. For more information, click here.