Category: On The Soap Box

April 7, 2013

The Systemic Problems Within the Value Adjustment Boards and in Florida

The Value Adjustment Boards (VABs) throughout the State represent examples after examples of non-compliance with governing laws. And, nothing is done about it so the result is about 300,000 petitioners, each year, are or face being cheated - by their own government. Rooted ...

September 28, 2012

From the State of Florida’s Code Of Ethics

Agency - now there's an idea! Sounds like fiduciary. Section 112.311 (6), Florida Statutes It is declared to be the policy of the state that public officers and employees, state and local, are agents of the people and hold their positions for ...

May 12, 2012

Food for thought on how to grow the economy, and why!

On Bloomberg TV's Charlie Rose show, a recent interview caught our attention. The authors of The Gardens of Democracy explained the concepts in their new book. It's very interesting, and the video can be viewed at http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12324.

May 7, 2012

Troubling new law affects taxpayers …

In Jacksonville, you can hear Duval County VAB petitioner after VAB petitioner during the VAB meeting for 2011 on the video at http://www.coj.net/departments/regulatory-boards-and-commissions/value-adjustment-board/meeting-minutes---video.aspx. In Palm Beach, the Property Appraiser just filed suit against that VAB, claiming unlawful conduct based upon the ...

March 11, 2012

A VERY DISAPPOINTING Legislative Failure

In spite of urging by the First Amendment Foundation and members of the Sunshine Brigade, as well as in the interests of every private citizen in Florida, according to reports from inside the House, Speaker Dean Cannon decided to not bring the bill to ...

February 17, 2012

Learned Hand as quoted by Peter Reilly in Forbes

Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor, and all do right, for nobody owes any public ...

November 29, 2011

ON THE SOAP BOX – One Material VAB Component Is Missing

Florida property owners cover the costs of the Value Adjustment Boards in their tax payments. Effectively, this remedy is a service, in a way that's similar to the courts which also are funded through tax payments. The purpose of the VABs is to ...