When Cuba opens Key West will shrivel up as cruise ships head to Havana. But since city managers would never consider cutting back on spending on themselves and keep raising taxes, all that will be left is city employees and guess what, the math won't work. The lights will be out long before the last one leaves.

craziness.

(1) I see Firefighters and Sheriff's Dept wanting raises when of course, there is no money, the economy is still tanked and their employers, the taxpayers, haven't received raises in the private sector in many years. (Yes, it's the county but we still pay).

(2) I see the homeless services people expecting working taxpayers to pay for those who will not and do not work.

(3) I see the city blowing away income when they don't even ticket for illegal parking (i.e. parking in residential places) YET they are wanting to increase parking rates at meters.

(4) I see the price for city manager will go up, yet there are still the two 'assistants' that Scholl just HAD to have just to do HIS job, where there was only one previously.

(5) I see tax increases for homeowners on the horizon.

(6) I see the KWPD allowing continued dangerous illegal bicycling behavior without ticketing - more loss of income and danger to all.

I think most people are not against some tax hikes, but the biggest insult is that these tax hikes often go to fund public employees and their unions, who are not appreciative and are even rude to those who pay their salaries. It would appear that the people who work for us need to realize that they're lucky to even HAVE jobs, and that it's time to actually do their jobs and stop whining and begging for more. And it's time that the city's and county's leadership start acting responsibly.

Those companies servicing the cruise lines pay NO sales/service tax to the city. WHY? Tens of thousands buy a ticket on the ship and pay no service/sales tax. Why isn't their a tax collected from these services?

OR why isn't there a tax created - Fury paying only $3000 a year for license to stick an iceberg on the water - CALL HARC...this ain't natural. Per person tax for bottom rights as each person "uses" the water there.

Outrageous! Not even a pretense of trying to make budget cuts. No discussion of options like a 25 cent fee on drinks. No, just raise the milage rate and move on. If this increase is passed it will NEVER be reduced again. This is unacceptable during these economic times. How about raising cruise ship fees? How about a $5 surcharge on all Fantasy Fest events? How about charging HTA for all the public property they use for free? How about cutting back on wages or benefits modestly? How about having one City Manager like we always did rather then three. There are plenty of ways to cut the budget the average citizen would not even notice. It is easier to raise taxes. Once this happens you can be sure the County, mosquito control and The School District will not be far behind.

Now that the Last Standers have successfully rolled up the bridges, so the Keys are like they were when they retired and moved down here, we get to carry the tax burden. If these retired bourgious-socialist doctors, lawyers and trustafarians want to diminish our tax base by stealing private property rights, let them pay for the increase. They`re actions are killing the working class.