WBDW - Part 17
Whatever**More Numbers Broward residents
won't find in their local newspaper.
Total Housing 2000 2008 Increase
Units 741,043 802,069 8%
Vacant 86,598 130,830 51%
SOURCE - US Census Bureau
WBDW - Part 16
Lewis Black
My favorite rhetorical question regarding Broward's history of unlimited growth comes from that gentle philosopher Lewis Black, who once mused:
“At one point do you just say, 'Hey! No more fuckers can live here!'?"
However...
It's very possible the economy's providing the answer,
Broward - Building Permits
1980 2000 2008
Single Family 5,251 9,149 908
Multi Familiy 9,814 2,689 1,256
SOURCE: Florida Statistical Abstracts
WBDW - Part 15
"What - Us Worry?"
NOTE: It would be pretty to think the average Broward community leader, elected official, or journalist would either care about, or understand the importance of the data below.
But it's a safe bet that they don't.
Which is why Broward doesn't work.
And probably never will.
Broward County's Sobering
Government Revenue Trends
*$ Amounts in thousands
1999 2009
Broward County
Population 1,490,289 1,766,476 18.5%
General Fund
Total Revenue $777,626* $1,335,365*
Per Capita $522 $756
In 2009 $ $657 $756 15%
Taxes $442,526* $777,991*
Per Capta $297 $440
In 2009 $ $374 $440 25%
Special
Assessments &
Impact Fees $25,673* $1,106*
Per Capta $17.22 $0.62
In 2009 $ $21.70 $0.62 (97%)
Licenses & Permits $13,171* $16,805*
Per Capita $8.83 $9.51
In 2009 $ $11.14 $9.51 (15%)
Federal Grants/
State Revenues:
Revenue Sharing $33,318* $35,203*
Per Capita $22.36 $19.93
In 2009 $ $28.17 $19.93 (29%)
Grants $18,185* $23,402*
Per Capita $12.20 $13.24
In 2009 $ $15.37 $13.24 (14%)
Half-Cent Sales Tax $43,211* $45,705*
Per Capita $28.99 $25.87
In 2009 $ $36.52 $25.87 (29%)
Fines & Forfeitures $6,261* $4,036*
Per Capita $4.20 $2.28
In 2009 $ $5.29 $2.28 (57%)
Charge for Services $140,363* $335,053*
Per Capita $94.19 $189.67
In 2009 $ $114.90 $189.67 65%
SOURCE: Broward County CAFR
WBDW - Part 14
Our Tourism Industry's
Shamelss History of Bullshit*
2004 2009 %
Passengers
Airlines 20,085,326 20,941,715 4.3%
Cruise Ships 4,075,406 3,139,701 (22.9%)
Hotel Rooms 20,415 21,814 7%
Annual Visitors 8.9 million 11.0 million 23%
Convention &
Visitors Bureau
Expenses $5,070,000 $18,813,180 271%
Convention
Center
Expenses $25,002,081 $41,708,110 66.8%
Attendance 337,563 203,964 39.6%
SOURCE: Broward County
*Coupled with the local news media's
historic ignorance of and/or indifference to
the county's tax-funded Tourism Bureau's
endless stream of bogus data.
WBDW - Part 13
Should You Worry?
DEAR VISITOR: Virtually all of the data posted in this series
is offered without comment -- based on the assumption that a
visitor to this site is blessed with an intelligence level higher
than a common household appliance* and is thus able to fathom
the significance of the WBDW numbers and trends like.....
Broward Employment Trends
1999 2009
Population 1,490,289 1,766,476 18.5%
Employment
Total 649,700 711,600 9.5%
Private Firms 564,700 610,500 8.1%
Government 84,900 101,200 19.2%
Producing Goods 78,900 63,000 (20.2%)
Producing Services 570,800 648,300 13.6%
SOURCE: FRED Florida Research and Economic Data Base
*For example, I'm assuming that the average visitor to this site
should be able to grasp the importance in the trends detailed
by the following hypothetical data -- which, for the seriously
stupid, is totally bogus. That said, if the data below were valid,
would Broward residents need to worry? (Yes) (No) (Not Sure)
Rabid Racoons in Broward
Total 1999 2009 %
Population
Residents 1,490,289 1,766,476 18.5%
Rapid Racoons 129,334 989,669 665.2%
SOURCE: University of Oz
Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Eleven
Broward Employee* Trends 1980 – 2008
1980 2008
Manufacturing 41,829 23,522 (44%)
Hotels 10,604 11,691 10%
Bars &
Restaurants 30,272 55,243 82%
*Covered by Unemployment Insurance
SOURCE: University of Florida
Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Ten
Broward Public School System
School Year 1979-80 2008-09
Total *$ In 1,000's
Students 132,802 256,186 93%
White Non Hisp. 95,458 73,344 (23%)
Black Non Hisp. 31,447 97,145 210%
Hispanic 4,807 66,762 1,289%
Expenditures $331,992* $3,027,690*
Per Student $2,500 $11,818
2009 $ $6,500 $11,818 82%
SOURCE: Florida Department of Education
Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Nine
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention
and Vistors Bureau
Broward Tourism
Sure Works for Her*
NICKI HERSELF SAYS “Nothing beats a government
paycheck. Like I've been feeding at the public
trough for more than 30 years – ever since
I was elected a Hollywood City Commissioner
back in 1978. And I ain't missed a meal, junket
or government paycheck since!”
*But Maybe Not for Everyone
Average Annual Wage
Broward County - 2008
All Industries - $42,758
Tourism - $20,122
SOURCE: US Census Bureau
Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Eight
Broward: A Great Place to Work NOT!
Broward Workers
1990 2008
Population 1,255,488 1,758,494 40%
Labor Force 660,159 1,009,527 53%
Employed 623,928 955,322 53%
Covered by State
Unemployment 503,094 632,840 26%
% Covered 81% 66%
SOURCE: Florida Statistcal Abstracts
DISMAL FACT: Most local thought local leaders,
politicians and media types have little or no
idea what the trends in the above data mean.
Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Seven
Government Reform has become a major hot button issue during the first decade of the 21st century – from the anger-based Tea Party movement to frustrated local property owners bewildered by skyrocketing tax bills.
However....
Anyone contemplating governmental reform here in Broward is faced with one simple question, like:
If you're gonna give an enema to local government in Broward, where you gonna stick it in?
Thing is, “Local Government” here in Broward consists of a bewildering hodge-podge of 85 different governmental units – some huge, others virtually unknown, and each with its own budget, governing board, paid staff, legal advisors, lobbyists, etc.
And all, like a bucket of pissy crabs, jealously guarding their powers while competing for dwindling Federal and state tax dollars.
Which spells bad news for the average Broward taxpayer clinging to an Impossible Dream of efficient government.
But good news for the endless swarm of parasitic bureaucrats, lobbyists, special interest groups, and political bottom feeders all clamoring for a bigger slice of tax dollar pie.
Broward “Local Government”
Property Tax
Revenue
1 Broward School Board $1.3 billion
1 County Govt. $888 million
41 Cities and municipal
taxing entities $771 million
42 Special taxing districts $678 million
Total Property Tax Revenue $3.6 billion
SOURCE: Broward County