Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club- Jim Shedd, candidate for Miami-Dade County Property Tax Appraiser

Meeting Date: May 20th, 2008
Meeting Time: 8:30 AM

David's Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach.

The recent referendum changing the county’’s Property Tax Appraiser from an appointed position to an elected position has brought out two candidates: former DEA agent Jim Shedd, and former County Commissioner and current State Senator, Gwen Margolis. Jim Shedd will be the guest this week, followed by Senator Gwen Margolis next week.

Miami-Dade is one of the few counties in Florida without an elected Appraiser, but all that changes this November when the people of Miami-Dade will get to cast their votes to fill the new position. However, there may be a legal challenge to the November date, requiring the election to take place in August, in order to coincide with the election of the county Mayor and Commissioners, etc.

Two key issues for the candidates will be how adjustments will be made for declining property values, and the need for a change from valuing property based on it’’s highest and best (possible) use, as is done now, to basing it on it’’s current or actual use. The valuation based on best possible use has created artificially high property taxes, which in many cases has forced people to give up their property, and which many believe has fueled the fire for runaway government spending.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club.

For more information contact David Kelsey. To be added to the Club’’s mailing list contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at:

TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com

"Since 1996, the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club has been gathering every Tuesday at 8:30AM to 10:00AM at a local Miami Beach restaurant for informal, non-partisan discussions of issues - political, governmental, etc. It is not affiliated with any other organization. We are currently meeting at David's Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, between Lincoln Road Mall and Macy's (formerly Burdine's). There is plenty of parking at that hour in the adjacent municipal parking lot. One orders from the menu or simply has coffee. Guest speakers range across the political, governmental, business, and social issues spectrum. Sessions are open to everyone. Simply show up."