Guest rollyp66 Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14330147.htmMIAMI BEACHThanks for living here. Here's $200.An unexpected bonus is coming to the mailboxes of about 16,000 Miami Beach residents -- no-strings-attached checks for $200 from the city.BY SUSAN ANASAGASTIsanasagasti@MiamiHerald.comMiami Beach residents: The check is in the mail.About 16,000 Miami Beach taxpayers are getting a check for $200 -- written out in their names -- from the city of Miami Beach.The catch?''Nothing,'' Mayor David Dermer said. ``When a government does well, we should be able to share that success.''The city -- like so many in the state -- is doing particularly well thanks to the local property taxes it collects.Because of the dramatic rise in property values, the city raked in an additional $17 million, for a total of $109 million, in the last fiscal year.''A lot of cities are thinking of ways to take the people's money,'' Dermer said.``We're very proud to give it back to the people, directly in a check. There's nothing wrong with that.''In fact, City Manager Jorge Gonzalez thinks Miami Beach may be the first city to do this.''I can't tell you with 100 percent certainty, but it's not a thing that most cities do,'' Gonzalez said.On Wednesday, the mayor's office was inundated with calls from skeptics who wondered if the checks were part of a scam.''It's pretty funny,'' said John Heffernan, special advisor to the mayor. ``I had a guy call me and ask if it was a practical joke.''''Go ahead and cash the check,'' city spokeswoman Nannette Rodriguez added.``Not only are they real, but there's money in the bank.''The one-time dividend will cost the city about $3.2 million, which will be paid from its general fund, Heffernan said.So far, 15,539 checks have been mailed, and many residents have already gotten theirs. Among them: Andrew Torok, 79, and his wife Elizabeth, 60.Torok fled Budapest for the United States and has been a Beach resident since 1997.''Since I've been in this country, never have I ever experienced such wonderful treatment from city government,'' Torok said. ``If I could afford it, I would give it to charity.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan2772 Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 comes from all the goddamn cars that get towed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest coach Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 I'm gonna run home and check my mailbox!!!!!!!!Anybody else noticed how well the Washington beautification is going? I'm thinking they could have just settled on actually powerwashing the sidewalks rather than completely replacing them, but either way, they sure to look better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pod Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 16,000 out of 89,104. I'm guessing there was a certain list of qualifications? Either income or home/condo ownership status... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Electric Eel Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 If its due to property taxes mainly i'm guessing you have to own the place in order to get a check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pod Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 That's what I gather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Civs Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 got mine on wednesday. took me by surprise. now on what to spend the free money??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pod Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 Take Jipsy out for a nice dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Civs Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Take Jipsy out for a nice dinner. prob the best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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