Southcliff Estates Affordable Housing: Congratulations to the residents of Monroe County!!!

The residents’ voices were loud, and unmistakably clear. I can’t overstate the fact that a united, clear speaking electorate can and will be heard by our government officials or they will be shown the door! I am proud of all of you.

$3000/month for a 1-bedroom apartment was over the top. The Commissioners heard our voices and dropped the rent to a variable rate based on the income of the tenant.

This is the formula they agreed to:

Annual income of applicant times 30%, divided by 12 months = monthly rent.  

They did not change the qualifying income range: $71,880 to $125,040.  Rental range is now $1797/month to $3126/month using the Commission’s new equation which depends on the income of the tenant.  

I commend the commissioners but the work is not over. A minimum salary of $71,880 is too high. And where did it come from? That salary is not commensurate with salaries of non-supervisory hospitality workers. Reality dictates that it be re-evaluated. Your move, Commissioners!

This Fills situation is still confusing. The Village had a 5-year lease with FDOT and FDEP for the entire Fills between Upper and Lower Matecumbe.  The effort was to control the congestion, environmental damage, and safety issues that had been occurring for several decades on weekends.

The lease ended a full year ago, with no discussion about a renewal. Impossible to explain why the Village has spent significant taxpayer funds to continue to patrol the area on weekends with two Village Public Works employees being paid overtime to sit in village owned vehicles and watch DOT property for illegal parking.  There is no precedent or logical reason for this.

For the current year, just over $182,000 of Village funds was budgeted for monitoring the Fills even though we have not had any authority there since last September. When asked why Public Works continues to pay overtime - the Village Public Works Director, A.J. Engelmeyer, responded to Council that we do this “Because it is in the budget.”

Wrong answer. Cease the “guard duty” and reprogram the money to other Village needs.

Think Bus Stops:

1. It nearly broke my heart passing through the Village recently seeing employees waiting for their bus to the mainland in the pouring rain, some drenched to the bones.

2. The Council has been discussing bus stops for years.

3. The County Transit Director, Richard Clark, asked for us to hold up on bus stops as the County wanted to install bus stops throughout the Keys - utilitarian, attractive, and uniform. Mr. Clark’s position has been eliminated in the 2025-2026 budget. 

4. So the cavalry isn’t coming.

5. We should use the money we can save from the useless Fills “guard duty”.

Suggestion: Make bus stops a joint project with employers, the Chamber and the Village.

We have an obligation, as good citizens, to protect a precious commodity - our workforce.

Protecting our workforce from the sun and rain trumps “guard duty” on DOT property. This is doable and can be completed quickly.

I challenge the involved parties to put this on top of their “to do” list. Any delays would be disrespectful. It is what our council was elected to do…  make obvious changes for residents, property owners and our workforce.

Remember elections have consequences!

Do you have any ideas or complaints? Please let us know.

As always,

Tom Raffanello

Reply to: ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

Fresh Florida Lobster? Straight from Mexico.  The Florida Keys commercial lobstermen are struggling to make a living. Just a few years ago it was a lucrative business. Now the price for locally caught lobster has plummeted, down to just $4.50 per pound for the whole lobster.  Why - lobster from Mexico are selling for $3/pound, putting many Keys lobstermen out of business.

You wouldn’t guess that the price is this low if you order lobster at a local restaurant or buy it at a fish market.  It is tough to find a lobster dinner for less than $50 at a restaurant and fish markets charge about $20/pound for whole lobster. Click here for video interview with a man in the business in Key West, explaining the reason this industry is dying in the Keys, thanks to imports.

Starck’s Wheel Ditch is a high-traffic channel adjacent to Lower Matecumbe Key, averaging less than 100 feet in width, and the location of many boating accidents over the years.

On June 10, the Council passed a resolution, to hire WSP, an engineering firm that does work for the Village, to provide professional services to assist in obtaining permits for a new slow speed/minimum wake zone.

Barely a month after the Council decision, another accident occurred in the Wheel Ditch.  It could take a year until the changes approved by Council are made, and signs are up. Extreme caution is needed when going through this narrow passage through the mangroves. Act responsibly, be patient, be safe.

According to Coach Holly “People like to think of this as a rebuilding year, but we are looking at it as a reloading year.” And reload they did, with an impressive 28-14 win against Southwest Fri night.

The young team looked great and the field rocked as Coral Shores sported a marching band for the first time in a number of years.  

A #1 Coral Shores fan, Van Cadenhead, was missing from his seat on the 50-yard line.  For years at games, Van rang the antique ship’s bell he got from Tavernier’s “K” Wilkinson long ago.  The band managed to fill in with the enthusiasm and noise volume Van provided before he moved from Islamorada to Sebastian, Florida, a few months ago.

Did you know: The Matecumbe Memorial Garden is located between the Hurricane Monument and Matecumbe Methodist Church. It is a serene non-denominational garden of remembrance; a place for cremains or memory plaques, honoring cherished family members or friends.

For information, call the Matecumbe Methodist church office - 305-664-3661.

The library will close for approximately five weeks, starting September 15, to receive extensive interior repairs including new flooring, repainting all interior walls, cleaning and lighting improvements.

The work requires the removal of all material, shelving and furnishings.

While the work is underway, staff from the library will be providing outreach services at locations throughout the community. Updates on the project will be available on the library website, keyslibraries.org.

The Mayor’s Baseball Survey Statistics!

While the Mayor is taking the heat for what a few are calling a biased survey, others are grateful for the opportunity to voice their opinions.

There were 15 questions that were yes, no questions.  Two allowed additional comments.  One regarding artificial turf and #16 at the end for general comments.

We were impressed that 115 residents took the time to write general comments at the end of the survey.  Of those 115, 89 had some concerns with the plan: location at park instead of on school property, cost to taxpayers, scope of project, design details.

This project has been in planning stages for about 3 years. It seems clear that many of the concerns voiced through the survey should have been addressed much earlier in the process.  Perhaps a lesson learned as to transparency and public involvement.  

Summary of some statistics from week four of the survey, Click here.

One interesting email we got: “Who can we trust with critical decisions that impact the community? We sure can’t trust the Village Council to listen and do what’s best.  And the School Board seems even worse.”

But rarely does the public show up in person to voice their opinions.

In a continuing effort to inform and educate the residents of current events, mandates and issues that affect the lives of residents and our unique environment, I submit the following:

Last week our editorial discussed “affordable housing”. We were concerned about Monroe County Facebook page advertising of 12 Southcliff Estates apartments:

• 1 bedroom apartments for$2,995/month.

• Required minimum income listed:$71,880;

• eligible tenants: tourism industry employees only.

The $2,995/month for rent is over the top and not realistic!  

It wasn’t long before Monroe County had several hundred comments regarding their posted ad, and the public reaction was overwhelmingly negative.

So what did the County do?  

They removed the opportunity to comment on their Facebook page and removed all the prior comments.

Will Southcliff rental rates be discussed at the upcoming August 20 commission meeting? Let’s hope so because yes, there is a problem, Commissioners.

What have we learned since last week?

As to the rent: On July 16. 2025 the County Commission removed a deed restriction placed on the property in 2022 specifying that the 1-bedroom units would be low income housing for at least the next 99 years.

The County Commissioners replaced it with a new deed restriction making the units moderate income housing for the next 99 years.

What’s the difference? Maximum rent limit for low income would have been $2085/month, about a $1,000 less than the new deed restriction.

Still high, but better.

The TDC funding, approved by the Florida Legislature and used to pay for the County purchase of the property specifies moderate income housing and therefore the higher maximum rent is allowed… but not required. 

A majority of our hospitality workers would probably fall into the low income category, not moderate.

Our legislators should be asked why the moderate? They should know the plight of our hospitality workers.  But they also know that the category simply sets an absolute  maximum limit for rent. And provides flexibility. Who would have guessed the County would ask close to the maximum rent and blame it on the legislature?  

Both low and moderate limits are higher than what is needed to address our problem.

Monroe County Median Income problem:

The limits are calculated based on the current median income for Monroe County: $118,000. A number that goes up dramatically, year after year, as our middle class is priced out of the Keys, replaced by the millionaires and corporate buyers.

The county purchased the housing with a majority of “free” money from the TDC, (nothing is free) not funds from their own accounts.

The County should provide what was intended – a rent break for members of the workforce.

The minimum salary advertised at $71,880 was based on the rent of $2,995 being 50% of the annual income. If the rent is $2000/month, the minimum salary would be $48,000 – not $71,880.

It is essential that the low income workers receive a rent commensurate with their income.

We ask the County Commissioners to make the adjustment at their meeting on the 20th of August.

As to the purchase of the Southcliff Estates:

The purchase contract details the source of funds:

• $6,867,100 with TDC funding for 11 units, from the $35 million TDC excess

• $654,549 of Infrastructure Sales to purchase the 12th unit.

• Total cost including closing costs, water and wastewater charges: $7,521,649

The nearly $6.9 million from TDC is the allocation for TDC District IV (Long Key

through Islamorada) and District V (Tavernier and Key Largo). We are guessing this purchase may have used all or most of the $35 million TDC funds for projects north of the Long Key Bridge.

Wake up Islamorada! Doesn’t the Village have any possible affordable housing projects? Several current Village Council members spent years on our Affordable Housing Committee.

Possible motive for the high rent:

The purchase of the Southcliff Estates12 units includes enough land, with existing permits, for another 16 affordable units – total of 28 on the property.

The County seems to want the occupants of the first 12 units to contribute to future expansion. Residents who can least afford it.

A County document (page 2) indicates the high rent is to assure the county can cover Southcliff costs for things like insurance without increasing taxes. But at full occupancy the revenue for the 12 units at $2,995 would be over $430,000/year.

Also on the Aug 20 Commission Agenda: The council is being asked to reserve 146 affordable ROGO allocations for the property immediately to the north, adjoining Southcliff Estates. Between the two projects… a cluster of 174 affordable units.

This housing is definitely needed! But why as one large very dense neighborhood?

The County code limits incentives for “workforce housing” to projects no greater than 20 units without special processing. The logical desire is to scatter the housing throughout the Upper Keys.

We ask our County, Village and state legislatures to listen to the people.

It is what you are elected to do.

Make the obvious changes for your residents.

As always,

Tom Raffanello

Reply to: ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

Employee Medical Insurance Costs: During the budget workshops last week, the council discussed employee medical insurance. The new Budget Task Force stressed concern about the  extreme cost of employee benefits, and particularly medical insurance.

Prior Manager Yates approved a costly policy change in 2023: While Ted Yates was village manager, without Council approval, he changed employee insurance coverage to include spouses, domestic partners, and children, with the Village covering nearly all of the added premium costs.   Deception? In a final budget amendment approved by Council in December 2023, the employee insurance costs as changed by Yates were shown to have increased by $328,000 from the original $995,100 (to a total cost: $1,323,100) for the budget year. The staff report simply said the purpose of the amendment was “to reflect changes based on activity in the fiscal year.” No mention of the Yates policy change. Continuing Impact: As more employee families are added, the costs have continued to escalate.  Insurance for employees has gone from the original $995,100 in the 2022-2023 budget to $2,296,804 in the proposed General Fund budget for 2025-2026.  There are also similar increases in employee insurance costs in Enterprise funds, covered by user fees, not taxes. (building department, wastewater, marina) The current council does not believe it would be appropriate to take away this insurance benefit from current employees but have discussed not offering the same coverage for future employees. During last year’s budget workshops, the council was provided a chart to show the cost to taxpayers of employee and family health insurance.  We could not find a similar chart for the 25 - 26 budget. Click here to see the cost of coverage for employee family members in current budget. Basically taxpayers now pay 100% of employees’ insurance and approximately 97% of insurance for family members. Cost of Yate’s Action: The change in policy adopted by then Manager Ted Yates, without Council approval, may be now costing the Village as much as $1 million/year. Lawsuit with Yates: In May 2024, Yates filed a lawsuit against the Village seeking monetary funds in excess of $100,000, and other relief, as a result of the Village failing to renew his contract in July 2023. Status of lawsuit: The most recent court filing was a report on a mediation session 7/30/2025. Rules of confidentiality apply to the mediation, however, the report filed by the mediator stated: “The outcome was:   IMPASSE”   We wonder: What is the penalty when a manager makes a decision, without authorization, that could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars year after year after year? Perhaps the Village should sue Yates.

A Week full of Budget: 3 Workshops and Special Call Council meeting - all about Village Finances.  There was a lot to learn about how the Village is spending tax dollars. And very little public involvement. When taxpayers receive TRIM notices in the next week or so, they may wish they had spoken up!

If you didn’t attend or watch the budget workshops, let us give a summary of some things you missed!   Personnel Costs: This coming year - $14,668,000, up $795,000 over last year’s budget; with no raises budgeted for coming year - YET.  Personnel costs are 53% of total projected expenditures. Employee Benefits: of the total cost for personnel, only 56% is for salaries, 44% is for employee benefits. Firefighters retirement benefit: taxpayers contribute to retirement funding, 35.19% of firefights/EMS employees salary, as special risk employees ($1,581,000 for coming year) as required by Village participation in the Florida Retirement Service (FRS). Did you know? The Village has several Enterprise Funds: Expenses to be covered by users, not property taxes: Marina, Wastewater, Building Department.  All had deficits last year - the Village needs to review fees charged for services provided. *Building Fund is classified as Special Revenue but is required to be self-supporting The Village has two grounds maintenance crews: one with Public Works for roadways, etc; one for Founders Park, different departments, different set of mowing equipment. FDOT is responsible for maintaining U.S. One Right of Way: They pay the Village $65,000 per year to do it for them (same charge for a number of years now). Public Works cost to maintain Right of Way - apparently over $300,000. Council discussed checking with local businesses to see if they can do it for less. Sheriff, Cost of contract: Islamorada’s current budget for the sheriff, $3,079,678 is $425,000 more than Marathon’s. Marathon is larger than Islamorada.  Same sheriff. Cost for Sheriff services in coming year: $3,618,490, up almost $540,000 in one year. Cost for Fire/EMS: Proposed 2025-2026 budget: $8,897,923, up $464,789 in one year. Marina Rates: Council commented that our rates should not be less than rates at competing marinas.   Village Marina: transient 40’ boat $220/night; long term $1120/month Three Waters: transient 40’ boat $240/night; long term $2400/month (Nov - May) The Fills: The Village no longer has a lease for the Right of Way along the Fills. The weekend Public Works overtime is not in the 2025-2026 budget. The state parks are hoping to have kayak launches, one on the ocean side and one on the bay side for access to Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. Promised reduction in tax rate: Taxpayers were assured the tentative tax rate of 3 mills approved last month would be decreased before the final budget is approved in September. At the third budget workshop, Manager Ron Saunders provided an amended budget with the millage rate reduced to 2.65.  However, few operational expenses were reduced - a majority of cuts were to one-time capital projects ($1.5 million) and a $1.2 million reduction in the fund balance.   Line of Credit:Instead of maintaining a $14 million fund balance budgeted last year, the tentative fund balance is reduced by $2 million to just under $12 million.  A $20 million line of credit is proposed to cover extraordinary costs in case of a natural disaster or other unanticipated emergency. Possible Future Concerns about reducing fund balance: Possibility of a destructive storm with ever changing weather patterns Possible change (decrease) in FEMA reimbursements for storm damage The state of Florida has contemplated major changes in property taxes - perhaps eliminating them for homesteaded properties, thus dramatically impacting local property tax revenues. Downturn in tourist industry creating decrease in numerous revenue sources.