When earlier this year the Miami Dade Ethics Commission ruled that Joe Martinez, chair of the county commission, had not violated any ethics rules when he accepted free contracting work for his new home from interests lobbying the county commission to move the Urban Development Boundary, we knew why.
The Miami Dade County Commission set its own ethics rules.
Now we hear from Dan Ricker in today’s Miami Herald that the head of the ethics commission, Robert Myers, proposes increasing the ethics commission's budget, given Miami-Dade County's almost 2.5 million residents, its 30,000-plus county workforce and its 35 municipalities, ``to keep up with the growing demand for our services.''
What exactly are those services, except to act as a perfume dispenser like sprayers of citrus mash at the Virginia Key sewage treatment plant?
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IRS Form 1099 & Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose Martinez
According to the Internal Revenue Service they are now conducting an outreach campaign in the entertainment industry regarding the taxability of gift bags and promotional items. This effort is focused on distribution of celebrity gift bags and goodie bags in conjunction with appearances by the stars at award shows and other gatherings.
I wonder if this new rule also applies to our elected, appointed and administrative government officials! Because it should apply to them as well.
Therefore Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose Martinez is also responsible for paying the IRS his fair share of taxes on the many gifts that he has received. Has he filled out Form 1099 with the “market value” for the land he was recently provided at a special price? Has he itemized his 1099 with the “retail value” of the many gifts and deeply discounted items he has received from is generous pals that just happen to be roofers, A/C distributors, window suppliers, plumbing contractors, pool installers, floor installers, landscapers, electricians and such?
Let’s hope so!
If not, then perhaps Commissioner Martinez may have a generous CPA pal that will donate his time and talents to help defend him
during his forthcoming IRS audit.
Harry Emilio Gottlieb
Coconut Grove
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