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By Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist

The year 2011 has officially ended. Downtown Madison’s Christmas decorations have been stored away for another year, party hats and horns bringing in the new year have been tossed, and New Year’s resolutions are in full swing.

Although 2012 has arrived and we are all looking forward to a fresh new start, the news media reminds us daily that we are facing major problems in this country. Our national debt is an alarming $15 trillion and climbing. Our economy is still struggling to produce jobs and get healthy again. Our politicians seem unable to grapple with even the smallest issue without partisan bickering that leads nowhere.

However, glimmers of hope are on the horizon. According to economic estimates ahead of the official Commerce Department figures coming out next week, December 2011 retail sales were up 5.5 percent over the previous year. This is especially good news since consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of our economy.

In the employment area, the unemployment rate and job numbers have shown continued improvement as well. Although still at high levels, the unemployment rate in the state of Florida has dropped two percentage points since January of 2011. According to Governor Scott’s office a total of 8,500 new jobs were added in November, 2011 (the most recent numbers available), making the total net new jobs for the year more than 120,000 in the state of Florida. Madison County statistics have shown comparable improvements as well.

The Florida unemployment rate, although still higher than the national rate, is at the lowest level in 31 months. The good news for Floridians can not come soon enough. The state of Florida has already borrowed over $1.7 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment compensation benefits. Florida businesses will continue to see higher unemployment tax rates for 2012 paid on behalf of their employees. However, with improved employment numbers, this figure will eventually begin to shrink, which in turn will benefit employment taxes for all businesses.

Another glimmer of hope: consumer confidence. Retailers and other businesses seem to be benefiting from a rise in consumer confidence. The Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan preliminary sentiment index rose this month to the highest level since June, according to the survey median before the official report due out this weekend. Of course, stock market gains have played a significant role in the optimism, along with the President’s deal with Republican leaders to keep social security tax rates from rising.

Investors in retail stocks are driving up share prices as consumer spending picks up. The Standard and Poor’s Supercomposite Retailing Index has gained more than 30 percent since June 30, 2010, compared with a 23 percent advance for the broader S&P 500 stock index. Even auto sales in December reached a 12.53 million annual pace, the highest since the government’s so-called cash-for-clunkers incentive program in August 2009.

On another front, the Federal Reserve is continuing their efforts to keep borrowing costs low, benefiting the business sector and indirectly the sluggish Florida real estate market. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke last week reiterated the central bank will buy an additional $600 billion of Treasuries through June in an effort to trim joblessness further and avert deflation, or an extended drop in prices. With the Federal Funds rate (the interest rate on overnight loans between banks) already close to zero, the Fed is buying securities in an effort to keep borrowing costs low.

All in all, there are continued areas of improvement in our economy and glimmers of hope at every turn. Without a doubt, 2012 is an important year. The presidential election coming up in November, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the new health care law expected this summer, and the expiration of the current Federal tax rates on December 31, 2012, are major coming events on the national level. On a local level, Madison County will start ground-breaking on a new hospital facility and several new employers will continue to fill the employee ranks. All of these events will have an impact on every one of us.

Keep a watchful eye. With continued prayers and the right amount of luck, 2012 could be the year that we make the big turn in our economy.

Mark Buescher, CPA is owner and principal of Buescher and Ruff, LLC, a local full service accounting firm in Madison, specializing in tax preparation, business consulting and tax planning. Tax laws contain varying effective dates and numerous limitations and exemptions that cannot be summarized easily. For details and guidance for your specific situation, contact your tax advisor.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

Now that the holidays have come and gone, the bills will soon begin to arrive. You may be shocked at the total amount on your credit cards. Didn’t realize all the fun you had during the holiday season had such a price tag? You may have overspent like many other Americans. It can be difficult to avoid the traps of sophisticated marketing techniques utilized by retailers. Whatever the reason, overspending can leave us with a holiday spending problem – a large debt. Dr. Michael Gutter, Financial Management Specialist with the University of Florida highlights several strategies that may be helpful for you to do.

Now that January is here, you may need to give your credit cards a holiday. While you are planning out your repayment plan, you should put the cards away. Do not take them with you unless you need them for refunds or exchanges. Operate on a cash only basis for the next few months while you are paying off debts. One thing you want to avoid is the post holiday spending. We all know you can get some great deals, but you can go broke practicing this money strategy – you are still spending money. By not making purchases, you will be able to engage in real savings!

Determine the total amount of money you spent over the holiday season. Believe it or not, most people avoid looking at the total. Take time to sort out your bills and add up exactly how much money you spent. While this may not be a fun task, it will give you a clear picture of the money you now owe. A word of warning, you may be shocked at the total! Don’t be overwhelmed, you can pay off your debts with steady, consistent payments.

The next step is to set up a debt repayment plan and stick to it. This need not involve a third party, just an honest discussion and different choices on your part. Create a timeline to pay off your debts. One great tool for this is PowerPay. It is a free online program developed by Utah Extension to help you organize your debts, create a calendar for repayment, and show you how to most efficiently use extra money to pay down your debt more efficiently. A great tool to keep you on track with paying monthly bills is our Extension 2012 Money Management Calendar. For your free copy, stop by the Extension office.

There is always the question of what to do as a substitute for those shopping trips that occupied your time over the last 6 to 8 weeks. It is now a great time to work on those projects you have been postponing because of the holiday season. Get busy and organize your filing cabinet, clean out those closets and cupboards, transplant plants in your yard. You may want to start that daily walking program you’ve been meaning to do for the past 6 month. When you tackle these home and self improvements, you’ll find yourself productive and not tempted to go out and add to your debt load.

Part of your holiday repayment plan needs to include a way to start saving now for 2012. It becomes difficult to meet your expectations for the holidays year after year without planning ahead. By knowing what you spent this past year, you can set up a goal to have a certain amount in a savings account to use for the next holiday season. Some banks have special holiday accounts which allow you to put money into savings on a regular basis. If you aren’t a good saver, this type of account may be helpful.

For more information on money management or assistance with developing a debt repayment plan, contact the Madison County Extension Service.

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.

By Jacob Bembry

God has been with me so many times that I cannot begin to tell you. He has even been there during the stupid times and the stupid things I have done.

I’m not sure if it was stupid what I did that night in 1986 but I’m not sure it was the wisest decision I had ever made. All I know is that God took care of me that night. If He had not done it, I would at least have been left with a black eye, a broken nose and a handful of teeth for the tooth fairy to come pick up and leave me a quarter a piece for.

I was a student at Florida State University at the time and lived in a dorm called Smith Hall. On several of the floors was a TV room. One evening, while I was coming back from dinner or maybe the library (yeah, let’s say it was the library anyway), I saw an encounter. Now, let me preface this by saying that I have been taught to be chivalrous. Even though the encounter was the girl’s fault, I felt I had to stand up for her.

There was a group of 10 or 11 fellows who were watching a show on television when a blue-haired girl (yes, she had blue hair; it was the 80s and many college students were into punk and new wave) went in and decided to turn the channel. As you can probably guess, tempers flared. Not only did the guys get mad, they threatened this girl who I didn’t even really know but I believe whose name was Lisa.

The major threat came from a guy who was a walk-on football player at FSU. He said that he was going to kill her. I heard enough and ran and got in between the two of them.

“No, you’re not,” I said.

Shoving me, he said, “Get out of the way or I’ll kill you too.”

Somehow I kept my voice from shaking, “You may do that but you won’t touch her.” The football player was much shorter than me but he was built like a Sherman tank. He was a running back and you could tell this guy spent hours in the gym.

Somewhere in the middle of my confrontation with the guy, who had the support of 10 other guys in the room, Lisa ran out. “Whew! Maybe she’s gone from help,” I thought. Of course, I didn’t see her until weeks later.

The football player pushed me again. I didn’t move. Again and I didn’t move. Again and my glasses flew across the room but I didn’t move. No matter how many times he shoved, I stood my ground. Finally, he said. “Aw. Forget it.” One of his buddies handed me my glasses and I went to my dorm room with relief washing over me.

The next time I saw Lisa, she was with a girl with half of her blonde hair shaved off. She grabbed me and hugged me and said I was her knight in shining armor. I am sorry to say that since she did not go get help, I was thinking some things about her that were not in line with my Christian character.

The next time I saw the football player was when he showed up to borrow money that my roommate had left with me. I’d had warning that he was coming but I guess that he didn’t expect to see me there. He couldn’t have been a nicer guy that day.

By Joe Boyles
Guilty — this is another one of my columns that doesn’t remotely deal with national security. But it’s my column and I have plenty of license, so here goes… Besides, this one is fun to write and requires no research.

The football world (any others too) is agog at the antics of Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow. Of course, we Floridians (and Gators in particular) are well versed in the heroics of Tebow – two national titles, Heisman Trophy, 48 wins including four drubbings of the Seminoles (sorry about that ‘Nole fans), first round draft choice, etc.

Along the way, we learned that Tim is a remarkable young man off the field as well. The son of missionaries; born in The Philippines; the youngest of five children; home-schooled; honor roll student; devoutly Christian. In fact, he wears his Christian values on his sleeve … as missionaries should. Never pass up the opportunity to confess the faith of Christ crucified nor evangelize, especially when you do it by example. He continues to make annual pilgrimages to the Philippine orphanage his father founded.

Part of the Tebow legend is that when his mom Pam was pregnant with her last child, she developed a blood disorder from poor drinking water. Her doctor in Mindanao recommended a medical abortion to protect her fragile health. Pam and her husband Bob prayed about the decision and decided to put God in charge of such matters. She survived the pregnancy and gave birth … to little Timmy. Little Timmy is now all grown up at 6’3”, 250 pounds. God answers prayer.

Tebow is now in his second season with the Broncos. He took over as the starting quarterback after the fifth game when the rabid Denver fans demanded change. At that point, the Broncos were in the cellar of the AFC western division with a 1-4 record. Over the next eight games, Tebow guided the team to a 7-1 record and first place in the AFC West, with many come from behind, last second victories. The fourth quarter comeback heroics became known as “Tebow Time.” Bronco mania returned to Mile High.

All of this thrust Timmy (as his mother Pam calls her youngest) into the international spotlight even more than the bright lights of Gainesville had. His characteristic pose on one knee, head bowed, fist to forehead thanking God for strength and deliverance earned him plenty of attention … and ridicule from the likes of late night loudmouth Bill Maher.

Some have suggested that he is the “most polarizing figure in professional football.” I suppose that’s true if you consider the important figures of the Bible – Isaac, Abraham, Paul, Simon Peter, Andrew, Isaiah, to name a few. – polarizing. They certainly were two thousand years ago. Many of them were put to death for their outspoken beliefs, so they must have been polarizing. It’s hard to imagine a man of God as polarizing, but maybe he is. If so, it is a sad commentary of our times

Here’s a funny story about Touchdown Tim. Four years ago, I was on the board of directors of a Tallahassee non-profit crisis pregnancy center. At one board meeting, we were discussing a banquet speaker for an upcoming fund-raiser when our executive director chimed in. “I’m in contact with the mother of a University of Florida football player who just won a nice prize. His name is Tim Tebo.” I kid you not! Of course, the prize was nothing less than the Heisman, the most iconic award in sports. Before the letter of invitation went out, we corrected the spelling to Tebow with a w. Don’t believe me? Ask Mark Branham. He’s my witness.

Sunday, after the Broncos had backed into the playoffs with three consecutive losses, the luster seemed to have worn off Tebow’s halo. So what does he do? Puts the Broncos ahead of the defending AFC champion Pittsburg Steelers, and on the first play of overtime, throws an 80 yard touchdown pass to win the first playoff game in Denver in five years. That nifty play was seen by no less than 45 million viewers. Hail Tebow; the legend continues.

Incidentally, while we’re on the subject, here’s an interesting piece of trivia that might win you a cold one at the local sports bar. The Florida Gators have had three Heisman Trophy winners; all quarterbacks; all the sons of preachers. The uninformed skeptics will try to correct you by saying that Steve Spurrier’s father couldn’t have been a minister. Oh yes he was … in Johnson City, Tennessee. For the record, number two was Danny Wuerffel whose dad John was an Air Force chaplain. We served together at both Edwards and Eglin in the 1990s when Danny was chucking the ball all across the SEC.

Maybe the Broncos and their young quarterback are the recipient of divine guidance. I know that many fans in Denver are true believers; they demanded change and their faith has been rewarded. Miracles do happen. And to those doubters: “oh ye of little faith.”

These days as we see politicians and other talking heads on television, we sometimes notice that they are talking out of both sides of their mouths. They pander to both sides of an issue so we don’t know where they actually stand. Many times, these smooth talkers will just stick to one lie. They use their mouths and their charm to manipulate their constituents.

Politicians are not the only ones who do this. There are others who do this. It may be a family member, a friend or even an enemy. They let words fall from their silver tongues like honey and people around them swarm like flies attracted to the honey. As soon as they taste it, though, they discover that it’s vinegar. It’s bitter and they try to spit it out but they are already so far into the trap that they just go ahead and swallow it.

The Bible tells us to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no.” That’s the way everyone should be.

I am not the kind of person who uses lies to attract people to me. Whenever I give a compliment to a person, they should believe it’s true because it is. I will not be a chameleon who changes his appearance to blend in with whatever environment I am in.