News & Notes Archives

FAC Welcomes Davin Suggs to Lobbying Team

Davin Suggs has accepted the position of Senior Legislative Advocate. Davin will be the point person on county finance and budget issues. His first day will be Monday, September 22nd and he will be attending the Policy Conference in Clearwater. Davin has extensive financial and management experience in county government. He is currently serving as the Budget Director for Gadsden County.

FAC Legislative Team Spends Summer Thanking Legislators

Even with political differences, many legislators help to advance FAC policies

Throughout each legislative session there are members of the House and Senate that make an extra effort to help advance FAC efforts or puts aside political differences to keep an open door and include FAC in the policy making. These legislators help to make FAC successful during the legislative session and FAC has made an effort over the summer to recognize these legislators.

Tax Increment Financing without a Referendum Finally UPHELD in Escambia v. Strand

On Thursday, September 18, 2008, in a 4-2 opinion, the Supreme Court of Florida completely reversed itself from last year on whether a referendum is required before bonds can be issued using tax increment financing. The final answer was that no referendum is required for tax increment financing bonds. The opinion can be viewed by clicking here.

Regional Conflict Counsel Update

FAC, along with 25 individual counties, filed a complaint in July, challenging the constitutionality of the 2007 legislation that seeks to require counties to fund certain elements of the newly created offices of regional conflict counsel. The complaint raises two main arguments: (1) the language of Article V, section 14, as approved by the voters in 1998, made the costs of conflict counsel a STATE, not a county responsibility.

DJJ to hold rulemaking workshops

Over the next several weeks the Department of Juvenile Justice will be holding three rule workshops throughout the state to elicit feedback on proposed rules they are recommending relating to detention cost-sharing between the state and counties. The proposed rules may be reviewed by clicking here.