News & Notes Archives

All About Florida Tour visits Putnam, Sumter, Hendry and Manatee Counties

Leon and Okaloosa County All About Florida Tour on June 4

Last week FAC hit the road traveling across the state visiting Putnam, Sumter, Hendry and Manatee counties. The visits were part of FAC’s annual All About Florida tour where FAC’s President and staff take the opportunity to visit our members regionally and hear directly from them on the many impacts Tallahassee and the economy are having on their county.

Legislative Summary on FAC Priorities

Each November, the FAC membership votes on the top priorities for the FAC legislative team to focus on during the Session. Each year FAC tracks more than 700 pieces of legislation and must focus on the bills most important to our membership to pass or defeat. This year FAC was successful in meeting the majority of the goals and priorities outlined by our membership. Below is a summary:

FAC asks Governor to veto SB 360—Growth Management Bill

On Friday, the Florida Association of Counties asked Governor Crist to veto the latest changes to Florida’s growth management program (SB 360). The bill largely impacts Florida’s urban areas – eight entire counties and 129 cities which indirectly affects 34 counties. For these areas the bill would eliminate transportation concurrency requirements allowing developers to move forward without accounting for needed transportation infrastructure. Due to this and other issues with the bill, FAC membership requested the Governor veto this bad bill. A copy of the letter can be accessed by clicking here.

FAC encourages Governor and media to veto SB 216 regarding county position preemption

A bill preempting local governments from expending funds on any referendum before the voters passed during this legislative session. Due to the controversy surrounding this bill, FAC Executive Director Chris Holley has been active in speaking with the papers across the state articulating the importance of counties educating its citizens and expressing freely as a county or as individuals if an issue will be positive or detrimental to counties. Follow the links for Chris Holley’s editorial that appeared in the Sarasota Herald Tribune or FAC’s response to the Orlando Sentinel’s opinion on SB 216.

DJJ hosting meetings to update counties

FAC will be meeting with the Department of Juvenile Justice on juvenile detention and billing. This discussion is intended to answer questions you may have about juvenile detention, as well as questions on the billing process. If you have suggestions on improvements that can be made, please share those with us as well. DJJ is open to working with us to find solutions to the challenges. If you cannot travel to Tallahassee, the Department has offered use of their facilities that have Video Tele-Conferencing (VTC).