Home | Feedback | Contact Us

Search our website

Communcations & Publications

• News & Notes
• News & Notes Archive
• FAC Directory
• Mail Labels Order Form [PDF]
• Media Relations
• Brand Central

Download this newsletter as a PDF
View News & Notes Archive

News & Notes

The January 29th Property Tax Constitutional Amendment
18 Words that Change Everything

"require the Legislature to limit the authority of counties, municipalities, and special districts to increase ad valorem taxes;" Ballot language for January 29th Special Election re property taxes.

As each county makes tough choices to accommodate the statutory language passed during the special session, commissioners and staff are looking ahead at the devastating impact the constitutional amendment if passed would have on many quality of life services and critical services. However, as these concerns are addressed it is imperative to not loose sight of the big picture-the amendment requires the legislature to limit the authority of local governments- removing the governmental body closest to the people away from the people.

- more -

Mark your Calendar for the All about Florida Tour!

Next Tour Stops: Taylor and St. Johns Counties

Chris Holley and FAC President Commisioner Teresa Jacobs will be traveling the state to meet with our members to discuss critical issues such as property tax reform, next session, and the TBRC and FAC benefits. The tour will be coming to a county near you so please make your plans to attend. A complete schedule of dates can be found in the column on the left or by clicking here [PDF].

FAC 2007 Policy Committee Conference
BOOK ROOM TODAY!

Hilton University of Florida - Alachua County (Gainesville)
September 26-28, 2007

The 2007 Policy Committee Conference will be held September 26-28 in Alachua County (Gainesville). Time is running out to book your room reservations - the hotel will release the rooms in our block on August 31.

FAC has secured a block of rooms at the Hilton University of Florida, 1714 SW 34th Street, Gainesville (Alachua County). The reduced room rate for FAC attendees is $124 single/double, plus applicable taxes. Make reservations by calling (800) 445-8667; ask for the FL Assoc. of Counties room block.

- more -

Hersh v. Browning: Property Tax Relief Litigation

After the Supreme Court of Florida sent the Hersh v. Browning case back to the circuit court, before hearing the matter, the case was dismissed and the plaintiff, Mayor Hersh was instructed to refile the lawsuit as a declaratory action. Mayor Hersh, on August 7, 2007, refiled his suit, arguing that Secretary Browning should remove the proposed constitutional amendment from the ballot in January 2008 for two reasons:

- more -

State budget cuts and the Legislative Special Session C

The state of Florida is facing a $1.5 billion shortfall that will be addressed during the September 18th special session. Upon learning of the shortfall, the Governor called on all state agencies to propose 10% across the board budget cuts. While the required cuts will likely be less than 4%, by providing up to 10% in cuts the legislature will have more flexibility when determining how to make up the short fall.

- more -

SCTAS Funding in Jeopardy

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), where SCTAS funding is allocated, has proposed cutting the $350,000 allocated for its funding. These cuts are in response to the state's $1.5 billion revenue short fall and upon direction from the Governor of all state agencies to propose 10% across the board cuts.

Many small counties rely on this funding not only for technical assistance but for educational scholarships that pay for registration fees to the County Commissioners Certification (CCC) and Advanced County Commissioner education (ACC) programs. FAC will fight to keep SCTAS funding and our legislative team and the Small County Coalition have included SCTAS on their list of priorities.

- more -

Medicaid Substance Abuse County Match Program Approved by CMS!

County governments working with their substance abuse providers could bring up to $22 million in new federal funds to Florida, under the Medicaid county match program authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid his week. This projection is based on the commitment forms which a number of counties submitted to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) during program planning last year.

- more -

FAC Local Government Loan Program

The Florida Local Government Finance Commission is a nonprofit entity created with the authority to lend funds to Florida's local governments and administered by the Florida Association of Counties. The sole purpose of its creation was to provide a more cost effective means of borrowing to Florida's counties, cities, school boards, and other municipal entities.

The Florida Local Government Finance Program is a pooled commercial paper loan program that provides interim financing for up to 5 years for various capital improvement projects.

- more -

$3.8 Million Available to Florida Counties Soon

Monetary resources available to help keep mentally ill out of jail

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (August 8, 2007) - Florida counties will soon have access to money to help keep their mentally ill citizens out of jail. The passage of HB 1477 during the 2007 legislative session created the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program. The program allots $3.8 million in grants to assist counties in reducing the number of individuals with substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses in local jails and state prisons. The program requires the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation to establish a statewide grant review committee to review the applicants.

- more -

Carl Neu: How other states are dealing with revenue caps and taxing limitation

The Board Retreat, held last week, was a huge success that educated our commissioners and encouraged dialogue on the many challenges facing Florida's counties. During the retreat, Carl Neu joined us to facilitate discussions along with sharing with board members what other state's have experienced and how they have turned the tide to work with their governors and legislatures rather than continue in adversarial roles. For a copy of his complete presentation, please click here [PPT].

- more -

Commission on Open Government

Governor Charlie Crist has now created and appointed the members of the Commission on Open Government. In one of his first official acts after his inauguration, Governor Crist issued Executive Order 07-01 on January 3, 2007, and created the Office of Open Government. The office is designed to help Floridians access information about state government and ensure that government's actions are always transparent and accountable to taxpayers.

- more -

Occupational License Fees for Lawyers

The Florida Association of Counties is participating, along with the League of Cities, Leon County, and the Cities of Coral Gables and Gainesville, as amici curiae in the City of Tampa v. Addison case.

This case is the one where several attorneys in the City of Tampa challenged the City's imposition of an occupational license tax on attorneys and sought class certification on both the plaintiff class (all attorneys in cities and counties imposing an occupational licensing tax on attorneys) and a defendant class (all cities and counties imposing an occupational license tax on attorneys).

- more -

© 2005 Florida Association of Counties

850.922.4300 · P.O. Box 549 Tallahassee, Fl. 32302