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News & Notes
Judge removes Property Tax Amendment from Ballot
Circuit Court rules amendment is unclear and misleading
JobLine
CALENDAR
September 26
CCC Workshop: Growth Management
Alachua County
September 26-28
FAC Policy Committee Conference & Board of Directors Meeting
Alachua County
September 26-28
Florida Ethics Conference
Orange County
October 2-3
Florida Firewise Conference
Orange County
October 15
SCTAS Alternative Revenue Workshop
Hardee County
October 25-26
Florida Forum: Part 1
Alachua County
November 14
CCC Workshop
St Johns County
November 14-16
Legislative Conference
St Johns County
The Second Judicial Circuit Court entered an order STRIKING the proposed "super homestead" exemption proposal from the ballot in January as putting before the voter ballot language that was confusing and stating, "The summary is just not correct. It is misleading." The reasoning of the court was that the summary fails to inform the voter that the proposal's ultimate effect is to phase out Save Our Homes and that the summary fails tell the voter key facts related to that result.
Polk County joins FAC Health Insurance Program
Polk County has become the latest addition to the FAC Health Insurance Program, joining a growing list of counties who have found the competitive advantage of FAC's partnership with its health provider Aetna. Polk selected Aetna over eight other respondents as a result of a county-issued RFP. Aetna was the clear leader in every category which included cost, network adequacy, administrative capabilities, medical management capabilities, and performance guarantees.
The power of the constitution is in the hands of the TBRC.
REMINDER:
Taxation & Budget Reform Commission is meeting through out the state. Please make your planst o attend today! Click here for a complete list of dates and locations.
Counties and their residents must challenge the encroachment upon local decision-making by encouraging the TBRC to recommend constitutional amendments that protect local voices - instead of amendments that would silence local voices.
Tax Increment Financing -
Supreme Court Says Need Referendum Approval
Escambia County brought a bond validation proceeding to have the court validate its road construction bonds that were to be financed with tax increment revenues. The county prevailed at the trial court level. However, an intervener, Dr. Strand, appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court on the issue of whether a county has the home rule power to pledge tax increment against bonds to finance infrastructure outside the context of a community redevelopment authority.
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.
FAC Welcomes Dan Owens
-Fiscal Policy Director-
FAC is proud to announce its final addition to the legislative team, Dan Owens. Dan will serve as a new legislative advocate, filling Bob McKee's old position. In his role as legislative advocate he will focus on public finance and tax issues.
Dan joins FAC from the Auditor General's office where he worked for more than 23 years as a state and local government auditor. He is a CPA and graduate of FSU. Dan and his wife, Danielle have two children, Kayla (15) and Patrick (4).
Dan can be reached at (850) 850-488-5857 or dowens@fl-counties.com.
ELI Resource on Clean Water Act
In June 2007, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) released the Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Handbook to help clarify the 2006 Supreme Court ruling in Rapanos v. United States with regard to the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction over wetlands and streams. Click here for a free download of the Handbook and other resources.
FAC 2008 Legislative Conference
World Golf Village Renaissance Resort (St. Johns County)
November 14-16, 2007
FAC's policymaking. This event is your opportunity to join county officials from across the state and help define the Association's legislative agenda for the 2008 Legislative Session.
The Florida Association of Counties is called upon to represent county government interests year-round on a variety of issues including finance and tax, healthcare, transportation, and growth management.