Welcome to the Florida Association of Counties

The House and Senate convened this week in an effort to trim the current year budget by nearly $1 billion. Leadership has agreed on a plan of cutting $800 million and shifting another $150 - $200 million in trust funds to balance the books. At present, both Chambers have resisted making significant cost shifts to counties.

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Property Tax Update

The Legislature has indicated today their intention to extend the current special session through Wednesday of next week to address property taxes, yet again. Please make your travel arrangements today to be in Tallahassee on Monday and Tuesday of next week to meet with your legislators and discuss the impact of these reductions to your county's services as well as its assault on home rule.

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Hersh v. Browning: Property Tax Relief Litigation

After the circuit court entered its order on September 24, striking SJR 4B from the ballot because the ballot language of the super homestead exemption was misleading and not clear and declaring that the millage roll back and cap of HB 1B was not unconstitutional, the State of Florida filed a notice of appeal on the ballot language matter. That notice of appeal was filed in the circuit court and has been received by the First District Court of Appeal.

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Lawmakers Pass No-Fault Car Insurance

© 2007 The Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's no-fault auto insurance system would return Jan. 1 under a bill passed Friday by the Legislature, relieving some of the confusion over the state's requirements for motorists to have medical coverage. The Senate unanimously passed the bill to bring the system back after the House had passed it 105-4 earlier in the day. The measure now goes to Gov. Charlie Crist, who is expected to sign it.

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FAC NACo Policy Elections Review Committee

The NACo Elections Policy Review Committee, chaired by FAC 1st V.P. Rodney Long, met in August regarding FAC's objective(s) in endorsing a candidate and the need for FAC to craft policies that aid in achieving those outcomes. The main objective identified in FAC endorsing a candidate was to ensure that Florida's counties are adequately represented in NACo by maximizing FAC's leverage as one of the largest and most active states within the organization.

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FAC 2007 Policy Committee Conference Survey

Your Input Needed Today

We recently held our Policy Committee Conference at the Hilton University of Florida in Alachua County. If you were an attendee at this conference, please help us with future program planning by clicking here and participating in a quick conference survey; the survey should only take a few minutes to complete. Your feedback is very important to us.

CCC: Florida's Legislative Process Workshop

On Tuesday, November 13, the Florida's Legislative Process workshop will be held before the 2008 FAC Legislative Conference in St. Johns County. Participants will receive an overview of the legislative process including bill tracking, grassroots lobbying techniques, and the roles that the Executive Branch, Senate, and House have on legislation.

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Florida Association of Counties Trust

FACT is a pooled risk-sharing program developed by and for Florida counties. It is designed to fill the needs of local governments for liability coverage and to provide lower costs, greater stability, more flexibility, and broader coverages than are generally available.

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FAC 2008 Legislative Conference

World Golf Village Renaissance Resort (St. Johns County)

November 13-16, 2007

The 2008 FAC Legislative Conference in St. Johns County is a critical element in 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.

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