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FAC 2008 LEGISLATIVE DAY – ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY!
REGISTRATION AVAILABLE ON-SITE
JobLine
City of West Palm Beach
Water Plant Manager
Information Services Analyst (Programmer Level II)
Volusia County
CALENDAR
March 25, 2008
Inaugural Connect Florida and Kids Voting Gala
Leon County
March 26, 2008
FAC Legislative Day
Leon County
March 26, 2008
Affordable Housing Day
Leon County
March 27, 2008
CCC Workshop: Understanding Charter Government
Leon County
March 27-28, 2008
Local Government Finance & Tax Seminar
Orange County
April 18, 2008
Establishing Stormwater Utilities in Florida
Orange County
June 15-18, 2008
GFOA 102nd Annual Conference
Broward County
June 22-25, 2008
GMIS Conference
Atlantic City, NJ
June 24-27, 2008
FAC Annual Conference
Miami-Dade County
Please join us for the 2008 Legislative Day and Reception on Wednesday, March 26, in Leon County (Tallahassee). This event is an excellent opportunity for you to obtain up-todate information on legislative proposals that affect counties. The day also gives you an opportunity to meet with members of your legislative delegation to discuss FAC’s Legislative Program and specific concerns from your area. The program provides several hours between the briefing and the reception for you to schedule meetings with your legislators for one-on-one or group sessions. Click here for additional information on Legislative Day and the registration packet.
County and Municipal Revenue Estimates
The Department of Revenue’s Office of Research of has released information on anticipated revenue reductions that will affect county and municipal governments for the remainder of the 2007-08 fiscal year. To view the anticipated reductions on the LCIR’s County and Municipal Revenue Estimates webpage, click here.
TBRC passes RLE swap
The TBRC met on March 17, 2008 to consider several proposals. The most significant event of the day was the discussion and vote on former Senate President John McKay’s proposal CP0002, which would mandate the legislature’s replacement of the school district’s required local effort property taxes with a) review of sales tax exemptions, b) up to one penny increase in sales taxes, and c) spending reductions from other state budget components and revenue increases from economic growth as a result of lower taxes.
TABOR On TBRC March 26th Agenda
The TBRC currently plans to meet again on March 26, April 4, and April 24-25 with an additional meeting possible. The commission’s intent is to have all constitutional proposals for the November 2008 ballot through style and drafting for the April 24-25 meeting where the must again receive 17 favorable votes to be placed on the ballot for voters. The commission’s proposal on TABOR, CP0045 (Mike Hogan), is scheduled for the March 26, 2008 meeting of the commission; however this is subject to change.
Public Construction Projects Passes Committee
A bill limiting a local government’s use of its own workforce on certain construction projects passed its first committee this week. Specifically, HB 683 by Representative Will Weatherford requires counties and cities that need to conduct repair and maintenance on public buildings or structures, where the costs are expected to exceed $280,000, to competitively award such work to a licensed contractor, rather than using in-house personnel.
Affordable Housing Bill Moves Forward
The first major housing bill of the session passed out its first committee of reference this week. HB 699 by Representative Aubochon includes no new programs but does include some policy changes for the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and for local governments receiving funds from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.
Small county road program preserved
The Senate Transportation Committee passed its second transportation bill this week. While SB 1688 is viewed as relatively minor piece of legislation, it includes two issues important to FAC. First, it creates a Transportation Revenue Study Commission, similar to a national commission created several years ago, whose purpose is to consider long-term funding options for Florida’s transportation system.
Energy Policy In Debate
The House Energy Committee and Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee continued to discuss energy issues this week. The House recommended PCCENRC- 08-01 to the Environment and Natural Resources Council as a committee bill. Both bills continue to take different approaches state to energy policy, but both bills do address topics such as green building, tax credits and exemptions for energy issues, and energy governance.
Suspend vs. Terminate Medicaid Benefits for Inmates Incarcerated for Less than a Year
FAC staff, as well as representatives from Broward and Miami-Dade, DOC representatives, and Budget staff from the Governor’s Office met with Senate Healthcare Policy staff as well as Senator Wilson’s aide and Senator Dawson’s aide to discuss the fiscal note attached to SB 1456 and how we may work together to ensure the successful passage of said legislation.
Expansion of Clerk of Courts Authority Passes Committee
HB 399 by Rep. Grant passed out of Government Efficiency and Accountability Council Wednesday without opposition. HB 399 expands the authority of the Clerk of Court that has existed for years by referring to the clerk as the “county auditor.”
House Juvenile Justice Bill Moves to Floor
HB 273 by Rep. Adams that would amend various sections in the juvenile justice chapter passed out of Policy and Budget Council on Tuesday with the guarantee that Rep. Adams and Rep. Cannon would sit down with the FAC prior to the legislation reaching the floor to continue to discuss our concerns regarding the legislation.
Stormwater and Impact Fees Bill Moves Forward
HB 761 and SB 2060 passed the House Agribusiness and Senate Agriculture, respectively, this week. Both bills prohibit counties from imposing any assessment or fee for stormwater management on land classified as agricultural if the operation has a discharge permit or has implemented best management practices (BMPs).
Mining Bill To Become Official
PCB-ENRC-08-01 will become an official bill in the Environment and Natural Resources Council this week. The bill preempts local governments from addressing anything covered in Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes when siting limestone mines. While a supply of aggregate material is important to Florida, environmental protection is equally important.
Fertilizer Preemptions Move Forward
HB 1267 by Representative Nelson passed the House Agribusiness this week. The bill is problematic because it does not implement the Consumer Fertilizer Task Force recommendations. Instead, it mandates that all local governments pass a fertilizer ordinance, and then preempts local authority to determine what goes into the ordinance.
Regional Conflict Counsels Upheld by Supreme Court
In the 2007 session, the Legislature enacted changes to section 29.008, F.S. for the purpose of attempting to require counties to fund the newly created offices of regional conflict counsel by defining those persons to be a part of the office of the public defender. Under Article V, section 14, Florida Constitution and Chapter 29, Florida Statutes, the counties are obligated to fund certain enumerated pieces of the state court system, including the “overhead” (e.g., facilities, utilities, technology, phones) expenses of the public defender.
Brownfields Resources for Rural Communities & Small Towns
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) will hold a workshop on Brownfields Resources for Rural Communities & Small Towns on April 23, 2008 at the Seminole Inn in Indiantown, Florida. This workshop is open to all county officials and staff.
SCTAS SPECIAL PROJECT REMINDER
This is a reminder to all participating small counties that there are only 10 weeks left to complete your SCTAS funded projects. You must send in the necessary paperwork by June 2 by mailing it to PO Box 549 Tallahassee, FL 32303 or by faxing it to (850) 893-8456.
Establishing Stormwater Utilities in Florida
FAC, the Florida League of Cities (FLC), and the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) are co-sponsoring a seminar on Establishing Stormwater Utilities in Florida. The seminar is scheduled for April 18, 2008, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. Having a stormwater utility allows the cost of many stormwater management services to be shifted out of the general fund.
State awards grant to Broward County
Broward County has been awarded $991,369 over three years for a Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The State Legislature, through HB 1477, made available $3.8 million in funding to counties for the purpose of creating state, local and private partnerships to address the treatment of individuals with substance abuse and mental illness who are in a county jail, or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
FAC 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition
The FAC Annual Conference and Exposition will be held June 24-27 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami-Dade County. Our room block is officially open for reservations. Click here for hotel information, a preliminary schedule of events, and golf tournament registration. The Annual Conference brochure and registration form will be available the first week of April.
The Rural Safety Innovation Program was Recently Announced in the Federal Register
This program is an opportunity for local rural road owners to improve rural road safety through infrastructure and technological approaches using up to $15 million in available funds. The Rural Safety Innovation Program is geared toward entities responsible for rural roads and highways such as counties, towns, townships and tribal governments partnering with the State Departments of Transportation to submit applications for rural safety projects. Applications must be received by April 14.
Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative
The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Community-Based Restoration Program, has announced the second year of funding for the Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative (CCRI). This initiative provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to innovative, high-quality county-led or supported projects. In 2008, CCRI will provide $500,000 in grants to improve stream, river, estuarine, and other important marine habitats.