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Small counties receive $10 million in funding assistance
In this tough budget year, ensuring that legislators kept their promise to offset Amendment 1 losses to Florida’s fiscally constrained counties has been next to impossible. With cuts totally $4 billion, the state initially proposed to delay funding for Florida’s fiscally constrained counties until 2009-2010. However, through the hard and tireless work of FAC, the small county coalition and Florida’s small county representatives and senators $10 million has been designated to assist small counties recover from the impacts of Amendment 1. Upon the passage of Amendment 1 the Florida legislature promised Florida’s fiscally constrained counties they would provide funding to make up the loss of revenue, an estimated $26 million. Yet with the Revenue Estimating Conference continuing to paint a bleaker future for Florida’s finances, that promise quickly became negotiable. The Governor’s budget proposed no funding until 2009-2010, the House proposed full funding at $26 million and the Senate proposed only $5 million. During the budget negotiations the House conceded to the Senate position and agreed to $5 million. However, after intense lobbying from FAC, the small county coalition, other county lobbyists and the representatives and senators from small counties the appropriated amount was increased to $10 million. While the appropriation only covers 38 percent of the lost by our fiscally constrained counties FAC is pleased to secure any funding this year and will work next year to ensure the other $16 million needed is allocated. For additional information, contact John Wayne Smith.