COUNTY 

Observer 

Andy Dance, Flagler County Commission chair, elevated in state leaders in two roles  

He will represent Flagler with Small County Coalition of Florida and Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Counties 

 

Hometown News 

Martin Commissioner earns Certified Designation  

STUART, Fla (July, 15, 2025) – Martin County Commissioner Eileen Vargas was presented with the Certified County Commissioner (CCC) designation from the Institute for County Government (ICG) at an award ceremony held at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Annual Conference and Educational Exhibition in Orange County, Florida. 

 

My Panhandle 

Gulf County Commissioners declare state of emergency to bypass need for permit  

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Gulf County Commissioners have declared a local state of emergency during Tuesday’s commission meeting. 

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

St. Pete Catalyst 

Pinellas receives $233 million in hazard mitigation funding  

Pinellas County and its municipalities have received $233 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding to lessen the impacts of future storms.   

 

DOGE 

Miami Herald 

DeSantis targets Broward spending with on-site audits  

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale that his office was going to conduct on-site inspections of local governments that don’t cooperate with his efforts to audit their spending. 

 

Sun Sentinel 

DeSantis says Florida DOGE of local governments about to begin 

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state’s new chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, unveiled details Tuesday about their plans to DOGE local governments, hoping to uncover what they see as wasteful or inappropriate spending.