Local

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

Tuesday and Wednesday will be big days for the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill (CS/CS/SB 1652) that Jacksonville wants passed to address its unfunded pension liability. On Tuesday, the House is scheduled to consider the bill on the House floor. Then, on Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee it to consider the bill. That will be the […]

Ryan RayFebruary 22, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency and authorized the release of state money in the wake of severe tornado damage in the Escambia County city of Century last week. Wind gusts of over 150 miles per hour tore through the Panhandle town, causing severe damage to numerous houses and buildings. Scott, in issuing Executive Order […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

With his chances of being re-elected in his current Congressional District 10 seat virtually nil after redistricting last summer, Orlando area GOP U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster announced Monday that he will run for the Congressional District 11 seat now held by Rich Nugent, who announced last year he will not run for re-election. “I’m running for […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council has been wrestling with the issue of blight created by donation bins for some time, with a legislative process that has been less than conclusive. A meeting this month was Council’s latest attempt to formulate legislation that would address the issue. And there have been at least preliminary inquiries into a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

Parking downtown may get more expensive for Jacksonville’s city employees in the upcoming fiscal year, if a 2014 ordinance is allowed to sunset. In an email to CAO Sam Mousa, OED head Kirk Wendland notes that “Ordinance 2014-438-E gave all City employees who are monthly parkers at municipal owned parking garages operated by Public Parking a 50% […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

The Florida Times-Union reported this month on former CFO Ronnie Belton exploiting a loophole and converting $47,937 of payroll deductions under the defined benefit plan to $165,921 under a defined contribution plan. Belton, who did not have five years of service, did not satisfy the five-year threshold for pension benefits under the defined benefit plan. And his […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com had a look last week at the numbers behind Jacksonville’s “pension tax” bill, designed to repurpose/extend the Better Jacksonville Plan half-cent sales tax. With the bill on the House Special Order calendar for Tuesday, a last-minute amendment was filed. “The payroll of all employees in classifications covered by a closed retirement plan or system that […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council will attempt to fix its written communications policy, and finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane. The two bills will likely take up the most time in deliberation, with opportunities for both honest disagreement and tub-thumping demagoguery on both. The written communications bill, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2016

U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will join Val Demings for a campaign event Tuesday in Demings’ bid to win the Democratic nomination to run for Congress in Congressional District 10. Pelosi, a California congresswoman who already has endorsed Demings over her rivals state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, businessman Bob Poe and lawyer Fatima Rita Fahmy, […]

Melissa RossFebruary 22, 2016

News of a stalemate on the homeless situation in Daytona Beach is discouraging advocates hoping for a resolution to the longstanding issue. Groups of homeless had set up a makeshift camp in front of the county administration building last month. That led to county officials offering to provide land and $4 million for the construction of […]

Local

Tuesday, Wednesday to be big for Jacksonville pension-tax bill

Rick Scott declares state of emergency, pledges funds after Escambia tornado damage

Daniel Webster confirms he’s running in CD 11

Textile recycling could figure in Jacksonville’s future

Jax city employees may pay more for parking next fiscal year

Jacksonville looking into pension loopholes

Jax pension tax bill gets final amendment before House Special Order calendar

Jax Council to mull written communications bill, John Keane deal

Nancy Pelosi to join Val Demings in CD 10 event in Orlando

Daytona Beach homeless issue at stalemate as local advocate is investigated