Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJune 16, 2015

Let’s list the reasons why the Florida A&M University board of trustees is a total farce. No, it’s too much labor. Better to say the infestation of egos has made that board the laughingstock of state university boards of trustees. Or should. Chairman Rufus Montgomery again has found a way to interject his sexist machismo […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

The latest in a series of Jax Transition Budget Review blogs for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and Jacksonville Port Authority. 10:26: Sam Mousa just kvetched to Ron Littlepage about the library budget. “They have $1.5M. They need to spend what they’ve got.” 10:30: Mousa seems to want this to be a quick meeting. Library running 30 minutes over is […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

In Jacksonville City Council’s Rules Committee on Monday, John Crescimbeni’s resolution [2015-350] against seismic testing off of Jacksonville’s coast was voted down by a 4-3 margin, just two weeks after it passed in this same body. The deciding vote last time, Stephen Joost, was for it before he was against it. No votes were Robin Lumb, Joost, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

The third session of Tuesday morning is for the Library budget, which is perpetually under siege. 9:30: The library representative has offered a narrative story in brochure form. Sam Mousa prefers to talk about the numbers. 9:32: Overdue fines are being deposited into an account for capital improvements. Projected to be over $950K Mousa wants to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

For the second session in a row, Jerry Holland, the outgoing Supervisor of Elections, sits in with Sam Mousa and the budget “swat team.” 9:04: Ron Littlepage is in the house for the T-U. 9:07: Holland discusses the cyclical nature of the SOE budget. Going from three elections to two elections in a year cuts the SOE budget. […]

Peter SchorschJune 16, 2015

It’s a great day in Tampa Bay. Aided by a last-minute infusion of cash that went to projects backed by the state’s Republican leaders, Florida legislators late Monday night reached a deal on a nearly $80 billion budget for the state. Included in the budget is money for several key projects in the downtowns of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

The second day of Sam Mousa‘s review of Jacksonville municipal departmental budgets continues with a half hour sojourn through the Property Appraiser budget. And we are blogging this and every session today. For a recap of Monday’s action, go here. 8:30: We are the only media here. As ever, we appreciate the opportunity. 8:35: Incoming Property Appraiser Jerry […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2015

Good morning again from the Parkway Inn in Miami Springs, where the sun has yet to rise … Big late-night news out of Tallahassee, where we apparently have a budget deal. With that $80 billion budget comes the announcement of a number of local projects receiving funding. For officials in Tampa, their fears were partially […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

For those looking for a peek behind the curtain of a municipal budget process, there is no better place to be than City Hall in Jacksonville for the next three days, as Sam Mousa will go through the budgets of every department in Jacksonville government. After a period when it seemed like these meetings might […]

Julie DelegalJune 15, 2015

State Rep. Mia Jones tried. In the spirit of compromise, the Democrat from Jacksonville moved right to embrace the health care-expansion plan backed by the Florida Senate: the Florida Healthcare Affordability Insurance Exchange, aka FHIX. Jones told The Jacksonville Times-Union that she had set aside her doubts about the plan and would “stand on the […]

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Chris Timmons: FAMU trustees’ egos fail school’s best interests

Jax Transition budget review: Jacksonville Aviation and Port Authorities

Stephen Joost flips on seismic testing; notes from Jax Council 6/15 Rules Committee meeting

Jax Transition budget review: Jacksonville Public Library system

Jax Transition budget review: Supervisor of Elections

With funding directed to major downtown projects, Tampa Bay waking up to exciting news in state budget

Jax Transition budget review: Property Appraiser

Mitch Perry Report for 5.16.15 — USF downtown medical plans get partial OK

Day 1 of Sam Mousa’s budget review is over. What’s next in day 2?

Julie Delegal: Health care defeated by politics of personal resentment