Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyAugust 17, 2016

Strong mayor pushed because of weak responses The city of Lakeland has been going through a series of bipolar political moves — or lack of moves — over the last few decades. Its leaders and business executives in the city can’t seem to figure out if they want to be a big municipality or a small […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2016

State citrus commissioners have OK’d a pared-down preliminary budget for the Department of Citrus. The good news: It includes money for the free orange and grapefruit juice travelers can get at the state’s official welcome centers on Interstates 10, 75 and 95 and U.S. 231. The bad news: The preliminary budget includes salary reductions of $1.4 million. The department […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2016

The Florida Department of Citrus could get a pared-down budget that will result in staff cuts. The Citrus Commission, which oversees the department, meets Wednesday to consider the $20.6 million spending plan. If approved, the department’s full-time employees would be reduced to 23 from 39. Commissioners won’t vote on that budget, but will offer “feedback,” department spokeswoman Shelley Rossetter said. The […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Faced with a call from Florida’s leading growers for the state’s Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” Gov. Rick Scott has put restrictions on the nearly $7.7 million in general revenue given to the agency in the 2016-17 state budget. One condition, The Lakeland Ledger reported Friday, is that the Governor’s Office will look […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

With the state’s citrus industry in free-fall, Florida’s leading growers are calling for the Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” saying they “do not believe current marketing programs are generating an economic return.” A dozen growers, including Florida Citrus Hall of Famer Ben Hill Griffin III, signed and sent a letter Monday to Florida Citrus Commission […]

Tag: Florida Citrus Commission

Polk political notebook: Strong mayors, weak spellcheck and dueling websites

Citrus Department passes reduced budget

Citrus Department facing smaller budget, staff cuts

Rick Scott clamping down on finances at state citrus agency

State’s growers call for dramatic overhaul of Florida Department of Citrus