Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Updated 2:10 p.m. with comment from Lenny Curry team: On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal nationwide. Of course, it’s been legal in Florida for the last six months. In response to it being made legal, Duval County Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell made the decision to stop courthouse weddings. The decision, we […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 26, 2015

Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece arguing that these Lenny Curry Transition Team budget reviews should not be open to the media. Once they were made open, however, I endeavored to cover all of them that I could. They were supposed to run for three days; in fact, they ran for seven. Despite that, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

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The final budget review for Lenny Curry‘s transition team involves Information Technology. Usha Mohan is the primary representative of IT. 3:18: A discussion of vacancies. 16 total, with a lot of attrition, and they don’t “pay enough to attract people.” Vacant positions were “not funded at the right levels.” 3:20: Vacancies have ranged, in recent years, from […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 25, 2015

Thursday afternoon brings the final two budget reviews for Sam Mousa, Mike Weinstein, and the “budget SWAT team.” First up, Parks and Recreation. The big news out of this is that the Equestrian Center, a consistent money loser, is in the line of fire. 1:04: Revenue basically flat, down by a bit more than $1,000. Summer camps are […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2015

The second transition team budget review of Wednesday: the Regulatory Division. This was hard to watch at times. 1:57: Starts off with discussion of General Fund activity, and departmental rollup, then goes into revenues. 1:58: Sam Mousa wonders why fewer permit applications are expected year over year. The fee has been reduced, yet there are […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2015

With some downtime before this next group comes in, a Whitman’s Sampler of other items from Sam Mousa and the group. Red Light Camera revenue is first up. The expectation, as conveyed last week, is that revenue in any given red light camera goes down, as people get used to the light. Some discussion as to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2015

The Downtown Investment Authority met with Lenny Curry‘s “budget SWAT team” helmed by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa last week, and it didn’t go so well. Aundra Wallace is back for a second round as the first budget review of Wednesday. 12:50 p.m.: The mood is considerably lighter than the previous DIA session. Mousa made a point of shaking […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The final Lenny Curry transition budget meeting of the day covers the Jacksonville Retirement System. Sam Mousa chairs the meeting. 3:05: A review of the Operating Budget for the General Employees’ Pension. Salaries are up $16K; vacancies have been filled. This is a six person shop. 3:07: Professional services and money management fees are always […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

Tuesday’s Lenny Curry transition team budget meetings continue with a foray into Court Administration with Sam Mousa and Judge Mark Mahon. 1:55: A discussion of the new courthouse and the ability to bring services in-house, related to family court services. 1:56: “The growth area is in paternity.” Children born out of wedlock, et al. 1:57: They need […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

This past week, there were four days of Lenny Curry Transition Team Budget Reviews, helmed by new Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. There are three more days of them this week, running Tuesday through Thursday afternoons, but there already is ample opportunity to gauge the winners, and losers, so far. Winner: Mousa. The “Godfather” has gotten laudatory coverage […]

Tag: Sam Mousa
Tim and Normie Geske, with the Dowlings

Will Duval County bring back courthouse weddings now?

Final thoughts on Lenny Curry transition team budget reviews

Jax transition budget meeting: Information Technology

Jax transition budget meeting: Parks, Recreation and Community Services

Sam Mousa, Mike Weinstein give COJ Regulatory Division a budget lesson

Jax transition budget meeting: Interstitial notes

Jax transition budget meeting: Downtown Investment Authority (take 2)

Lenny Curry Transition budget meetings: Retirement System

Lenny Curry Transition Budget meetings: Court Administration

Winners, losers from first week of Lenny Curry budget reviews