Last night, via proclamation, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners "surrendered" the county to Don Tristan De Luna. The above plaque was presented to DeLuna signifying this action by the board.
It was all in good fun, of course, and the "surrender" was in jest. It is all part of the Festival of Five Flags-- a rich Pensacola tradition that takes place every (non-COVID) year around this time.
Fun, festivities, and merry-making. Good times for all!
So we surrendered last night at Seville Quarter and had fun doing it--all of us. The City, County, Sheriff, Police Chief, Supervisor of Elections, Captain of NAS Pensacola, and Fire Chief.
Everyone had a little gag before they surrendered--and I was no exception.
You can watch my ceremonial surrender--and associated tall tale-- of the county here. See pictures, below.
 |
| Senator Rick Scott, third from right, speaks with a business roundtable audience in Pensacola 5-31-2022 |
Senator Rick Scott held a business leader roundtable yesterday afternoon in Pensacola. Pete Doyle, owner of Engineered Cooling Services, facilitated the meeting at his business's office.
About 75 local business leaders, nonprofit executives, political candidates, elected officials, and others were invited to the event. Senator Scott walked all around the room and shook every attendee's hand as he arrived in the conference room
After a brief welcome and some remarks by Senator Scott, Mr. Doyle, and former Mayor Ashton Hayward--the group began bouncing ideas and questions off of Senator Scott.
The war in Ukraine, Inflation, the Supply Chain Issues, Immigration, the Budget, DC Dysfunction, and many other hot-button issues were discussed.
Senator Scott took time to solicit questions and ideas, and he even took notes. He seemed genuinely interested in solutions and solving problems. He also handed out copies of his 11-Point Plan to Rescue America and went through his plan with the group.
(Read Senator Rick Scott's 11-Point Plan to Rescue America here)
When I had the opportunity to do so, I asked him about Social Security, and the fact that many Americans have blown through their 401K's during the recession and COVID--and some worry that Social Security won't be there for them once they reach retirment age. I asked him his thoughts on that. "The Senate does not discuss Social Security. A budget number is plugged in every year, same as the year before, but it is not discussed. We know Medicare runs out of money if 4 years, Social Security in 12 years. We know it, but it doesn't get discussed. Once Social Security runs out of money, it will mean an immediate 25% reduction. It is a problem, but nobody is talking about it--I want to talk about it!" he said emphatically.
After the senator fielded several other topics including the opening of the Naval Aviation Museum, The absence of the Federal Workforce (while they are still collecting paychecks), the unsecured southern border, the need for energy independence, and the idea of keeping all large DoD contract award monies
 |
| Escambia County's Property Tax Roll for this budget year may increase more than 14% |
With so much negativity surrounding the economy lately, it is refreshing to hear some good news for a change.
I have now heard from reliable sources that our local tax roll's expected increase will be larger than originally thought. From an individual with firsthand, in-depth knowledge: "We ran the numbers today, the county should see about a 14% increase..may be a little higher by August we are continuing to add value."
Given the fact that we have negotiated large pay increases for each of our bargaining groups, our insurance costs have increased, labor costs have skyrocketed, projects are coming in significantly over budgeted amounts, ECFR needs more money, and gas is now firmly $4.50 a gallon locally---the fact that our tax roll has increased is timely because our static millage rate applied to a growing tax roll is how we will responsibly raise more revenue to pay for all these increased costs without raising the millage rate.
The state's ridiculous construct of a "rolled back" rate won't come into play in this budget cycle---given everything that is going on with this horrible economic disaster Washington DC has created for us.
No doubt there will be some who want to roll back our rate so that we get the same revenue as last year and not a penny more--dancing to the tune of the state legislature in order (in their opinion only) to not "Raise Taxes". Interesting that the same voices that will push for the rollback rate are the same ones that want us to give huge raises to everyone and build everything under the sun all while working with no revenue increases. Paradoxical the faux-logic some of these folks display; what, do they think we are bureaucrats in DC that don't even talk about raising taxes but rather simply keep printing money? No, we aren't them, we have to balance a budget with what we have and we don't get to print money.
So--- given dramatic price escalations on everything---- that (roll back rate) won't happen.
Importantly--- keeping the millage rate steady is not raising taxes; never has been never will be. Raising millage rates is a tax increase. The legislature made that definition up to box local governments in by forcing them to advertise a tax increase even when the millage rate is not increased. Pretty neat trick they tried, while they themselves grow bigger and bigger, gigantic budgets year over year and simultaneously pat themselves on the back for "cutting taxes!" (and a majority of what they call cutting taxes come in the form of dictated cost increases for local governments and school boards, and unfunded mandates, combined with "cuts" that reduce local government revenues while holding the state's revenue streams essentially harmless). It's a nifty schtick, I give them that at least.
But no, not rolling back is not a tax increase.
And yes, a little good news on our tax roll is a welcome relief amid this coming recession. Hopefully this Washington DC created economic disaster and recession won't be a repeat of 2008. Hopefully.
 |
| Are Natural Gas prices headed higher locally if a rate increase request is honored by the Florida Public Utilities Commission? |
Natural gas prices have tripled since the last Presidential Election beginning in early January of 2021.
From January of 2022 alone natural gas costs have doubled.
Obviously inflation is at a record, 40 year high, interest rates are going up and the costs for everything is going up---so the idea that natural gas could go higher is not out of the realm of the possible.
So when I received this email from a law firm representing a large statewide Natural Gas distributor--I immediately thought this could signal price hikes for this commodity locally.
I was copied, along with dozens of mayors and county commissioners, on this letter to the Florida Public Utilities Commission requesting a rate increase for this gas company, a regional company owned by parent company Chesapeake Energy.
After reading the letter, where Escambia County is mentioned prominantly as an area of the state where this firm had invested in expanding infrastructure, I asked our attorney to look into this and whether or not this would impact customers who buy natural gas from Pensacola Energy.
In an anticlimactic response, I was told that this company does indeed supply Pensacola Energy with natural gas. But, this company is only one of two larger suppliers from whom Pensacola Energy buys Natural gas. (I asked, but did not get the answer to the question of what percentage of total Pensacola Energy gas comes from this firm, the one requesting a price increase) Additionally, it was reported back to us that the prices Pensacola Energy pays to this Chesapeake affiliated company have been negotiated in advance and locked in for a number of years which "should" prevent price increases to end-users locally--regardless of what happens at the Public Utilities Commission when they act on the rate increase request.
So we will see if local customers see steady billing.
If I were to hazard a guess, though, I would assume that the prices will tick upwards---regardless of what was negotiated.
But we will see.
 |
| I was asked to lead off Monday's show at 7:10AM. Great discussion with lots of information and opinion. |
I was asked to join Rick Outzen on his #1 rated morning drive talk show "Real News with Rick Outzen", on the area's top AM Station--- 1370 WCOA---- yesterday morning.
We discussed last Thursday's BCC meeting and some of the more interesting aspects of the meeting, to include;
--Amy Parker's 6th and 7th grade class from Creative Learning Academy bringing ideas for solving the county's issues with respect to ECAT, Criminal Justice Reform, and Homelessness.
--A discussion about large condominium lease renewals at Pensacola Beach--where some condo leases are being recommended for approval by SRIA despite language which is not favorable to the property owners-the taxpayers of Escambia County.
--The approval of the Board's ordinance prohibiting employees of the county running for the office of County Commissioner
--Approval of large apartment complexes, and the consternation this causes many nearby homeowners.
It was a good discussion--you can listen to the Podcast here
