About Commissioners' Discretionary Funds: Part II--Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Discretionary Funds

The utilization of district discretionary LOST funds allows individual commissioners in their respective districts to identify, fund,  and implement good and necessary projects--like the ones I am intending to bring forward for funding from this source, listed below. 

Some folks have recently asked me about Commissioners' discretionary funds.  People want to know where these funds come from, what they can be used for, and if the use of such funds is actually legitimate and legal?

So here goes....

Before I was elected to the board in 2016, the board had a pot of discretionary funds from the Tourist Development Tax  (TDT) that was split out among the commissioners yearly in increments of $50,000.00 per commissioner, with unutilized amounts rolling forward if not expended.  These funds, at that time,  had the caveat that they could only be used for event sponsorships or activities that would bring in tourist dollars from out of the area and generate hotel room nights in the county.

By the time I took my seat in November of 2016, this practice of TDT discretionary allocations had been ended by the commissioners and replaced with a yearly allocation of $50,000.00 in general fund monies that could be utilized by commissioners to fund local non-profit entities that support the community and serve a public purpose.  The uses for these new allocations were much more broad than were the previous monies that were mandated to be "tourism-centric."

From the time I have been on the board, the process of vetting organizations and funding them from discretionary allocations has run very smoothly--until recently when there was a bit of ill-placed consternation displayed about the practice.... But that incident was simply and succinctly squelched via a 4-1 affirmational vote....

The larger and much more profound pot of discretionary funds yearly for commissioners is our Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) discretionary pot of money.  Each year each commissioner gets an allocation of $1 Million Dollars in LOST funds for use as each commissioner sees fit within his district--subject to the statutory provisions guiding the use of these funds and subject to an affirmative vote of the full board of county commissioners (which is the check and balance of this process).  The unexpended balances of these funds carry over yearly.

The Local Option Sales Tax is a one penny tax on most consumer purchases made in Escambia County.  It's implementation was graciously allowed for by our county's voters who have been generous in permitting us to levy this tax since the early 1990s.  (Other local counties have struggled to implement their LOST tax--with voters rejecting this concept in other nearby communities over and over....)

Locally, our LOST produces about $42 Million yearly--a portion of which is shared with the county's two municipalities,  Pensacola and Century.  The balance of the funding yearly is used locally to purchase property, renovations, maintenance services,  buildings, ambulances, fire trucks, sheriff's equipment and vehicles, computer hardware, and a host of other things--but primarily capital expenditures or durable equipment that lasts 5-years or longer.  A portion of the LOST funds assists

About Commissioners' Discretionary Funds: Part I--Support for Outside Non-Profit Entities

The new definition of insanity:  Opposing a practice and a policy for others that one participates in himself 

There was a rather ugly, particularly unnecessary discussion at the end of a recent board of county commissioners meeting that desperately deserves further discussion, analysis, and contemplation.

The topic of conversation that generated the dust up was one commissioner's apparent "disapproval"  of another commissioner's allocations from his office's district discretionary fund.  The reason the angst and gnashing of teeth was so hypocritical was because the commissioner who complained the loudest (and who ultimately voted against the expenditure) has he, himself, allocated tens of thousands to other non-profit community groups locally over the last 5 years.  Imagine that?  Here is the mentally-defective, whacked-out logic from the one dissenting commissioner that made that brief conversation so fascinatingly strange:

"If I want to fund a 501 c 3 of which I approve--- even if it is for $10,000.00 or more at a time----this is perfectly acceptable because this is an entity of which I approve--and therefore it is legitimate!!!!!" 

"But if another commissioner--whom I dislike and with whom I disagree on a host of issues-- chooses to fund $500.00 to a local 501 c 3 supporting girl's softball at a school in his district--this is an OUTRAGE and it is CORRUPTION!!!!!!"

So yeah--it's ridiculous, outrageous, and it was kind of weird in a surreal way--but not entirely unexpected.  The funny thing is, prior to this meeting, I do not believe there has ever been a vote on a request from one commissioner's discretionary fund that was not approved unanimously by his peers.  We all show a level of deference to one another on these requests.  Well, that is how it has typically been done---but I guess that is not going to be the way it is going forward.  Oh well.  He will rack up a lot more 4-1 losses.......lots.

But eventually last Thursday's vote passed 4-1--with the dissenting commissioner opposing all the allocations.  Interestingly-- another counterpart of mine on the dais even chose to add money from his discretionary funds to the same entities to be funded.  That was really great!  And the 4-1 commissioner voted against it all still.  Very strange indeed.

(here is the list of all commissioner's allocations from the general fund and TDT supported pots of discretionary funds from 2015-present--for those that want to see for themselves that I am telling the truth  👈😊)

Here's the thing:  Commissioners each get an allocation of $50,000.00 yearly to support 501 c 3 community nonprofits for which individual commissioners feel benefit the community and serve a public purpose.  Unexpended funds roll forward.  The vote of the commissioners for each other's allocations is the public action that signifies  such expenditures meet a public purpose.

But even with the vote, the expenditure is scrutinized, paperwork must be provided to staff and all

Sidewalk Project Moving Forward on Dog-track Road in District 1

From the county's engineering department:

Construction Notice of Commencement

Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project

Escambia County’s Construction Management Division will soon begin the Dog Track Road Sidewalks Project in District 1. Dog Track Road has sidewalks in various locations along the rights-of-way between Lillian Highway and Blue Angel Highway. The project includes clearing and grubbing, roadside grading, storm water line and structure installation, ditch excavation, and installation of approximately 1,750 linear feet of sidewalk, access ramps, inlet top replacement, striping, and sod. Construction will begin in January/February 2020 and will be completed within 150 days pending weather.

The following is information regarding the project:        

--This project is funded by the Local Option Sales Tax with construction costs estimated at $141,175.

--Chavers Construction, Inc. will install sidewalks within the right-of-way of Dog Track Road at three different locations, connecting the walkways to Blue Angel Elementary School.

--Construction will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.

·        --Areas that are impacted during construction will be returned to their previous state.

·         --Access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is temporarily blocked during construction.  

·         --An Escambia County inspector will monitor the construction areas daily.

·         --Your cooperation and patience are appreciated during this construction process.

For more information contact:

Thomas “TJ” Williams, Project Manager

Escambia County Engineering

(850)554-1967  tjwilliams@myescambia.com

Two Services In Escambia County that will Help Veterans Entangled in the Criminal Justice System

Two programs locally have been and/or are being developed and expanded in Escambia County to assist veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system.

The First Judicial Circuit of Florida and Judge Ed Nickinson developed a program in 2015 locally to assist veterans that find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system.  Two years ago,  Judge Bergosh took the helm of this program.

Often times veterans that have suffered injuries associated with their service and deployments become entangled in the courts for minor drug offenses that can multiply and escalate quickly. The genesis for the drug abuse can often be traced to dependence on opioids by these same veterans who utilize such medicines to manage pain.

Once the prescriptions for these painkillers are yanked--often these veterans turn to illicit drugs for relief.  And often this results in these veterans being arrested and incarcerated.

Judge Bergosh spoke on WCOA on Wednesday and discussed the program in detail--it was a very good and informative interview.  You can hear the full interview here.

In addition to the Veteran's Treatment Court--Judge Bergosh is teamed up with Escambia County (who helped with sponsorship of food and beverages and the use of the Artel Gallery), POE in Action (a 501 c 3 nonprofit dedicated to assisting veterans in need) and other community volunteers in the establishment of a mentoring program for veterans.

This mentoring program was discussed during Wednesday morning's interview on WCOA, and a kickoff event was held Wednesday evening at Artel gallery for the purpose of recruiting area veterans to serve as mentors to fellow veterans who have found themselves involved in the criminal justice system locally.

About 50 community members came out to the kickoff meeting Wednesday evening, and it appears as if dozens of community members have stepped forward to help and to serve as mentors in this program.

I look forward to watching this program grow, and I look forward to assisting these efforts in any way I can from my position on the County Commission.

District 1 Bellview Library Update

An initial rendering of what the layout of 
the Bellview Public Library in District 1 
may look like upon construction 
later this year. (Courtesy of Todd Humble)

I have recently had several conversations with Escambia County's Library Services Director Todd Humble on the topic of our soon-to-be built library in District 1.  Specifically, I wanted to know where we are in the planning/design stage, and what the timeline is going forward for construction.

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
entrance to  District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

Mr. Humble came to our 30th Coffee with the Commissioner event last Wednesday, and gave the citizens in attendance an update in person.

(those who are on Facebook and would like to watch the video and hear Todd Humble's comments  directly can find the video of the coffee here)

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
entrance to  District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

According to Director Humble, we should complete the design in early March, at which point it will be put out for bid and that process will take approximately one month.  Upon the award of the bid, we will do a groundbreaking event at the site for the public to attend if they wish in the May/June time frame.



Folks have asked about the size of the facility--and according to Director Humble "We believe we will be between the size of our current Southwest Branch (7,500 SF) and our Tryon Branch (12,000 SF) but it is too soon to say for sure which one we will be closer to in size.  Obviously the costs of construction are a concern and we have a finite budget."

The branch will have meeting spaces for adults and children and the branch will have ebooks and magazines available to library card holders--meaning thousands of book titles will be available for download to a user's individual tablet, cellphone, or laptop device.  "There will also be roughly 250 different e-magazines available to download for free as well--many titles with which most will be familiar" said Humble.

Artist's initial draft rendering of what the
main reading room at District 1's soon to be
constructed Bellview Public Library may look like
(Courtesy of Todd Humble)

We all look forward to the opening of this facility with eager anticipation.

Read more about West Florida Public Libraries here.

Sent: My Response to the PNJ's Denial of My Guest View Submission

Campaign season or not, I won't stop sending "Letters to the Editor" and/or "Viewpoints" to the PNJ just as I have for the last 13 years...They can print them or not.  If they don't print them, for irrational, specious reasons-- that's their call.  I'll simply read them into the record at our public meetings instead.  😃

Here's what I sent to the PNJ when they finally responded to my initial request for a chance to refute their January 12th hatchet piece editorial.   They did finally respond with a NO to my request, after I had to send a second email (they blew-off the first one).   But the accompanying reasons for the NO were outrageously specious.

Bottom Line: They want no dissent, they have their own narrative, they will attack us (and whomever they want)  at will and however often they choose-------- and they do not want to hear from local elected officials that disagree with them and they'll manufacture reasons to deny a rebuttal op-ed.

Here's my response to their NO.

Received: PNJ's Specious, Feckless "NO" Response to My Guest View Submission

Campaign season or not, I won't stop sending "Letters to the Editor" and/or "Viewpoints" to the PNJ just as I have for the last 13 years...They can print them or not.  If they don't print them, for irrational, specious reasons-- that's their call.  I'll simply read them into the record at our public meetings instead.  😃

At first they just ignored my request and submission of a Guest View editorial.  Eight days went by and still--not even an acknowledgment from the Pensacola News Journal of what I had sent to them. 
So I sent it to them again and asked them to consider publishing it as a retort to a very one-sided, scathingly accusatory hit-job editorial printed in the PNJ on January 12th. 

The editorial they wrote on the 12th was unfair, inaccurate, pejorative, slanted, biased, incomplete, dismissive, and flippant. Not coincidentally--it was also directed squarely at the three sitting Escambia County Commissioners who are running for re-election.

Upon getting my second request, the PNJ editorial squad sent this response, below.