Lake County Fiscal Rangers

Lake County School Board Votes to TABLE discussion on allowing Gay Clubs at Middle Schools

Tavares, FL  -  Thursday, Apr. 25, 2013

by Vance Jochim  -  FiscalRangers.com  -  UPDATES will be added to this document as received.

The Lake County Board meeting this past Monday, April 22^nd, included an agenda item for the second and final vote to approve extra-curricular clubs at Lake County middle schools, which would include a proposed Gay Straight Alliance club (GSA) at Carver Middle School which many people objected to because they believed 6^th & 7^th graders should not be confronted with groups focuses on sexual lifestyles.    The only other alternative allowed by the Federal “Equal Access” law was to prohibit all extra-curricular clubs, including those focused on community service, Christian groups, etc. but it would also exclude the GSA club.

Note:  This blog writer was against formation of Gay Clubs at Middle Schools (see why in attachment below).  This picture taken from the right side of the room, which had about 1/3 of the audience in the "Communist Red" shirts, indicating support of the liberal coordinated GSA club.  The other 2/3 on the far side of the room were LOCALS who were against it.  Plus there were many sitting outside this filled room watching on monitors.  Normally, Lake County Democrats wear blue shirts to political events, but for these GSA events, they all wore Communist red (not Republican Red! :) )

I had figured that 2/3rds of the audience were against the GSA club because about 150+ were from the Tri-County Tea Party (Villages), plus many more from local churches.   The Right Side blog says 3/4ths of audience were against it and 17 Church pastors were there to give input.

However, the same day, the Florida legislature passed, and Gov. Scott signed a large education bill, SB-1076 (2013)  that revised current law to change definitions of what schools were subject to the Equal Access Law.   That meant Lake County Middle Schools were not considered secondary schools, and the Equal Access Law only required the all or no extracurricular club decision for secondary schools, thus middle schools were no longer covered by the law.   However, MY understanding (see the Orlando Sentinel article below) is that the law didn’t really say how much authority the local School Districts had to be selective in what extra-curricular clubs would be allowed.    Thus it could be tested in the courts.  THAT is why the Board tabled any vote, in order to research the new bill and understand implications.

Here is the link to Senate Bill SB-1076 (2013) - read the staff analysis reports to understand issues.  This is a large omnibus bill, not just covering the issue of clubs at middle schools.  I don't yet have the link to the applicable section on this issue, but will add it later.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2013/1076 

Neither local newspaper mentioned that this time, a huge majority FROM Lake County was NOT wearing the Communist red shirts favored by the Democrat organized, pro-GSA group where many came from outside Lake County.  They didn't mention the LOCAL majority was AGAINST the formation of the GSA club.

Here is the Daily Commercial article by Greg Jones:

http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_95765e54-cf43-5980-b376-ff206b1a8fde.html  

Here is the Orlando Sentinel report on this vote, and they include a “Fair & Balanced” 2 min video from Fox 35 showing crying kids,  but a majority clapping upon the vote to table the issue.  (see the link below for my FULL 15 min video with NO ads for all the details leading to the vote to table the issue.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-gay-straight-aclu-final-vote-20130422,0,3296276.story  

Here is the link to the Orlando Channel 9 TV video report by a reporter who rarely visits Lake County and focused mostly on the GSA supporters. BUT, if you read the provided TEXT, which is different because it was provided by the DAY shift reporter Berndt Petersen, who DOES frequently visit Lake County, it cites a couple of comments from this blog's author, Vance Jochim.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/lake-co-school-board-vote-approving-gay-straight-c/nXS7t/ 

Attached are some of my pictures of the event. 2/3 to 3/4ths of the audience were AGAINST allowing a sexually oriented club in middle schools, and clapped when the vote was tabled.  One fuzzy picture shows a pro-GSA man (not in red) accosting Board Member Bill Mathias after the vote.  Democrats always resort to yelling and name calling when they don't get their way.   All my pictures of this event are in a photo album on the FiscalRangers Facebook account HERE.  

Also attached are my “talking points” I was going to use for public input at Monday’s meeting.  You might look at the excerpts from the Communist objectives that apply to this issue.

Download A. VJ Comments for LCSD Meeting on GSA at 5pm

AND, here is a link to my Youtube video on the entire 15 minute Board discussion about the agenda item and the vote to table it.  The School District attorney explains the new law, which is quite helpful for understanding the issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGUnuW-ptY   

Initially, no one would give a second to Bill Mathias’s motion to table the issue for a future meeting in order to examine the implications of the new law, then after discussion, he got a second, and the vote was 4 to 1 (Brandeburg dissented) to table the issue to the future.   It could be that the Board members now saw the huge crowd NOT wearing red from LOCAL groups.  Many of the pro-GSA red shirt advocates were from OUTSIDE Lake County.  Some Board members might also have been ticked off by the huge volume of emails trying to intimidate them from GSA supporters from OUTSIDE Lake County and OUTSIDE Florida.

Summary:

The School Board will discuss this issue again after getting analysis on the implications of the new law and recommendations from the District's Attorney.  No date has been set yet.  

Thanks go to the Tri-County Teaparty, and local church members who showed up in force to offset the out of Lake County liberals and ACLU legal bullies whose attendance was coordinated by the Lake County Democrats. This was a good slamdown of the Tampa based ACLU office which is currently bragging on their website about similar lawsuits in Polk County.

My opinion is that poor 8th grader Baylie is now on a liberal leash with all events being coordinated by liberals who have other objectives than the formation of her club.  They are making her into a poster child for liberal causes.  However, she will be graduating from Carver Middle School in a month, and will be at a High School, not a middle school, thus not eligible to form a middle school club.

I am not against gays living their lifestyles privately, but when they use the ACLU bullies, and the Democratic party organizes media events, asks people from the entire country to inundate local elected officials with emails to demand their way of life be provided to SIXTH graders in middle schools without living here, I resent that.  And, now , apparently 4 of 5 of our Lake County School Board members and 2/3's of those attending the meeting agree and are tired of the liberal activist Gay "in your face" programs to spread their lifestyle.

Vance Jochim

www.FiscalRangers.com  

Here is a picture of the NORMAL School Board meeting after the GSA agenda item was concluded.  Several red shirted liberals hung around loudly stating they didn't trust the Board which might bring the subject back up for a formal vote.   After listening to routine administrative issues discussed by the Board for 20 minutes the liberals left.  The Board didn't play those games, and didn't even discuss the GSA issue at all, even during Board member "reports". 

===================================================================

Text of referenced newspaper articles (in case they turn off the links later):

Daily Commercial article by Greg Jones

School Board to restart work on gay-straight alliance club

Greg Jones | Staff Writer gregjones@dailycommercial.com | Posted: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 9:00 am

The Lake County School Board on Monday night at the Lake County Administration Building tabled a measure that would have allowed non-curricular clubs and organizations in middle and high schools.

The board vote d 4-1 to table the measure. Only Rosanne Brandeburg voted against de laying the measure. The board will likely have a workshop next month to work out a new policy related to allowing non-curricular clubs and organizations in middle or high schools.

The vote brought more then 400 people in support or against the motion allowing non-curricular clubs and organizations in middle and high schools. The delay of the measure holds off allowing an eighth-grade girl, Bayli Silberstein, 14, to start a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at Carver Middle School.

The decision to table the measure will restart the process from the beginning. Board Chairwoman Kyleen Fischer said she hopes to h ave a workshop soon and a new policy in place before the beginning of school in

August. The board will conduct a workshop and have a first hearing. Then the board will advertise the final approval for 28 days before taking a last vote on a new policy.

“I’m sorry this had to get delayed,” Fischer said. “I think that was the feeling of the table that the topic needs to be delayed because of changing legislation.”

Board member Debbie Stivender, the board vice chair, said her goal would be to have a new policy in place before school starts in August. She said based on state legislation changing, the board was going to have to develop a new policy regardless of how anyone feels about the GSA club.

Brandeburg said she didn’t want to postpone the decision because she wanted the more than 400 people who showed up to have an opportunity to be heard.

“These people came out to speak, and I wanted to give them an opportunity to speak,” Brandeburg said. “We could have still listened to them and by postponing this we are starting this whole process over, and it will come back. Part of it is to get more and a better understanding of what this new bill states, but I don’t believe — even what Mr. Johnson had said — that it really pertains to extra-curricular clubs. It pertains to more of what classes can middle school students can take that will count for high school credit. Can you take dual-enrollment courses and things like that. We will learn more then go from there.”

During the meeting, Mathias’ first motion failed but his second motion was approved. He moved to table the motion because he wanted the board to determine the direction it should go before making a decision on a policy that will change in a few months as Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed new legislation which specifically affects the state’s definition of secondary schools, a key point in the local debate. The new legislation will take effect on July 1.

Joyce Hamilton Henry, the Mid Regional Director for the ACLU of Florida, didn’t agree with the decision and was hoping the board would make a final call. She said she is concerned about the environment that is being created by the board and the decision is harming the students. She said the ACLU will examine what happens at the next meeting and make a decision based on that.

Silberstein was emotional after the decision, while a huge cheer came from those against the GSA Club. She said she is willing to go to the state level to help get the law changed. Silberstein admitted she was surprised at the number of people who showed up to protest the measure and that the board tabled it.

“Right now, I’m not really sure exactly what I’m going to do,” she said. “I’m going to wait for the next meeting. We (kids) were taught to stand up and fight for what we believe in, and they are fighting so hard to deny my rights on what I can do, and it is really difficult to get through that.”

Gene Hill, 74, a Mount Dora resident, who has four grandchildren who attend Lake County schools, believes outside forces such as the ACLU are pushing this issue. He said he doesn’t believe the voters in Lake County have been given the opportunity to understand what is going on. He said people can have whatever way of life they want, but the schools should be off limits.

“This is about our children, and this is about the protection of our children,” he said. “We have to stand up for our children, and if that is someone’s way of life that is there decision. Children go to school to be education and not to be in a sex program. That is what this is about and about Lake County folks doing what is best for Lake County children.

“Lake County (residents) should stand up. They say, this is about bullying. We have a bullying policy in the schools now, so enforce it. We need to have the parents, teachers and principals to come together and handle the bullying. This is not going to stop bullying. This (GSA Club) is not going to stop bullying it is going to create more problems.”

Last month, the board tentatively agreed to allow non-curricular clubs and organizations in middle and high schools. On March 11th, board members voted 3-2 to allow middle and high schools to have non-curricular clubs and organizations, which will an eight-grade girl, Bayli Silberstein, 14, start a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at Carver Middle School. School board members Bill Mathias and Tod Howard voted against the measure.

####

 =====================================================

Orlando Sentinel by Erica Rodriguez

orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-gay-straight-aclu-final-vote-20130422,0,3296276.story

OrlandoSentinel.com

Lake School Board stalls on new rules affecting gay-straight club

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel

10:25 PM EDT, April 22, 2013

Eighth-grader Bayli Silberstein left Monday night's Lake County School Board meeting blinking back tears after board members voted 4-1 to table a final vote that could have allowed a proposed gay-straight club to form before the end of the school year.

Since November, Bayli, an openly bisexual 14-year-old, has been trying to start a Gay-Straight Alliance at Carver Middle School in Leesburg to combat bullying of her fellow gay classmates.

Monday night more than 350 people packed the Lake County meeting space where the School Board was slated to give a final OK on a rule to allow non-academic student clubs in secondary school. Board members already had voted 3-2 to tentatively allow the clubs but needed a second vote to finalize the policy.

But early in the evening, board members instead said they wanted to take more time to "workshop" the rules in light of a tweak in state law partially called for by School Board members Tod Howard and Bill Mathias. Both men opposed the middle school gay-straight group, suggesting that middle-school children were too young to be discussing gay-straight issues. Mathias recommended to table the issue and was joined by Howard, Chairwoman Kyleen Fischer and fellow board member Debbie Stivender.

"You're talking workshop," Fischer said. "That is the only way we can do this."

Board member Rosanne Brandeburg voted against the tabling, saying said she "wanted the public to be able to speak" and, because of the action, people could not comment on the policy. Brandeburg would not say whether she favored the middle school gay-straight club but said she was against getting rid of all clubs because of one.

The tweak in state law stems from Senate Bill 1076, which was signed by Gov. Rick Scott Monday and goes in effect July 1. The bill muddles which grades are protected by a federal law that bans schools from discriminating against non-academic clubs.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is backing the gay-straight group, contends that under the federal Equal Access Act, Bayli's club is protected because schools cannot discriminate against non-academic clubs based on the topics they discuss. If a school has one non-academic club, then it must treat others the same, the group holds.

But SB 1076 removes the definition of "secondary" schools and does not replace it with a clear definition, leaving it up for debate as to whether a middle school is protected. The Department of Education also did not provide an explicit definition.

Lake School Board attorney Steve Johnson said that based on his review of other Florida laws, it appears "secondary" schools mean high schools — not middle schools. The School Board, in his opinion, isn't required to apply the federal law to middle schools, and board members can create rules however they want in those grades, he told members. But without any action Monday, campus principals are now left to decide handle school clubs.

Mathias and Howard both publicly called for grades 9-12 to be deemed "secondary," but Mathias said the lack of a clear definition wasn't what he expected. He expects the definition will have to be battled out in court.

The ACLU contends that the federal law still applies to middle schools, but even if it didn't, students still have the right to form the gay-straight group under the First Amendment.

Monday night, the audience equally jeered and applauded Mathias for his recommendation to table the issue. Many were angry because they were not able to speak, and those supporting Bayli called the change in law "dirty politics."

Joyce Hamilton, an ACLU regional director, said she was disappointed by the move and the agency will evaluate whether or not to take legal action.

"I am concerned about the environment that is now created in the school that is being perpetuated by the adults who profess … to have the best interest of all students in mind," she said.

The Rev. Gerald Bustin, of Open Door Community Church in Summerfield, , opposes the group and called it a plan "to adjust the minds of children who have no need to be involved in any kind of sexual activity" in middle school. Bustin added that opponents of the club "got what they were looking for."

Bayli's efforts have been thwarted by a school principal who took no action on her application and School Board members who initially tried to create a ban on all non-academic student clubs rather than allow hers.

After the vote Monday night, Bayli said she was "disappointed" in it, but she would continue to push for her club to organize.

"I'm going to keep fighting," she said. "It's not going to stop me. I'm doing all I can to try and get my club."

ericarodriguez@tribune.com or 352-742-5928

Copyright © 2013, Orlando Sentinel

FiscalRangers Watchdog to Host Sept. 6th Public Meeting to Explain Coming LOCAL Lake County Property Tax Rate Hikes up to 72% & Understanding TRIM Notices

Tavares, FL - Sept. 2, 2012 - News and local government issues for Lake County, FL

by Vance Jochim

Updates Sept 4:  Added section 10 to "homework" section that includes links to FL Dept of Revenue guides that most taxpayers never see.   Added section 11 for email from Lake County Republican Party to Tax Authorities recommending NO increase in millage rates.

This Thursday, Sept. 6, 6-8pm, FiscalRangers.com, a blog on local Lake County Florida Government Fiscal issues, will host a FREE property taxpayer public meeting at the Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares, FL  to explain how and why your property taxes or rates are going up, and tips if you want to appeal your property valuations, lost exemptions, etc.  You should have recently received your TRIM notice showing new valuations, changes in exemptions, proposed changes in millage rates, etc.

 

Have you heard that many local Lake County tax "authorities" like cities, Lake County and various special districts are RAISING the millage rate used to calculate your property taxes?  Even though your property tax valuation may be dropping, those authorities want to tax you as much or more as last year, so they are increasing your property tax millage rates.  One well known property owner with many parcels told us that his property tax bill, based upon his new TRIM notice, will go up by $10,000 even in a down economy.

Note:  We expect to add revisions and updates to THIS article up until Thursday afternoon, so come back for more details, which will be identified by "UPdate" and highlighted in RED .   The short link to this article is:  http://tinyurl.com/LakeTaxpayer-Forum

HERE is an article in today's Orlando Sentinel about the planned millage property tax rate increases:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-02/news/os-lk-lake-cities-property-taxes-20120902_1_property-appraiser-frank-royce-tax-rate-rollback-rate  

The Property taxes you pay depend upon property valuations and exemptions approved by the County Property Appraiser, TIMES

Florida Tea Party Network Members Try, but Fails to get Adam Putnam to Fight $8-billion Energy Bill

Tavares, FL - June 12, 2012

Florida Tea Party Network representatives met with Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam to understand why he supported HB-7117, an energy bill that will cost Florida taxpayers over $8-billion to subsidize "alternative" energy sources like wind and solar.  it became law on April 14, 2012 without a requested veto from Gov. Scott.  Thus your energy costs will go up more in the future to subsidize more costly wind & solar energy that is not reliable.

The bill shifts energy surtaxes to selected recipients of residential and commercial property owners who make retrofits desired by GOVERNMENT (not market based).   This is a typical Federal objectives "green" bill that uses tax funds to subsidize gvoernment desired "sustainable development" goals.  The bill should be killed.   Read BOTH of the Tea Party Network reports below and remember that when you are asked to vote for Adam Putnam in the future.

Here is a link to Putnam's Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services webpage:

http://www.myflorida.com/agency/1/

Here is a link to the Florida Senate Info page on HB-7117

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/7117  

Here is the link to two reports from the Tea Party Network representatives, or read the entire text below.

http://theteapartynetwork.org/2012/06/meeting-with-commissioner-putnam-on-energy-bill-hb-7117/ 

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Report on Meeting with Commissioner Putnam on Energy Bill HB7117 – by John Collins

Norman Knighton of CLA, James Taylor of The Heartland Institute and myself of The Gainesville Tea Party met with Commissioner Putnam on May 15. He was to give us information that would tell us how Florida was going to be so much better off because of HB7117. Governor Scott did not

Lessons for Lake County? Georgia City of 100,000 Outsources EVERYthing and is NOT broke.

Tavares, FL - May 21, 2012

by Vance Jochim

Here is a great video from the Florida Tea party network about Sandy Springs, GA, population 100,000 (bigger than the Villages), which started outsourcing all their programs in 2005 after incorporating as a new city  in Fulton County, GA, and now has NO debt.

Watch the EIGHT minute video first, then return for my comments.  The video was created by Reason.org which is a Libertarian think tank in California.   Then ask your Lake County officials why they are not examining outsourcing services, and why unincorporated Sorrento - Mt. Plymouth is not incorporating as a city and outsourcing services?

http://theteapartynetwork.org/2012/05/a-great-vision-of-municipal-government/   

This city was initially a large unincorporated area in Fulton County, GA, and was taxed by the County for funds spent elsewherein the County.  The County rarely paved or repaired roads.   Democrats controlled the legislature and prevented Sandy Springs from incorporating as a city until 2005 when Republicans took control and allowed the City of Sandy Springs to be established. So, this was all done since 2005.

"Companies are better than managing projects than government, and one contractor provided services for $25-million vs $50-million if run by the county government."

Sandy Springs did not fall into the government "pension trap" and avoided worker defined benefits pension and benefits programs that bankrupt municipalities.

Local Lake County & city officials should have this type of outsourcing on their meeting agenda as part of the budget approval process.  If they don't, aske them why.

References:  Books by Oliver W. Porter

Creating the New City of Sandy Springs

Public/Private Partnerships for Local Governments

Vance Jochim

 

 

 

 

SamAdamsAlliance Market Research on the Tea Party & What's Next

This foundation, SamAdamsAlliance, funds various oversight groups and does research.  This link goes to their 2010 series on the Tea Party, who is joining it, and what is next, but this page is before the 2010 elections & examined

who makes up the Next Wave of activists joining this movement:

• Who is identifying with the Tea Party brand?

• How are they interacting with Early Adopters?

• How is the Next Wave making its mark on politics?

• What does all of this mean in terms of the 2010 elections?

http://www.samadamsalliance.org/research/activist-insights/next-wave.aspx  

 

They also provided seed funding for the "Texas Watchdog" blog in Texas:

http://www.texaswatchdog.org/about/who-is-funding-the-work/

vj

 

 

FiscalRangers.com Weekly Alert on Local Lake County Government Activities

Tavares, FL - Monday, June 13, 2011 - This was sent out yesterday by email, but I have included some important revisions:

- Tuesday School District Board 1PM "Retreat" CANCELED:  I was notified this morning that the School Board retreat on Tuesday afternoon was CANCELED since the funeral for Tod Howard's son is Tuesday.  However, last night it was still on the School Board website, and is still there this Monday morning.

- Former Florida Senator Carey Baker will be speaking at the Wednesday evening Tea Party meeting, not Alan Hays.  Hays postponed his appearance last week.  Baker currently does not have a political office, but rumors are he is running for a local County Constitutional office.

- I revised the wording in the discussion of overhead on the Lake County Fire Assessment District discussion in the County section below to clarify it.

- The numbering is off due to this blog software not converting properly.  Sorry 'bout that.

vj

1.   Lake County School District Board
   1. a.      Condolences to School District Board Member Tod Howard and his wife Ginger for the loss of their son in a car accident last week.  See article HERE. 
      
   2. Last week, the Board approved a new contract with the Teacher’s Union (not SEIU, which is upcoming).  The explanation of actual costs of a “step increase” wage increase was all convoluted and not understandable.  I brought that up in Public Input and the Board didn’t provide or ask for a public explanation of just how much it cost.  They only described a “net cost” of over $700,000, but my estimate is that total cost was over $4-million but then the District saved money from new 3% required pension contributions (not explained) and 5% required contributions for ONE health insurance plan.  Thus, the teachers were probably given the raise to offset the required contributions, but we don’t know because Board meetings to decide union contracts are SECRET and the PUBLIC is not allowed in them.  And, using peer pressure, if two of five members disagreed, they are still pushed into showing solidarity with the majority, thus all five Board members voted on the contract.
      1.                                                                i.      OPINION:  Wage decisions should be transparent and held in open forums.  Details showing the dollar effect of each component of contract changes should be clearly explained.  Until then, Board members are not being transparent about wage and benefit decisions.
   3. THANKS go to several members of the public and the North Lake and South Lake Tea parties who are continually attending the school district board meetings and sometimes providing public input.
   4. No afternoon workshop on Monday, June 13.
   5. Monday, 6pm:  Regular LCSD Board meeting at 6pm, Monday June 13 at County “round” Admin building  - Use “Board Docs” on the LCSD website to see the agenda AND attachments. (Calendar has the agenda but no attachments).  The more detailed agendas, with attachments are always on Board Docs, but only for regular Board meetings and Workshops.  Tuesday’s special meeting (see below) is NOT in Board Docs, but in the Calendar.
      1.                                                                i.      I read the entire agenda and did not find anything significant.  Most items are on the “consent agenda” and many were discussed at prior workshops.
   6. ***  THIS TUESDAY 1PM MEETING WAS CANCELED DUE TO A FUNERAL >>>>>> - TUESDAY  1PM  – SPECIAL “School Board Retreat” 
      1.                                                                i.      This meeting is NOT listed in the “Board Docs” but in the Calendar and you can print the agenda – one day they will be consistent with everything either in Board Docs or Calendar, but for now you have to read both.
      2.                                                              ii.      Topics are VAGUE and General – they do this when they don’t want people to come to the meeting – there are no attachments and no detailed agenda item explanations, and very few staff will be there, and the press rarely attends these meetings, which is why it is important for public observers to attend.
         1. Topics include FCAT Scores overview, Strategic Plan Update, “Superintendent’s Evaluation Instrument” which could be to review an evaluation, or to revise the evaluation form; “Board projects” (that should be good), Board Watch List (a procedure started by Larry Metz to track progress of decisions which were not tracked before), Audit Process.
2.  Lake County Board of Commissioners – get the meeting agendas HERE
   1.   Last Week: 
      1. Medicaid Reimbursement:  The Board approved the start of the process to invoice the two Lake County Hospital Districts and recover about $237,000 in Medicaid costs allowed by a Florida State regulation never used before by Lake County.  The earlier estimate was over $2-million, but a staff review found documentation to support billing the Districts for the $237,000 on a pro-rata basis.  Commissioner Chair Jennifer Hill is to meet with the District Chairs and develop an “inter-local” agreement to start the process.  We hope she doesn’t get buffaloed.  Thanks go to several North Lake Tea party members who gave public input at the meeting on this subject (but got carried away).  Also, since the Board was going to let the hospital leaders talk without limits during the agenda item, they let the public input speakers take extra time.
      2. 211 United Way Program:  United Way had obtained approval from the prior Board to contribute $30,000 to a 211 phone hotline where residents could call to get referrals to local community agencies that provide food, shelter, tax advice, etc.  (Which is what three County departments do for the elderly, children’s and veterans’ issues).   I provided research that showed the proposed contract would allow UW to SELL data collected from callers, and that the program did ask for social security numbers of callers.  I was rebuffed by Chair Jennifer Hill when trying to restate that in public input, but later discussion (after many people left) disclosed I was correct.  The UW representative claimed the contract paragraph about selling data was not in her copy, but she had signed the copy on the County website.  The legal department tried to explain intent, but the paragraph was really vague and could be used to sell any collected data, including social security numbers.  Several Board members requested that the paragraph be reworded to specify NO data could be sold.  There were several issues but that was the main one.  In my opinion, the County Attorney’s office was asleep when they issued this contract, which took 2+ months to issue.  The Board should not have been asked to approve a contract that had such a negative paragraph inserted in it and was so loose on some other conditions.   Additionally, there were no terms of service (i.e. how fast the calls should be answered) specified in the contract.  So, they will bring the contract back and it probably will be approved, even though some people, including Commissioner Jimmy Conner, question why the taxpayer should be subsidizing a UW program (but the PRIOR Board did approve it last year, so I expect the actual contract to be approved). 
      3. THIS WEEK - Tuesday, June 14,  9am is the normal Board meeting time, but it a WORKSHOP and ALSO is NOT at the regular location, but at the Trout Lake Center NORTH of Eustis (520 E County Road 44) .  If you go, allow enough time to get there – Trout Lake (look it up) is north of Eustis off HWY 19.  The workshop is primarily about the Preparation of the FY 2012 budget.   There are only three tab items on the agenda:
         1. Preparation of Fiscal Year 2012 budget:   No details or attachments were provided.  This will take up much of the time.
         2. Fire Rescue Assessment Fees:   The “NO fiscal Impact” item is for adoption of a tedious 39 page “Fire and Rescue Assessment Fee Study” which is a report and fire fee recommendations to update the prior 2008 report and fees for a $21-million budget department.   The term is actually not correct, because “rescue services” (i.e. EMS) are no longer funded by this fee, but a separate funding method. To save YOU time, we READ the report and page 19 shows that fees are hardly changing, or were reduces.   You can read or download the 39 page report as an attachment to the agenda item’s tab.  This is a good report to read if you want to understand how fire assessment fees are calculated.  On page 15, it lists the cost of “effort” for residential, commercial, etc. and a total cost of over $16-million, but then on page 9, it says the projected total budget is $21.3 million.  You have to wait until page 10 to learn what the budget components are.  Naturally, they didn’t mention that total or summarize the findings in the agenda OR at the front of the report.     AND, if you look at the page 30 budget summary, you will see they are paying $8.6-million in “regular salaries” PLUS $1.7-million in overtime.  BUT, what is interesting, is that the total “Personal Services” is over $16-million, or DOUBLE the regular pay, by the time they include overtime, retirement, life and health insurance, etc.    Normal overhead ratios for many corporations (excluding overtime) is about 35-40%, but this unit has over 80% overhead.
            1. OPINION 1:  Neither the agenda or the report had an “executive summary” so you have to read the full Fire Assessment report to figure out what fee changes are recommended, or even what the size of the budget is for the department.   By using such poor communication methods, government decisions are “obfuscated” by such long reports and meaningless agenda descriptions, and the Board members should kick back reports and agendas for a more professional summary of results in both the agenda and the reports (or Powerpoints).   The Lake County School District Auditor reports were like that for a long time (now improved due to actions former Board member Larry Metz and by the LCSD Audit Committee).   Newspapers don’t make you wait until the end of a 1000 word article to tell you if a budget was passed  – they tell you in the first sentence AND the headline.  The County BCC needs to demand the same type of communications from staff AND consultants.
            2. OPINION 2:  I don’t know how much this “study” cost, but I estimate it might be anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000.  I wonder why STAFF is NOT capable of doing it.   If STAFF are capable of preparing the financial records to meet accounting regulations, why can’t STAFF also prepare these types of reports?   If the FIRE services budget is over $20-million, you would think they would have someone with the expertise to do this.  I would like to see at least of one the Board members ask that question and get some answers from the staff.
            3. OPINION 3:  The overhead allocation of over 80% of the regular pay (excluding overtime), or $6.5-million in overhead for a regular payroll of $8-million  is outrageous and needs an explanation.   Appendix B provides a fairly detailed line item of budget details.
            4. Construction Project Updates:  No decisions or actions are being requested.  These updates are normally provided at regular meetings and are routine.  So, this could be routine, or there is something being discussed that is abnormal since it is on this workshop agenda and not a regular meeting agenda.
            5. Additional items – Normally, these aren’t added, but since Sean Parks joined the Board and County Manager Darren Gray came onboard, Parks or the staff tend to bring in items at the last minute.  Thus, I have to now check the agendas on Mondays to see if there is an agenda addition for the Tuesday meeting.
               1. We do know of one possible added item to be discussed -  Last week’s Capital Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC – formerly the Impact Fee Committee) submitted a request to Sean Parks to recommend that the Board ALLOCATE 2% ( an estimated $1.2-million) of the General Fund towards Transportation Capital spending (Roads).  Currently, there are no general funds being used for maintenance or capital spending for roads.    CPAC had a long discussion about the shortage of funds for Roads, and decided not to wait for their future report and make this recommendation to the Board NOW for the current budget discussions.   Some people would consider this a tax increase, because it will take a bite out of the existing general fund and reduce funds for existing programs, providing more pressure for added taxes.  I will write a blog entry later on this issue because many significant issues are coming up at CPAC meetings and the press rarely visits them.  This CPAC recommendation may be discussed, but I don’t expect any decisions until the Board has more time to digest it for discussion at a future budget workshop.
               2. Fire, Library and Parks fees to be doubled?  This probably will NOT be discussed at this workshop, but there is another CPAC recommendation to approve a 2010 consultant’s recommendations for impact fee increases (some would be  doubled) for fire, libraries and parks, while also simplifying commercial impact fee categories that affect road impact fees (no more $50,000 fees for specific businesses) and implementing cost of living index increases in fees.   But, that recommendation will take about 3-weeks to get to the Board since it involves revising an ordnance, thus we will have more information later.   School impact fees and transportation fees are later and separate subjects and not part of this pending recommendation.
3. North Lake Tea party – Wed, June 15^th- 6pm - If you haven’t attended a meeting, it is this Wednesday evening at 6pm at the Tavares Community Center. 
   1. http://www.northlaketeaparty.com/
   2. Speakers this Wednesday are former Florida State Senator Carey Baker, and also Marilyn Bainter, North Lake County Hospital District Board member.  This could be interesting if “someone” would ask Baker why he (when he was Senator) , current Senator Alan Hays, and representative Marlene O’Toole have consistently refused to help other Lake County legislators implement revised spending rules for the North Lake County Hospital Tax District.  A Florida regulation clearly says the legislators are responsible for oversight and there sure isn’t any oversight over how District funds are spent.  
   3. Additionally,  I will NOT give a “local issues” update at this meeting on the CPAC tax issues as planned because there are two main speakers at the meeting.

 

It’s 2:10 am and I am finished.

Revised at 8:15 am Monday after sleeping on it.

 

 

Fake Tea Party Candidate Dunmire Falsely Claims Endorsement from Patricia Sullivan

 

 

The logo at left is for a REAL tea party organization.

However, the FAKE political tea party candidate for US Congressional 8th District (Orlando & Lake County area), Peg Dunmire, distributed a flyer to many homes by mail that claimed an endorsement from tea party leaders and included a picture of Patricia Sullivan, who ran in the primaries,but lost to Daniel Webster.  (See link below to press release and copy of the mailer) Webster is now the favored candidate by Republicans, this blog, and most REAL Tea Party activists (which is NOT a registered political party on the ballot).  

Dunmire's FAKE political tea party was created by Democrats to split the vote so Democrat Alan Grayson could be re-elected.

Get that?

Anyway, Dunmire is trying to confuse uneducated conservatives and tea party followers by claiming she was endorsed by REAL tea party activists, Sullivan and others, when that is not true.

So, Sullivan has announced a press conference for 8am tomorrow at the Orlando offices of Daniel Webster to denounce Peg Dunmire's attempt to confuse voters.  Dunmire even included a picture of Sullivan in the mailer without permission, and the picture is copyrighted.

Below is the press release from Sullivan in pdf format.  Watch for news about the issue in the media.  REMEMBER, the active tea parties are NOT a political Tea party, and the "Tea Party" that is listed on the ballot with Dunmire's name is a knock off of the Tea Party name by Democrats.

Don't believe them.  Vote for Daniel Webster and ignore Dunmire, Alan Grayson or any other candidate.

Download SullivanPresser RE Dunmire

====================================================================

 Here is what Dave VonGunten from the North Lake County (FL) Tea Party sent out:

To:  North Lake TEA Party Patriots

Say It Ain't So

OK

I WILL

Patricia Sullivan is NOT endorsing Peg Dunmire
Or any of the other TEA political party candidates.
Unless something has changed since the Unity Rally

Todd Long, Dan Fanelli and Ross Beiling
ARE NOT endorsing any TEA Party Candidates as indicated in the Dunmire mailer.

This notice is in reponse to a mailer sent by Diane Kepus for Peg Dunmire.  It featured Patricia Sullivan's picture which was unauthorized for use by the Dunmire campaign.  It is an absolute LIE that Patricia, Todd Long, Dan Fanelli and Ross Beiling are supporting Peg Dunmire.  Who stands to gain from votes for Peg Dunmire?  Who is underhanded enough to finance this mailer?  A vote for Dunmire is stolen from whom?  Obviously, the answer to that question is Daniel Webster.  Who then gains if a vote is cast for Dunmire?

This is the lowest of low in political dirty tricks.

A Press Conference Is Scheduled!

Patricia Sullivan will give a Press Conference from Daniel Webster's campaign headquarters on Monday, October 25, at 8AM.
Daniel Webster Campaign Headquarters
3506 St. Valentine Way
Orlando

 - end -

 

 

 

 

Why Don't the Chambers of Commerce Host Panels of Elected Officials to Answer Questions from the Public?

Here is an idea for an event that each of the local Lake County chambers could hold.  It is an open meeting hosted by the Chambers to have the public ask direct questions of elected officials (as opposed to candidates).   Right now, there is nothing like this in Lake County, but the one below is held by the Chamber of Commerce in Fountain Valley, CA where I used to live.

They do it just for State and Federal officials, but I think the local one should include elected officials from County Government, the School Board and local cities.  So what if it goes 3 hours - I think they would get a big crowd.

Since Welton Cadwell hardly ever lets the public provide public input at County Commissioner meetings, maybe this type of meeting may provide an alternate version of transparency.

How about it, Chambers?    OR, what about the TEA Party or the local Republican Executive Committee (they are planning several for current candidates, but not incumbents who are not up for re-election)    

vj

In the Local section of the OC Register, in the “Our Towns – Central” column, you find the following announcement.  This is a fun annual event.  In recent years those in attendance have engaged our state and federal electeds in a serious discussion on our crumbling state and how to stem the tide.

 

 

From an email newsletter from a County "Supervisor" (like a Commissioner) in Orange County, CA:

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California

Do you have a question you'd like answered by a legislator?

Residents can submit questions to the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the 29th annual Legislative Reception at 6:30 p.m. March 26 at the Senior and Community Center at Founders Village, 17967 Bushard St.

The chamber has invited: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Sen. Tom Harman, Assemblyman Van Tran, Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach and the Fountain Valley City Council.

Submit questions to the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8840 Warner Ave., Ste. 207, Fountain Valley, 92708 or e-mail bwhite@fvchamber.com

Contact the writer: 714-796-7956 or epak@ocregister.com

 

 

Broward County, Florida - Next County that is Victim of String of Fraud & Corruption

Recently we reported on the corruption schemes in Palm Beach County (Florida) which resulted in the County citizens, encouraged by a local Tea Party group, to establish a very strong Inspector General program which is planned to end up having authority over all County government entities as WELL as cities.  Palm Beach County corruption cases followed massive cases in Miami-Dade County before that.

Now, as reported in the article below, it is Broward County, Florida's turn (Fort Lauderdale area), and more elected officials are being prosecuted and going to jail.  It seems they now are uncovering a string of corruption cases as well as a large Ponzi scheme

Clout of Tea Party grows vs Republicans or Dems, According to Rasmussen Poll

A major political polling firm, Rasmussen,  has published a study that indicates the Tea Party groups have much more clout in the minds of voters than you might think.  Here is what they said:

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
December 4-5, 2009

Suppose the Tea Party organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district or the Tea Party candidate from your district?
Democratic	36%
Tea Party	23%
Republican	18%
Not sure	22

However, the study above is misleading, because the REAL Tea Party folks do NOT intend to be a separate party, and many Tea Party followers consider themselves Republicans, as we explain below.