Lake County Fiscal Rangers

Our Take of Yesterday's Lake County Legislators' Delegation Forum & Video Posted

Leesburg, FL - Jan 5, 2012

Yesterday, Jan. 4th, Lake County's three Florida Representatives ( Larry Metz, Bryan Nelson & Marlene O'Toole) and two Senators (Alan Hays & Dorothy Hukill) held their annual "Lake County Legislators' Delegation" meeting to listen to "pitches" from over 20 people from different government and other agencies asking for funds, legislation changes or other Florida State Support for their issues.

The publicity for the meeting was so bad that hardly any members of the public attended.  Details on meeting locations were confused with three different sites being described by different people.  Agendas were stacked at the side and there was no table to greet attendees or get their names to send out follow up documents.   I only found out about the meeting in the morning and had to cancel a dental appointment to attend.   Hardly any members of the public or press attended.  The only member of the press there was from Lake Sentinel.  The picture shows you what I mean - this was halfway through the meeting after first speakers all left.  If taxpayers and conservative groups don't attend these types of meetings and make their positions known, don't cry when nothing is done.  I am surprised the

Orlando CFO Screws Up and Awards 8.7-million Contract WITHOUT Competitive Bidding

Tavares, lake County, FL  - Thursday, Dec. 20,2012

The City of Orlando CFO, Rebecca Sutton, signed a major software contract for $8.7-million without requiring any bids on the new software project.

Then she flew with several other staff members to Las Vegas using $20,000 in City funds to announce the contract at the software developer's conference.

All this without any bidding.

The Orlando Sentinel provided many details HERE. (Note - READ the comments, which are more blunt than I am).

I was a software developer for seven years, and before that I was an internal audit manager in large firms like Nissan, ARCO (the oil company) and the County of Los Angeles.

A big red flag to an auditor is lack of competitive bidding, called sole sourcing, for large contracts.

The Orlando CFO completely skipped that process because some sales people got to her and convinced her there was no need for competitive bidding.  YOU NEVER DO THAT IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL.

You always go through the bidding for several reasons:

- The competitors ask questions and flush out details or issues you did not consider.  Picking just one vendor allows them to snow you with only favorable features and avoid issues their competitors may know about and have solved.

- Any favored vendor will provide better service or prices in a competitive bid.

- You never know, you may find a better provider, which is the CFO's job, not to just arbitrarily pick a vendor "you like".

- Even if you think some providers are expensive, they may give you a deal to get a reference account.  Orlando is well known enough, that could have happened with other providers, not just the one they think is best.

- Sole sourcing or no-bid contracts are a huge red flag for corruption.  Relatives get hired, side deals can be cut, or the product may have LOW quality or poor customer service because the vendor underpriced the product and cannot make enough to maintain the product (remember, I was a software developer).

It appears this CFO didn't want to go through the needed work to ensure bids were taken, and she "trusted" this vendor, so I predict the software, since it is the first time it will be used by a City government, will explode with problems handling fund accounting, grants, etc which are not used in the private sector.  Staff may resist the standard cost accounting reports which demand accountability like in business. 

The Orlando taxpayer got screwed on this no-bid government software selection.  Fortunately, I live in Lake County, so won't be paying for that mistake.

Vance Jochim

FiscalRangers.com

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Boca Raton Watchdog Group Complains about Excessive Firefighter Benefits & Pensions

Tavares, FL

It seems that the CITY of Boca Raton, FL (not County) is slipping into heavy deficits, and like Lake County, the elected officials are ignoring the steep costs of pension and benefits for employees.

In this case a new watchdog group was formed to disclose facts about excessive pensions and benefits and wages for city firefighters and EMS employees.

We also added a link at the bottom of this posting to a story about how San Diego and San Jose referendums were passed to drastically reduce government employee pensions costs.

Here is the Boca Raton story:

http://www.bizpacreview.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=738070&returnTo=dale-king   

And, attached below is a VERY GOOD graphic 12 page Powerpoint that clearly shows the effects of excessive pensions and benefits for the firefighters.  

Watch the Powerpoint first - it is very good, then read the story.  This is very clear analysis that should be an example of the type of visual analysis required of EVERY government agency about the effects of their pension, wages &  and benefits.

Download 2012_BCFRGoalSetting

AND, here is a story how both San Diego and San Jose citizens pushed through referendums to drastically reduce government employee pensions.   One city eliminated "pension spiking" which is the common government employee practice of running up their salary in the last three years by building up sick leave, overtime, last minute raises, etc. so the base used for pensions is much higher than their normal salary.  Now, citizens are starting to find out about it, and revolting.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/political-potpourri/2012/jun/6/labor-unions-feel-pain-pension-reform-votes-san-di/  

vj

 

 

 

This is Bilderberg 2012 Week - We Tell you about a Secretive International Group Affecting Freedom

Tavares, FL - Tuesday, May 29, 2012  - (Updated June 3rd with video links)

Since this is a holiday week, neither the Lake County School Board or Lake County Board met last week, and the County Board is not meeting on Tuesday.

So, I decided to cover the secretive Bilderberg meeting in Virginia, with an article each day on our Facebook page (  FiscalRangers ) through the weekend on this secretive "One World Government" group behind many international decisions affecting our banks, freedom, support for sustainable development, etc.  The annual Bilderberg secret meeting will be held this weekend, May 31 to June 3 in Chantilly, Virginia.

Yes, normally you probably want to watch FoxNews or Glen Beck this weekend, but I suggest you also watch some of the online coverage on Bilderberg, which is one hub besides the United Nations in the One World Government plan.

Your local "mainstream media" outlets rarely challenge or cover Bilderberg, although many of their media leaders attend the actual meetings.

This will be educational, since many independent online videographers are attending the meeting this weekend and will be live streaming what they find.   After the "What is Bilderberg" section, I provide a link to just one videographer talking about his plans for this weekend, and how to watch his videos.

What is Bilderberg?

Here is the official Bilderberg website:  http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/index.php   "Bilderberg is a small, flexible, informal and off-the-record international forum in which different viewpoints can be expressed and mutual understanding enhanced."  About 130 attend each annual meeting.  Although the meeting discussions are held in secret, they do publish names of the attendees at each meeting.  An agenda for prior meetings is on the website.   If you look at Steering Committee members, you will see the names of international corporate CEO's, politicians, government officials from many countries, NGO activists, media representatives, etc.  A cynic like me would see that many liberals appear to be there to network with world leaders and sell their "vision".  You have to wonder who puts together the agenda, and what "facts" are presented and discussed.  

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June 3 Update on Bilderberg - videos available:

The Bilderberg conference demonstrations continue this weekend in Virgina. Bilderberg is a secretive meeting held annually where 130 committee selected "elite" Corporate heads and governnment leaders (many are liberals, which is a tip) from the US and Europe (only) discuss "common interests" and don't do it publicly. They then go back home and implement changes in government and economic and industrial policy without disclosing it. Now there are over 1000 demonstrators, led by internet news pundits, Ron Paul supporters, and others using Occupy tactics like bullhorns, etc. and you can watch many videos at the link. Google Bilderberg and read up on it to get educated. They are considered to be another group pushing "one world order" vs each country retaining its sovereignty. Many Canadians were there, with signs like "We are Canadians, not North Americans...". For instance the Bilderbergers are said to be pushing for a combined North America region with nationalized police. So, learn about them, be aware about them if you believe the US Constitution should define US laws and not the UN or Bilderberg actions. (Yes, I am thinking about getting a tin foil hat also, but research it for yourself...).

http://www.infowars.com/video-round-up-from-bilderberg-2012/

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HERE is the list of attendees at the 2011 Bilderberg meeting in St. Moritz, Switzerland  in June.  It included two reporters from The Economist magazine in Great Britain, but no one is allowed to write about the discussions.

HERE is the Wikipedia page on Bilderberg.  Apparently, they originally disclosed that Bilderberg was started by the German Nazis, but then history was revised somehow and that fact was removed from Wikipedia.

- Bilderberg was started in the Netherlands in 1954 as a means to get US and European leaders to develop mutual understanding.

- Bilderburg attendees discuss agenda topics, and if they reach a consensus on action, they use their considerable power to implement the actions, which are never disclosed publicly.

-Bilderberg pushes the "North American Union" (NAU) where Canada, the US & Mexico are combined into one country.   That means borders drop and non-citizens invade your country at will. "A recent article has shown how the RCMP (Canadian Police)  is openly admitting that Canadians are being conditioned to accept having American agents policing on Canadian soil."

- Bilderberg is considered by some to be a secretive alternative to the United Nations, but without inviting representatives from developing nations.  One 1977 author, Caroline Moorhead (see Wikipedia) "characterized the group as "heavily biased towards politics of moderate conservatism and big business" and claims that the "farthest left is represented by a scattering of central social democrats".  But, that was in 1977 before the Clintons and Obama were attendees.

- Is Bilderberg Left or Right?  "Some on the left accuse the Bilderberg group of conspiring to impose capitalist domination, while some on the right have accused the group of conspiring to impose a world government and planned economy.^{" (wikipedia)}

Click HERE to see a 9-minute video on what is Bilderberg by a Canadian videographer on how it affects Canada.  

- Bilderberg.org - a website started in 1996 exposing Bilderberg since then.  Vast amounts of information on past conferences.  This is the Bilderberg Conferences Reference Page.  The author focuses on the point that the attendees include many businesspeople who develop a consensus on some international action that may be in their interest and not in the interest of the public.  He lobbies for all decisions to be made public at press conferences.  "Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, who set up the annual Bilderberg Conferences, was an officer in Heinrich Himmler's elite SS or staff guard in Nazi Germany."

 

 

 

 

 

Lake County Government Website Receives "Sunny Award" for good Website Transparency

Tavares, FL - March 13, 2012

This is National Sunshine Week, and Lake County received an award for how the County website provided information to improve "transparency" over local government actions.

Congratulations to Lake County, FL Government for receiving the "Sunny Award" from Sunshine Review, a journal on government transparency located in the Washington D.C area. They ranked 6000 government websites and only 214 received the Sunny Award, and Lake County's website was one.  Lake County's website was scored an "A" transparency grade on Sunshine Review's Transparency Checklist. It goes to show, that Lake County will do anything to keep me from providing public input at a Board meeting!!    I notice that their winners list also included many School Districts, including nearby Orange County.

Here is the website page listing all 214 "A" Sunny Award winners, including Lake County:

http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/2012_Sunny_Awards  

Here is the webpage describing the "Transparency Checklist" and method used to determine Sunny Awards and rankings.  They have checklists for cities, countys, school districts & state agencies:

http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Transparency_checklist 

However, I couldn't help notice that one of the checklist items isn't followed much at Lake County.  They post financial audits, but not performance audits and there are no evaluations of specific agencies unless you know where to loo, (in my opinion).  But, they clearly met most of the other categories on the checklist except this one (my opinion):

Audits (Financial/Performance)

If the county conducts financial and management audits to ensure that it is operating in accordance with the highest standards of financial and management competence and integrity:

• Copies of performance and financial audits should be posted on the county's website.
• Routine financial audits should be posted online.
• Evaluations of the performance of any specific agencies or commissions should be posted online.

Here is the letter the County received, which was read at today's Lake County Board meeting:

Download Gray - Letter from Sunshine Review

 

More About Sunshine Review

We advocate proactive disclosure of information on government websites.

Mission

Sunshine Review promotes proactive disclosure of information on government websites.

To accomplish this, we rate government websites based on our transparency checklist, demanding that government information be open and available to everyone.

Company Overview

Sunshine Review is about state and local government transparency, engaged citizens, and holding government officials accountable. The Sunshine Review wiki collects and shares information on state and local transparency using a 10-point Transparency Checklist to evaluate 6,000 state and local government websites. Sunshine Review is a non-profit that collaborates with individuals and organizations across America to promote state and local transparency.

 vj

 

New Federal Report Indicates Teacher Pay is DOUBLE the pay for private sector

Tavares, FL - Dec. 23, 2011 -  A Sunshine State News article describes a new Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicating that nationally, teachers pay, including benefits, is significantly more than the private sector or other government employees. The first half of this article discussed national figures, then they discuss Florida, where we do know teachers are less paid because this is a right to work state, but then so are all employees in Florida. Read and understand - much blame is put on the unions for focusing on rewards for seniority vs competence.

"Two surprising new reports show that hourly pay and benefits for public-school teachers are higher than the compensation received by other government employees or similarly qualified private-sector workers."

Meanshile, in Lake County, the teacher and SEIU unions are already in negotiations to lock in wage or benefit increases before the School District Board finds out how little money they have for next year.

Watch and see the Lake County Board approve either wage or benefit increases in a closed meeting early next year.  Then they will cry that they don't have money to pay for teaching the kids and other services.

It is my belief that this insider wage process needs to be transparent, based upon sound & objective data, and fully public.

School Board members need to discuss and make wage and benefit decisions in PUBLIC AND provide full cost estimates (not partial year) on an annual basis for all changes.

They also need to have a sound, objective salary and benefit comparison analysis comparing existing, planned teacher wages and benefits to other government agency employees AND also comparing them to private sector employees similar to the BLS analysis. 

I

Some Lake County School District Board members and educators might resent these recommendations, but until objective decision data is developed and shown publicly, AND the Board makes wage and benefit decisions in a public forum with detailed minutes and available audio recordings,  I will continue to assume they are overpaid and publicize any study saying so.  My mother was a teacher and I like and support them, but the methods for providing wages and benefits needs sound, transparent analysis and Board member decisions need to be made in public.  Lack of transparency causes low credibility.

vj

More info on teacher pay vs private sector:

If you want more evidence of how unions distort teacher pay and effectiveness, WATCH this EXCELLENT, eye opening FREE documentary "The Cartel" about teacher's unions in New Jersey (yes, I know, it is not a right to work state, but the issues related to unions are still applicable).  You can watch it FREE on Hulu.com HERE.

Or, you can read this Heritage Foundation report "Assessing the Compensation of Public School Teachers", which describes several added factors indicating teachers are overpaid, and concludes:

"We conclude that public-school-teacher salaries are comparable to those paid to similarly skilled private-sector workers, but that more generous fringe benefits for public-school teachers, including greater job security, make total compensation 52 percent greater than fair market levels, equivalent to more than $120 billion overcharged to taxpayers each year."

A Tea party Newsletter from Ohio discussed excessive teacher wages (again, not a right to work state), and provided this bar graph comparing different sector pay levels, including government employee unions vs private sector.  OEA is the Ohio Education Association - notice how high they are compared to everyone else. 

- More below - scroll down -

 

 

 

 

 

And, you can read this recent BLS report citing average total employment costs for the private sector and how much lower it was than for state and government workers:

"Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged
$28.24 per hour worked in September 2011."

"State and local government employers spent an average of $40.76 per hour worked for employee compensation in September 2011. Wages and salaries averaged $26.57 per hour and 65.2 percent of compensation costs, while benefits averaged $14.19 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 34.8 percent"

 

PS;  Hey, at least I am not citing THIS Michigan Study showing much higher teacher wages compared to average per capital income.  (They are a union dominated state and not a right to work state).

 

Lake Appraiser and Lake County Tax Collector Improve Transparency over Tax Authorities

Tavares, FL - Oct. 2, 2011 -  FiscalRangers has achieved an improvement in transparency over tax authorities listed on property tax notices. 

We recently heard at a meeting of the North Lake County Hospital District that a taxpayer had a terrible time finding out what that Hospital tax on their property was about.   She looked at her Tax Trim notice from the County Appraiser, Ed Havil, and the Tax Notice from County Tax Collector Bob McKee, and the only information for the Hospital District tax was the location and date of the final hearing to approve next year's taxes.  No phone, no email, no address and no website was provided.   Sure, she could call either office and they could provide a phone number, but no info on what the tax was or phone number listed on the notices or on the two agency websites (we thought).

In contrast, if you look at THIS Wisconsin based website, it focuses on improved transparency over taxes there.  And, if you visit THIS website from Milwaukee County, you find they have provided a "Milwaukee County Accountability Portal" which "allows the publci to view detaild data on SPENDING by Milwaukee County Government.

And, look at THIS 2012 notice of "Truth in Taxation" proposed taxes from Hennepin County, MN

And, here is their list of Taxing Authority Websites - notice ALL of them have websites.

So, we here in the Fiscal Rangers batcave sent emails to both McKee and Havill asking what could be done.   Both elected officials, who are up for re-election next year, jumped at the chance to provide more transparency and contact information for each "tax authority" that levies all those lines of taxes you see on your property tax.

It turns out McKee did have an existing page HERE which does list the phone contact number for each authority.   Havill didn't have anything.

However, both have responded.  

Havill has added a similar page HERE with both phone numbers and websites if available (The Hospital District still doesn't have a website, so it is blank). He also added links to the page on three different places, including the top main webpage.  Notice that a large number of the tax authorities, including the MSTU's, don't have any webpage to describe the statute that authorizes, them, the process for setting taxes, and explanation of uses of funds, etc.

McKee's existing website with Tax authority information is HERE.   He now has a HUGE button on the front page leading to a smilar page showing phone numbers for all the tax authorities that he collects money for (on your tax notice), but hasn't added websites yet.

So, at least now, you can find the phone numbers of the tax authorities so you can call and ask questions.  Our idea is you should be able to contact the tax authority website BEFORE taxes are decided for the future year, know what the taxes are for, know what the process is to set next year's tax rates, and get enough information BEFORE the decision meetings to decide if you want to provide an arbument of lowering or raising the tax rates or find how to appeal YOUR tax for that specific line item. 

We will keep pushing for more transparency.  We want both the Tax Collector and Appraiser to use the same acronyms for the tax authorities on their respective notices to taxpayers.  We want their notices to have a clear, big text notice of how to find the above websites (which they are working on).   We want all the tax authorities to have a website, phone and email listed on the Tax Collector and Appraiser's websites which lead to all the information you need to know about that tax. We want them to include Powerpoints they give to local government Boards and groups also, like the presentations by EMS or Fire Depts, or Library staff give to just about everyone. 

We also want the cities and the County to provide centralized tax explanation website pages.

Although not property tax based, the same should be available for sales taxes, fuel taxes, etc that have been voted locally. 

Florida law should require this kind of transparency over all local taxes in ALL counties, and it should be available in ONE place.   And, the local webpages should have a link to a State page describing ALL State Taxes, including sales taxes, fees, etc (which may exist, I just haven't looked yet).

vj

Transparency References:

http://www.opengovernmentmn.com/NAIOP_Transparency_www.pdf 

HERE is a sample "Truth in Taxation" notice from a Minnesota County government - it shows the tax authority contact info right on the notice of proposed taxes for 2012