Local News

Report: Florida spending additional $2B in new state budget

August 13, 2024 By Andrew Powell

(The Center Square) — The nonprofit group Florida TaxWatch released its annual Taxpayers Guide to Florida’s fiscal 2024-2025 state budget, which details the current outlay and provides past data to put it in a historical context.

According to the budget report, the Legislature has more than the $118.6 billion earmarked in the General Appropriations Act, with additional spending occurring in general bills that happens every year, according to Florida TaxWatch.

Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee (Eyecrave Productions/Getty)

What makes this year’s budget stand out, however, is the almost $2 billion in extra funding being spent above the state budget, an increase from the $1.4 billion in additional spending in fiscal 2023-2024’s budget.

A total of 122 new state employee positions have been created, part of the $2 billion outlay, with most funds coming from the General Revenue Fund. More than $800 million is recurring spending, including a $717 million health care bill and another $536 million on landmark environmental efforts.

Florida TaxWatch noted that including all of the extra spending pushes the fiscal 2024-25 budget to a total of $118.6 billion, even after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed almost $1 billion out of the budget.

Lawmakers using the appropriations act to get funds for the current year, is also commonplace. Florida TaxWatch points out that funds appropriated by lawmakers for fiscal 2023-24 are more than $3 billion, with $1.7 billion coming from the General Revenue Fund.

Over the past three years, the state budget has grown by 28.6%, the largest growth since between 2004 and 2007. This does not include the $26 billion the state received for federal pandemic relief funds.

While Florida TaxWatch praised DeSantis and lawmakers for largely spending taxpayer money responsibly, using funds to improve infrastructure, water quality, and affordable housing, they note that local member projects have ballooned to over $2.8 billion before vetoes. Another $500 million has been allocated to further pay down state debt.

The Sunshine State’s budget surplus is dwindling, falling to an expected $5.7 billion in unobligated general revenue funds, from the $21.3 billion estimated to remain at the end of fiscal 2022-23 and $8.7 billion left in fiscal 2023-24.

Florida TaxWatch further notes that unprecedented growth is not expected to continue in the future and recommends that lawmakers remain responsible with taxpayer money.

Published August 14, 2024

Florida follow-up audit finds discrepancies with economic incentive programs

August 13, 2024 By Andrew Powell

(The Center Square) — The Florida Auditor General recently published a follow-up audit of the Sunshine State’s economic incentives programs and found some uncorrected issues remain.

The Florida Department of Commerce assists the governor in working with the Legislature, state agencies, business leaders, and economic development professionals. For fiscal 2023-24, state lawmakers appropriated approximately $1.8 billion.

Together, they formulate plans to implement consistent policies and strategies that help promote economic opportunities for Floridians and serve as the state’s chief agency for business recruitment, expansion, and economic development. State law requires the department to contract an independent third party to verify that recipients comply with the terms set in their economic development incentive agreement.

These independent contractors are required to have a level 2 background screening before they can access recipient information. Furthermore, state law requires all employees in positions of trust, responsibility, or sensitive location to undergo level 2 screenings before and during employment.

The auditor general found that the department had failed to evidence that all independent third-party contractors with access to confidential information had all had level 2 background screenings. This issue was found in a previous audit.

According to the audit report, the department had not yet addressed issues regarding access to the Salesforce web-based system, which is used to track the progress of economic development incentive applications and capture related data. The system was found to be available to some incentive recipients, third-party personnel, and division personnel up to 117 days after their employment or association with the department had ceased.

The auditor general recommended the department improve its controls over access to the system, to reduce the risk of unauthorized disclosure, modification, or destruction of department data and IT resources.

The report further noted issues around access controls to purchasing cards, stating that the department’s ex-employees had access to taxpayer dollars after they left their employment, in some instances up to 241 after.

Although there were no unauthorized purchases found, the auditor general recommended the department management work on promptly canceling the employees’ access upon termination.

A similar issue was found with FLAIR, which the department utilizes to authorize payments and record and report transactions. Ex-employees had access to FLAIR up to 450 days after they left department employment. The auditor general recommended that the department again promptly cut access once an employee is terminated.

Published August 14, 2024

Celebrate National Peach Month with peaches by the plenty

August 13, 2024 By Shari Bresin

Did you know August is National Peach Month? And rightfully so — August is the peak of peach harvest season. So how can you “celebrate” this versatile, juicy fruit this month? By enjoying them in different ways of course — and maybe learning a thing or two about them.

Have peaches in several ways, whether whole, sliced in a sandwich, grilled or in a jam. (Adobe Stock)

Delight in the sweetness in a variety of ways, courtesy of University of Utah Extension:

Fresh: whether as a snack or with a main meal, the sweet flavor of a fresh, ripe peach is hard to beat.
In a fruit salad: mix them in with berries, melon, grapes, kiwi, and so on.
Grilled: cut in half and grill until they caramelize, or thread through skewers with other fruit to make kabobs, for a more nutritious dessert.
In a fruit smoothie: use either fresh or frozen peaches and add in other fruits, yogurt and some orange juice.
Peach salsa: dice fresh peaches and add with red onion, cilantro and lime as a side dish, appetizer with chips, or as a topping for grilled fish.
Peach cobbler: bake this beloved dessert using sliced peaches, either fresh or canned in juice.
Peach jam: if you won’t finish all of your fresh peaches in time, make homemade peach jam or preserves.
In a main meal: such as a salad, on top of pork chops, or a peach-glazed chicken. Or swap out the jelly from a PB&J with some fresh peach slices instead.

Sweet homemade peach cobbler crisp with oat topping (Brent Hofacker/Getty)

In addition to the many ways of eating peaches, there are numerous fun facts about them, too:

Georgia is not the number one state in peach production. California and South Carolina are the top two, and Georgia is third. In fact, Georgia’s top fruit is the blueberry.
This sweet fruit has over 700 varieties.
They were discovered in China in 6000 BC. Back then, it was considered a luxury fruit and only enjoyed by those with royal ties. Once peaches spread to the Persian Empire, the Romans called them Persian Apples.
China is the largest producer of peaches in the world.
Peaches are about 90% water and are high in Vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.
Peaches are known for having fuzzy skin from fine hairs (called trichomes). They protect against pests and insects and help to hold moisture (making them extra juicy).
Nectarines are a variety of peaches, just with a smoother skin without the fuzz.
If the flesh separates easily from the pit, it is a “freestone.” If the flesh sticks to the pit, it is known as “clingstones.” Clingstones are a bit sweeter and best for canning, while freestones are best eaten fresh. You’re more likely to find a clingstone peach at a farmer’s market than a grocery store.
A peach is ripe when you notice the aroma and it slightly gives when you gently squeeze it.
Store unripe peaches in a closed paper bag on the counter. Once ripe, store at room temperature for one to two days. If you will not eat them that soon, put them in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Need more ideas to do something peachy this summer? Try these recipes from MyPlate.gov:

Peachy Peanut Butter Pita Pockets:

Ingredients
2 pita pockets (medium, whole wheat)
1/4 cup peanut butter (reduced fat, chunky)
1/2 apple (cored and thinly sliced)
1/2 banana (thinly sliced)
1/2 peach (fresh, thinly sliced)

Directions
Wash hands with soap and water.
Cut pitas in half to make 4 pockets and warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make them more flexible.
Carefully open each pocket and spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the inside walls.
Fill with a combination of apple, banana, and peach slices. Serve at room temperature.

Chicken Salad and Peach Sandwich:

Ingredients
4 slices of whole-grain bread
1/2 cup cooked chicken (diced)
1/2 cup canned peach slices (drained and diced)
1 celery stalk
1/2 cup apples (Fuji, Gala or Braeburn)
1 small onion
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise (nonfat)
1 tablespoon chopped walnut

Directions
Mix together the chicken, apples, peaches, celery, onion, walnuts, and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
Spoon mixture onto 2 slices of the bread.

Peachy Pops:

Ingredients
2 peaches
2/3 cup yogurt, low-fat vanilla
2 cups orange juice
6 paper cups
6 spoons

Directions
Wash hands with soap and water.
Use a knife to remove the skin from the peaches, and to chop the peaches.
Spoon the peaches into each of the 6 paper cups.
Place the yogurt in a medium mixing bowl.
Slowly pour and stir the orange juice into the yogurt. Mix well.
Pour some of the juice and yogurt mix into each cup to cover the peaches.
Place a spoon in the center of each cup.
Cut 6 squares of aluminum foil big enough to cover the tops of cups. Stab each spoon handle through each piece of foil. The foil will hold the spoon in the center of the cup.
Place cups in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
Just before serving, peel the paper cups away from the pops to eat.

Published August 14, 2024

Proposed invasive species ordinance uprooted

August 13, 2024 By Joe Potter

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) were informed during their Aug. 6 meeting in Dade City that a proposed ordinance to regulate invasive species such as cogon grass, kudzu and English ivy, has been withdrawn from consideration.

The BCC wasn’t required to take any action on the proposed ordinance. It had been a controversial topic when the Pasco County Planning Commission reviewed it during their July 11 meeting in Dade City, as measures to regulate invasive plant species are already contained within part of the Pasco County Land Development Code (LDC) but haven’t been enforced.

Cogon grass is considered an invasive species as it crowds out native plants. ((Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images))

Planning Commission members recommended changes be made to the LDC so steps could be taken to help eradicate invasive plant species and prevent their reoccurrence. Ways to enforce what’s already in the LDC were also recommended.

County staff members are following that recommendation and will present amendments to the LDC to the BCC at a future meeting.

In other business at the Aug. 6 meeting, commissioners:

Approved an ordinance establishing the Hope Innovation District that will consist of roughly 775.6 acres, to be located east of the Suncoast Parkway, south of Ridge Road, and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

This Community Development District (CDD) is the site where Moffitt Cancer Center plans to make a major expansion into Pasco County.

Plans call for 13,400,000-square-feet of development that will be assessed by the CDD. Types of development that may be assessed include Clinical, Research, Labs/Office, Amenities/Residential, Education, Light Manufacturing, a Future Community Partner Hospital, and Flex space. All internal roadways will be financed, owned, operated, and maintained by the CDD. The CDD will be responsible for maintaining the hardscape, landscape, and irrigation, including bike trails and sidewalks.

The life sciences park established in the CDD will bring together expertise from across fields such as biotechnology and manufacturing to accelerate progress in cancer and other diseases, according to a statement by Moffitt Cancer Center.

Approved a revised ground lease agreement with the Peachtree Group that became the new leaseholder for the four-story, 128-room Residence Inn by Marriott on March 29. The hotel’s address is 2867 Lajuana Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. It opened in 2017 and is on county-owned property adjacent to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex.

Michael Bernath, Peachtree’s senior vice president for acquisitions and dispositions, told commissioners that the current average daily rate (ADR) for occupancy of the hotel is 58.8%. Bernath made his remarks remotely due to inclement weather.

District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed serious concerns about that number. He said that Peachtree should try to find some way to get that rate up higher. “We should be shooting for 100 percent,” Mariano said.

An ADR of even 80 to 85 percent would be difficult to achieve, remotely, Bernath said.

Mariano maintained that the higher rate being charged to rent rooms at the hotel is what was keeping the occupancy rates down.

Bernath replied that the rate charged at the hotel would be “what the market will bear.”

Commissioners approved extending the term of lease from 25 years, with three consecutive renewal terms of 10 years each, to 50 years, to accommodate Peachtree Group’s investment timeline and financial considerations.

Peachtree Group originally planned to inform commissioners of the ADR at five-year intervals. Commissioners agreed instead to have that information provided to them every three years during the term of the lease.

Continued until Sept. 9 a zoning change requested by Crossways MPUD – Crossways 301 LLC for approximately 29.5 acres located in east Pasco County. The property is currently zoned A-C Agricultural Zoning District and the applicant wants it to be changed to a Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) to allow for the development of up to 130 single-family detached dwelling units and associated infrastructure. Some residents in the area near the intersection of Old Lakeland Highway and U.S. Highway 98 have expressed concerns about the increased traffic they think would be created if that many homes were built on that property.

Published August 14, 2024

Florida recreational marijuana initiative has raised $66M

August 13, 2024 By Steve Wilson

(The Center Square) – Proponents of ballot initiatives that would legalize recreational marijuana and enshrine abortion rights in the Florida constitution have raised millions.

The two initiatives are among six that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot and will require a 60% vote to earn a place in the state’s constitution.

Smart & Safe Florida is behind Florida Amendment 3, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. It would allow residents age 21 or older the ability to purchase and consume marijuana for recreational, nonmedicinal purposes.

According to the Florida Department of State, the political committee has raised $66.6 million toward the effort and has spent $54 million.

Nearly $59.8 million since 2022 has come from one donor, Clearwater-based cannabis retailer Trulieve Cannabis.

The two opposition groups, Florida Voters Against Extremism and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund, have raised only $125,100.

In 2016, Florida voters by 71%-29% adopted a medical marijuana initiative.

Amendment 4 would provide a constitutional right to abortion before a fetus was viable outside the womb, or if needed to protect a women’s health.

Floridians Protecting Freedom is the group that is behind the initiative. According to state data, it has raised nearly $39.6 million and spent $23.2 million.

The biggest donor is the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, an Oklahoma-based group that has contributed $5 million. Democrat activist Marsha Laufer has donated $4.6 million.

Opposition groups such as Florida Voters Against Extremism and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund have been swamped in the fundraising battle, raising only $368,650.

The other four amendments on the ballot deal with various issues.

Amendment 1 would change school board elections to partisan beginning in November 2026. Amendment 2 would establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish.

Amendment 5 would mandate an annual inflation adjustment for the value of the homestead property tax exemption. Amendment 6 would strike a constitutional provision providing public campaign financing for candidates who agree to spending limits.

Published August 14, 2024

Guns-rights group challenges ban on open-carry in Florida

August 13, 2024 By Tom Gantert

(The Center Square) – Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit in Florida that challenges the state’s ban on open carry of firearms.

“Florida lawmakers claim to be pro-gun, but year after year, they’ve refused to repeal the 1987 ban on open carry, leaving Floridians in the very anti-gun company of New York, Illinois, and California where this is also prohibited,” said Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president.

“Governor Ron DeSantis has previously expressed support for open carry, but unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the Legislature in Tallahassee has made quite clear they have no intention of repealing this ban,” Gun Owners of America, a non-profit pro-Second Amendment lobbyist group based in California, said in a press release about the lawsuit.

In Florida, the open-carry is only allowed as a self-defense chemical spray or a non-lethal stun gun.

The ACLU has opposed open-carry laws.

“Open carry can disrupt the public square through the intimidating display of lethal weapons,” Florida ACLU said in 2021. “For example, in 2020, armed protesters forced the suspension of the activities of democratically-elected state legislatures in Michigan and Oregon.”

The ACLU didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

In February 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that allowed Florida residents to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit.

Published August 14, 2024

Report: Florida receives nation’s second-highest grade for religious liberty

August 13, 2024 By Andrew Powell

(The Center Square) — The Sunshine State ranks second in the nation for the protection of religious liberty, according to a new report from the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy.

The report, “Religious Liberty in the States,” is a project that measures legal safeguards for religious liberty across the U.S. During a panel discussion on the report, Jordan Ballor, director of research at CRCD, was joined by project director Mark David Hall and associate director Paul Mueller.

A list of safeguards was used to measure and compare each state — including a state’s policies on absentee voting, general conscience, abortion refusal, sterilization refusal, contraception refusal, health insurance mandates, non-participation by clergy, religious entity refusal, public office recusal, for-profit business nonparticipation, clergy as mandatory reporters, houses of worship protected from closing, ceremonial use of alcohol by minors, religious freedom restoration act, childhood immunization requirements and excused absences for religious reasons.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown Tampa. (Tony Arruza/Getty)

“Florida improved from number eight in the nation in 2023 to number two in 2024 because it passed general conscience and hospital protections,” Hall told The Center Square. “These laws ensure that medical professionals and institutions are not compelled to participate in medical procedures to which they have religious objections.”

Illinois, Florida, Montana and Arkansas are the top five states for religious freedom, with Mississippi and Ohio tied for fifth.

“The three most improved states this year are Montana, New Hampshire and Florida. These states saw double-digit improvements in how they protect religious liberty and we see that as very promising,” Mueller said.

According to the report, Florida improved by over 13%, moving into second place with an overall score of 73.2%, while Illinois is in first place with an overall score of 80.4%. Data further shows that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is present in 50% of U.S. states.

The most prevalent safeguards are health insurance mandates, which are found in 89% of states, the immunization requirement exemption, which is in 88% of states and absentee voting, which is in 84% of states.

The report notes the Florida Legislature should be given significant credit for protecting religious freedom. Florida passed several new laws in the past year, namely to add additional protection and expand general conscience provisions intended to protect medical professionals.

A recent study from the Cato Institute, “Freedom in the 50 States,” ranked states based on several factors, including regulations around business, Second Amendment protections, drug legalization, incarceration rates and taxation. Overall, Florida ranks second behind New Hampshire.

Florida also ranks first fiscally for government consumption and government employment, while ranking first overall for being fiscally responsible. Florida comes in the middle of the pack for cash and security assets, health insurance and lawsuits.

Published August 14, 2024

Happy Tunes Music closes after 33 years

August 6, 2024 By Joe Potter

July 31 was an unhappy day for Happy Tunes.

That was the date the business that had been located in Turtle Lakes Plaza for 33 years closed its doors for the last time.

Three things caused Happy Tunes Music to have to close, according to Marcia Jones who has owned and operated the business with her husband Donald since 1991.

First, there was a serious decline in the business’ customer base as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We lost more than three-quarters of our customer base because of COVID,” she said.

Most of their customers had been students in various grades who needed to buy instruments they had to use in bands or other musical groups at their schools. They didn’t return to the store once they stopped going there, she said.

Second, there was a significant increase in the rent their landlord required them to pay if they were to stay open for another year.

And third, there has been a major change in the interests of students who used to be involved in music programs, she said. This is probably partially because string programs are only now offered at three schools in Hillsborough County, according to Jones.

Happy Tunes Music has had a powerful impact in Hillsborough County during the more than three decades it has been in business. Four thousand-plus students have purchased instruments from the store over the years. Some of the customers they were serving at the time they closed were the third generation of students who had done business with them, according to Marcia Jones.

“Our oldest student is 85 years old and our youngest is 3 years old,” she said.

But, sadly, times have changed.

“Today most of the kids don’t want to do anything but play on their cellphones. They’re not having the joy of creating things,” she said.

Mom and Pop businesses aren’t the only ones, however, that are being pushed out because of the economy, she said — larger music businesses such as Sam Ash, which was founded in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, also are closing because of financial hardships.

Sam Ash recently closed all 42 of its stores nationwide including ones in Tampa and Clearwater. The COVID pandemic also had significantly impacted sales at the business known as “The World’s Favorite Music Store.” The company recently announced it was in debt for more than $500 million before officially filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Jones said she had been working in the music business since 1963, and she and her husband moved to Florida in 1981. They opened Happy Tunes in Lutz in June of 1993.

Various types of instruments, including guitars, banjos, mandolins, accordions, bagpipes and drums were available at Happy Tunes Music during the store’s best years in business. They also provided repair services for many types of instruments.

The husband and wife team will be operating as much of their music business as they can out of their home now, including doing instrument rentals and repairs, she said.

Customers who need to have instruments repaired can continue to call them at 813-948-1419, or email them at . The couple will ship customers a loaner instrument while their instrument is being repaired.

It won’t be Mrs. Jones’ only endeavor. Marcia Jones tells us that she has an embroidery side business. She has done hundreds of embroidery projects in the past, and will continue to do them as another source of income, she said.

Published August 7, 2024

Planning Commission favors increased School Impact Fees

August 6, 2024 By Joe Potter

The Pasco County Planning Commission at its July 25 meeting in New Port Richey agreed to recommend approving an ordinance to increase School Impact Fees and to pass it on to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The Planning Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the BCC, which has the final authority to adopt or reject the ordinance.

According to a report at the meeting, the impact fee for a single-family home is currently $8,328, and the proposed impact fee for that structure will be $9,328 in 2025 when the ordinance will be effective, if the BCC adopts it. The impact fee would then increase by $1,000 per year through 2028 when it would be $12,328.

L. Carson Bise, president of TischlerBise, a fiscal, economic and planning business located in Bethesda, Maryland, and Boise, Idaho, shared this information with Planning Commission members. He has nearly 30 years experience in calculating school impact fees and similar fees.

The BCC will hold the first reading of the ordinance on Aug. 6 during its meeting in Dade City. The second reading and possible adoption will be held on Aug. 21 during a meeting in New Port Richey.

School impact fees are one-time levies on newly permitted single-family homes, multi-family homes and mobile homes. The funds collected will be used by the Pasco County School District to help pay for school construction, including additional classroom space, and the purchase of land and school buses.

The reason the proposed increases will be spread over a four-year time frame is because they are between 25% and 50% higher than the current rates that were adopted in 2017, Bise said.

A study on the need for possible increase of impact fees is required every four years, he added. If the ordinance is adopted, it will be effective Jan. 1, 2025.

The cost of building schools has nearly doubled since 2017 during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of the Pasco County School District.

It cost about $178 per square foot to construct Cypress Creek Middle School in 2017. The cost for a school building that was recently constructed was about $390 per square foot, Gadd told Planning Commission members.

It would cost between $67 million and $100 million to build a high school, Gadd said.

Another reason the proposed increase in the impact fees is needed is because there are currently nearly 90,000 students attending schools in Pasco County, including charter schools, according to Alison Crumbley, a 14-year member of the Pasco County School Board.

Bise estimated that the enrollment would increase by 13,700 students over the next 10 years.

“We understand the importance of the schools in our community for us and for our buyers and for everything,” said Edward Briggs, a representative of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA).

He added he appreciated that the TBBA had been consulted with prior to the proposed increases in school impact fees.

In other business, Planning Commission members:

Continued until Aug. 8 a decision on a requested change in zoning from PO-2 Professional Office and MF-2 Multiple Family High Density Districts to a C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District requested by Lakeshore Blvd LLC.

The applicant seeks to be able to develop a freestanding commercial and recreational vehicle and boat storage facility on the approximately 3.62 acres located on the west side of Lakeshore Boulevard, approximately 233 feet southwest of Fivay Road. The applicant reportedly also requested a special exception for the property, but that information wasn’t available during the meeting.

The decision to continue it was made due to Planning Commission members’ desire to have all the facts before they decide on whether to agree to send it to the BCC for their approval.

Recommended approval of a zoning change requested by Residences at Rolling Hills MPUD Master Planned Unit Development – Dan-Nico Properties LLC from MF-1 Multi-Family Medium Density District to an MPUD Master Planned Unit Development. The applicant wants to be allowed to construct 132 Multi-Family Units, 104 Senior Apartments, 3,600 Square Feet of Medical Offices and a minimum of 3,000 square feet of Retail Uses on approximately 9.87 acres, located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Little Road and Denton Avenue.
Recommended approval of a zoning change requested by Affordable Secure Storage from an I-1 Light Industrial Park District to a C-2 General Commercial District for approximately 4.824 acres of property that is on the north side of New York Avenue, approximately 320 feet east of Utica Drive. The applicant proposes to expand the contractor’s offices and to develop the property with a self-storage facility in conformance with applicable parts of Pasco County’s Land Development Code (LDC).
Recommended approval of a zoning change requested by L S McAmis/Blue Sky Storage for a change in zoning from an R-MH Mobile Home District to a C-2 General Commercial District on approximately 2.4318 acres located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Moon Lake Road and Boatswain Drive. The applicant proposes to develop the property with freestanding recreational vehicle/boat storage space in conformance with applicable parts of the LDC.

The BCC has the final authority on whether to grant those requested zoning changes.

Published August 7, 2024

Governor praises Hope Florida program participants

August 6, 2024 By Andrew Powell

(The Center Square) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis held a news conference on July 29 to recognize 13 top-performing Hope Florida CarePortal Churches.

Hope Florida’s mission is to create pathways to prosperity for communities and individuals, to help them become more economically self-sufficient and to instill hope. Casey DeSantis spearheaded the project, which is implemented through the Florida Department of Children and Families.

DeSantis said that the best thing the government can do is help facilitate programs within communities because solving problems from a legislative perspective is not that simple.

“Hope Florida really recognizes that and recognizes that the government has an important role, but that government is ultimately not gonna be the one to solve these problems because if they could have solved them, they’d have solved them by now,” DeSantis said.

Under the leadership of the first lady, DeSantis used his government role to facilitate the support people needed, including working with the faith community and mobilizing churches. The business community was also involved in Hope Florida, nonprofit groups and individual volunteers.

“Someone goes in and they need help, and they’re going into a government bureau, if you put them into this, what we’ve created this care portal, now all of a sudden the needs go out to all these different stakeholders,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis awarded the top two churches with $50,000 each and awarded 11 top churches with $25,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund. The churches honored were: Spanish River Church, Grace Family Church, RiverLife Church, Oasis Church, Radiant Church, South Shore Community Church, Grace Bible Church of Highlands County, Idlewild Baptist Church, North River Church, Action Church, Bayside Community Church North River Campus, University Carillon United Methodist Church, and Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale.

None of the funds came from taxpayers.

DeSantis noted because of this, churches and other community organizations are better equipped to help people, having their services directed where they can best help and support families and individuals.

“So a church down the street may know that a mom got evicted from her apartment, needs a place to stay, has two young kids – they’re gonna be there, they’re gonna help, and they’re gonna have a solution that’s likely going to be sustainable,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said that the program has extensive support from the private sector. Companies like Walmart, Simply Health, AT&T, Tampa Electric Company and Humana have all contributed to the Hope Florida fund.

“We have nearly 5,000 nonprofits and charity organizations that are signed up as part of the Hope Florida network and that are used by our Hope Navigators,” DeSantis said. “So instead of having…somebody that’s just like a bureaucrat, we’ve now transformed that into a navigator where their role is really to navigate the person coming in through all the possibilities.”

Published August 7, 2024