| In This Issue: |
January 24, 2003
|
 |
On January 21, 2003, Lester
Abberger and Sheri Coven met for a second time
with Secretary Colleen Castille to discuss the
merger of the Department of State and Department
of Community Affairs (DCA) into the Department of
State and Community Partnerships and the
Governor's newly released budget. Ms. Castille
stated that growth management remains a priority
for the Governor and that the merger of the two
agencies should not be construed otherwise. In
addition, she stated that while the merger will
result in the loss of 218 positions, only a few
vacant positions would come from DCA's Division of
Community Planning. She also stated that while all
of the executive agencies are experiencing cuts in
funding, the growth management programs remain
funded, including $400,000 for technical
assistance and $1.98 million for Regional Planning
Councils.
Ms. Castille described the new
agency structure. If approved by the Legislature,
there will be four "divisions" under the Office of
the Secretary. They are as follows: Elections,
Corporations, Community Planning and Growth
Management, and Community Assistance Grants. The
latter category includes historical and cultural
resources; library services, community development
block grants; rural community development grants;
Front Porch; Florida Communities Trust; the
Recreational Trails Program; and the Florida
Recreational Development Assistance Program. In
addition, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation
(FHFC) will maintain the same relationship with
the new agency that it now enjoys with DCA. The
FHFC will also assume responsibility for the
Catalyst Program and the Affordable Housing Study
Commission. Finally, there will continue to be an
Emergency Management arm of the agency, however,
the division head will report directly to the
Governor.
While FAPA anticipates that there
could be several bills proposing policy changes to
growth management, with regard to the merger, the
Governor wants a "clean" bill that deals only with
agency structure. In fact, FAPA based on
information received from the Governor’s staff,
FAPA expects this to be a multi-year effort. As
stated above, this year the Governor will seek a
sponsor to file a bill that combines the two
agencies and expresses his legislative intent and
vision. Over the coming year, Secretary Castille
and Mayor Glenda Hood are expected to organize and
establish program and policy shifts that they deem
necessary, which will brought before the 2004
Legislature for ratification. Val Hubbard,
President-Elect and Chair of FAPA’ Legislative
Policy Committee, offered FAPA’s assistance to the
Governor’s staff and Secretary Castille in this
regard. In return, they challenged FAPA to use its
resources to determine what should be the proper
role of the state, regions, and local government
to ensure effective growth management in Florida,
on which staff, the Executive Committee, and the
Legislative Policy Committee will focus its
efforts over the coming months.
The link
below will take you to a portion of the Governor’s
e-budget website that provides further information
regarding the new Department of State and
Community Partnerships along with a simple
organizational chart. If your e-mail does not
support the hyperlink, the web address is as
follows:
www.ebudget.state.fl.us/priorities/hottopics_dept_state.asp
|
|
|
|
|
On January 22, 2003,
Governor Jeb Bush announced his budget
recommendations for Fiscal Year 2003-2004,
recognizing that Florida is much better off than
most of the nation, but also acknowledging in a
tough budget year the state must focus on its key
priorities.
"I'm proud that Florida is one
of the few places in the country that will see
increases in education, child welfare and services
for the elderly. At the same time, cost pressures
related to the constitutional amendments as well
as a still recovering economy, will force us to
make some very difficult choices," said Governor
Bush. "What is perhaps most concerning is the
bleak budget forecast brought upon us by the need
to implement Amendment 9, high-speed rail and
other voter-mandated initiatives beginning next
year. With this in mind, today’s announcement
represents my recommendations for the budget year,
and I look forward to working with the Legislature
on these issues in the coming months."
To
see the full press release, click on the link
below or go to the following web address:
www.myflorida.com/myflorida/governorsoffice/ebudget_press_012103.html
|
|
|
|
|
The budget outlook for FY
2003-04 is gloomy. The latest revenue projections
show the state about $115 million in the hole
based on last year's expenditures. This estimate
is before taking into account the numerous
constitutional amendments passed this fall
(classroom size reduction, high-speed rail, and
universal pre-kindergarten). As expected, the
House has taken a more fiscally conservative
approach, ruling out expanding revenue sources,
instead focusing on cutting spending. The Senate
leadership, however, has indicated they are
willing to look at revenue sources, such as,
eliminating tax exemptions, expanded gambling, and
tax increases.
Legislative leaders have
indicated some of the major issues to be addressed
this upcoming Session.
Education continues
to be a priority for Governor Bush and the
legislature. After sweeping changes to the public
school system last year, the legislature must
revisit the issue to implement the changes passed
by Florida voters last fall regarding state
universities. According to recent study, state
funding per pupil continues to lag behind the rest
of the country.
Transportation
infrastructure funding has been increasingly
visible as a vital issue to Florida's counties and
municipalities. With recent cuts in federal
transportation dollars and the lack of funding for
county incentive grant programs, local governments
have been forced to compete for fewer and fewer
dollars. Look for action this year to revamp state
transportation grant programs.
Lawmakers
will spend a good deal of time implementing
Article V this year. This provision will turn over
certain court funding responsibilities from
counties to the state. There has been an
indication from state lawmakers, however, that
funding will come from current county revenue
sharing.
Legislators must also begin to
deal with the constitutional amendments, which
passed this past fall. These amendments will be
one of the major roadblocks in formulating the
budget, because of a tight budget year and the
billions of dollars class size reduction,
high-speed rail, and universal pre-kindergarten
programs will ultimately cost.
Source:
Lester Abberger
|
|
|
|
|
The House and Senate bills
filed to date that are of interest to FAPA are
listed below.
HB 0065
Relating to
Schools/Small School Requirement
Kottkamp
Schools/Small School Requirement;
repeals provision re small school requirement;
corrects cross references & conforms language.
Repeals 1013.43; amends 1001.42, 1003.02.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2003.
1/13/2003 HOUSE
Filed
SB 0140
Relating to Interlocal
Cooperation Act of 1969
Argenziano
Interlocal Cooperation Act of
1969; requires notification of host government if
separate legal entity seeks to acquire public
facilities serving populations outside
jurisdiction of members of separate legal entity;
provides for host government to respond within
specified period; provides that host government
may not prohibit such acquisition if it fails to
respond within specified period; provides certain
limitations & for retroactive application,
etc. Amends 163.01. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming
law.
12/20/2002 SENATE Referred to
Comprehensive Planning; Communication and Public
Utilities; Governmental Oversight and
Productivity; Commerce, Economic Opportunities,
and Consumer Services
SB 0156
Relating
to Water Resources
Campbell
Water
Resources; provides for restrictions on sale or
transfer of water rights; provides for
restrictions on permits for consumptive use of
water; provides for severability. Amends 373.1501;
creates 373.255. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming
law.
1/10/2003 SENATE Referred to Natural
Resources; Agriculture; Commerce, Economic
Opportunities, and Consumer Services;
Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government;
Appropriations
SB 0186
Relating to
Secretary of State/Community Affairs
Geller
Secretary of State/Community
Affairs; expresses Legislature's intent to enact
legislation to transfer powers & duties of
Community Affairs Dept. to Secretary of State.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2003.
1/21/2003 SENATE
Referred to Comprehensive Planning; Governmental
Oversight and Productivity; Appropriations
Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic
Development; Appropriations; Rules and Calendar
SB 0286
Relating to Planning for School
Growth
Geller
Planning for School Growth;
amends procedures for coordinating efforts of
local planning agencies & school districts
toward planning for school growth. Amends
163.3174, 1013.33. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2003.
1/16/2003 SENATE Referred to Comprehensive
Planning; Education; Appropriations Subcommittee
on Education; Appropriations
SB
0402
Relating to Community Affairs
Webster
Community Affairs; expresses
legislative intent to revise laws re community
affairs. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming law.
1/21/2003 SENATE Filed
SB
0416
Relating to Department of State
Webster
Department of State; expresses
legislative intent to revise laws re Department of
State. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming law.
1/21/2003 SENATE Filed
SB
0432
Relating to Redevelopment/County &
Municipality
Geller
Redevelopment/County
& Municipality; expresses Legislature's intent
to enact legislation re redevelopment of counties
& municipalities. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2003.
1/22/2003 SENATE Filed
SB
0434
Relating to Growth Management/Urban
Services
Geller
Growth Management/Urban
Services; expresses Legislature's intent to enact
legislation re growth management & provision
of urban services. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2003.
1/22/2003 SENATE Filed
REMINDER: Make
plans to attend FAPA's Legislative Workshop,
February 19-20, 2003, in Tallahassee. Click on the
link below or go to
www.floridaplanning.org/whats_new.htm#legis for
registration information.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | |