The Concerned Citizens of Franklin County (CCFC) had a successful budget workshop where the county commission agreed to a 2% cut for most departments, resulting in lower property taxes. This represented a win for taxpayers. The CCFC will seek further targeted cuts at upcoming budget hearings in September. The organization is also asking for additional donations to replenish its funds and help keep taxpayers informed.

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A Solid Win
Good Morning Friends:
Thursday, a week ago several Concerned Citizens Members attended the 2014 Franklin County Budget Workshop. Of the seven years
that I’ve been involved, this one went the smoothest. The bottom line is that the TRIMM Notice that you will receive will reflect what
is called the rollback rate, that is the rate that generates approximately the same amount of ad valorem taxes as in the last budget. That
rate can be lowered, but not raised at the two Budget Adoption Hearings to come. This represents a solid win for taxpayers this year.
There was a lot of gnashing of teeth, particularly by constitutional officers who often times are building fiefdoms to themselves I feel.
In the end county departments took most of a 2% reduc tion and overall the constitutionals took a real cut in most cases.
What made this year different? For years the CCFC has prompted our Commissioners to figure out in advance what the likely county
property assessments were going to be and instruct their departments and the constitutional officers to submit budgets that met certain
criteria. In essence…stop flying blind. After all, no matter what you hear, the Florida Constitution squarely puts the responsibility for
setting all county budgets including the constitutionals with the Board of Commissioners. This year, through the efforts of the CCFC
and on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Lockley against, the Board agreed to instruct everyone to submit budgets with a 2% cut. Most
did or at least came close. Your CCFC will seek additional targeted cuts at the Budget Adoption Hearings in September. More on that
later, but savor t he moment for now!
Four other issues that I would like your help on:
1. I hope everyone takes a few minutes and reads the powerful article in the Times written by Ray Brownsworth, outgoing CEO of
Weems Hospital. I’ll leave you to comment on what he has to say. I will tell you though; that to the best of my knowledge, everything
he says is true. Note: There are five pages in total. http://www.apalachtimes.com/editorial/columns/why-i-returned-to-iowa-1.349409
2. Your CCFC has been effective this year in helping all taxpayers in Franklin County keep more of their own money. We hope you
agree we mattered. We are doing a special $5,000 special dues request to our membership t o replenish our coffers. If you can spare an
extra $50, $100, $500 or more we’d appreciate it. Contact me directly if you have a question on how money is spent.
3. Here’s a link to the Times article concerning the Budget Workshop. http://www.apalachtimes.com/news/local-news/county-eyes-
millage-rate-drop-1.349458?tc=cr In this article you will read Commissioner Lockley’s comment “This is a workshop for the county
commission,” Commissioner Noah Lockley told Feifer. “Ain't no one got time to pick this apart.” I’ll let you decide if he’s right or
not. Here’s the issue though that I’ve been reticent to bring to your attention. Commissioner Lockley has challenged my right to speak
and whether I represent both the Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Inc. and also as VP of the Alligator Point Taxpayers
Association loudly and often in public in trying to silence disagreement. The President of the Alligator Point Taxpayers Association
has contacted Commissioner Lockley on this issue already. CCFC members have been pushing for me to ask other members to call,
write or email Chairman Sanders and Commissioner Lockley and let them know your feelings so that we can put
an end to the embarrassing and disrespectful episodes playing out at most public meetings.
4. Want to help us? Have a phone and email? The CCFC could use some help in updating email addresses and physical street
addresses from time-to-time. We could use someone’s help for five or six hours twice a year to help keep our contact information
straight. We plan to start sending a frequent mailed update to our members that don’t have easy email access. We could use your help,
contact the undersigned! We appreciate all offers of time.
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Special thanks to the Half Shell for filming the Workshop. Filming makes a big difference in behavior! Well, that’s about it for the
moment. The two Budget Adoption Hearings will be held on September the 3rd and the second on the 15th, both at 5:15. We’ll be
there and will report on that and how the School District Budgeting went.
Sincerely,
Allan J. Feifer
President
Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Inc.
P.O. Box 990
Eastpoi nt, Florida 32328
AllanF@DEC-International.com
ABetterFranklin.com
(850) 653-5571
“The Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Inc. serves as a citizens’ advocate to ensure that our Franklin County governments are
more open, affordable, efficient, and responsive to our citizens. The organization seeks to hold public officials accountable for their
actions in the administration of their duties and in their fiduciary responsibilities to the taxpayers.”
View many county meetings at:
The Half Shell Community Web Forum
TheHalfShell@me.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHalfShell?feature=mhee
Commissioner Contacts:
Chairman- Cheryl Sanders <cheryl@franklincountyflorida.com> 697-2534
Commissioner Smokey Parrish <wardshrimphouse@yahoo.com> 653-8790
Commissioner Pinki Jackel <pinki@franklincountyflorida.com> 670-6700
Commissioner Noah Lockley <noah@franklincountyflorida.com> 653-4452
Commissioner William Massey <william@franklincountyflorida.com> 653-8861
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