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Studio 67FAC News Clips – July 9, 2025
COUNTY
St. Pete Catalyst
Florida Association of Counties names Rene Flowers president-elect
Pinellas County commissioner Rene Flowers became the Florida Association of Counties’ president-elect June 27. The president-elect is the second senior official of the association, under the president.
Citizen Portal
Clay County officials celebrate recognition for adoption rates and Clay Day leadership
The Clay County Board of County Commissioners meeting on July 8, 2025, highlighted significant achievements in community service and recognition for local staff efforts.
WMBB
Walton County Commissioner receives advanced designation
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Walton County Commissioner was presented with the Advanced County Commissioner Level II designation from the Institute for County Government last month.
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County budget continues with affordable housing and pay raises
The Leon County Commission has taken the first steps in approving and ratifying its 2026 fiscal budget and there are two big winners: members of the Capital Area Justice Ministry and county employees who can expect yet another annual 5% pay raise for the fourth year in a row.
Action News Jax
Clay County leaders vote to deny utility tax increase despite budget shortfalls
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — In a meeting Tuesday night, the Board of County Commissioners in Clay County voted 4-1 to shut down a proposed increase in tax on certain utilities for customers within unincorporated portions of the county, including those who use Clay Electric.
Your Observer
Florida Power & Light’s smart grid technology prevented more than 800,000 outages during the active 2024 hurricane season.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Spectrum News
Texas flooding underscore the challenges in replacing FEMA
Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.”
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Greg Steube backs Ron DeSantis’ push to end property taxes
The Congressman says DeSantis’ proposal would be ‘great for the economy.’
LEGISLATION
Your Observer
State Bill 180 handcuffs Manatee County commissioners
It can be so difficult to get a bill passed through the legislature that Florida Rep. Bill Conerly (District 72) said if you like 80% of the bill, that’s a success.
FAC News Clips – July 8, 2025
COUNTY
The Local Reporter
Orange County Honored with Three 2025 National Achievement Awards for Innovation and Service
Orange County Government has received three prestigious 2025 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), recognizing the county’s commitment to innovative, impactful public service.
Wear TV
Santa Rosa County faces $12 million shortfall, plans to cut projects to balance budget
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in Santa Rosa County could soon see less development coming to the county next year.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Suncoast News Network
Sarasota Co. Commissioners to vote on investment for stormwater improvements
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla., (WFLA) – Sarasota County Commissioners plan to invest millions of dollars in stormwater infrastructure improvements, all because of the impacts of last year’s hurricanes.
AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y
Route-Fifty
911 looks to AI to filter out non-emergency calls
The technology is helping answer non-emergency calls and otherwise free up dispatchers to focus on true emergencies that they otherwise would have needed to forward along.
FAC News Clips – July 7, 2025
COUNTY
Keys Weekly
COUNTY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE LINCOLN TAKES REINS AS FLORIDA COUNTIES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
In addition to her duties as Monroe County commissioner, Michelle Lincoln will spend the next year leading the charge as president of the Florida Association of Counties.
Navarre Newspaper
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Ray Eddington was presented with the Advanced County Commissioner Level II (ACC II) designation from the Institute for County Government (ICG) at an award ceremony held at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Annual Conference and Educational Exhibition in Orange County, Florida.
Flagler News Weekly
Jonathan Lord Completes County Government Education Program at FAC Annual Conference
July 3, 2025 – Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord completed the County Government Education program
Hometown News
St. Lucie County Commissioners make history
LUCIE COUNTY – For the first time since the program was created in 1995, all five St. Lucie County Commissioners have earned the designation of a Certified County Commissioner through the Institute for County Government (ICG), hosted by the Florida Association of Counties (FAC).
Florida Politics
Rene Flowers selected as President-elect for Florida Association of Counties
‘Her insight, thoughtful leadership, and ability to navigate complex issues consistently elevate the committee’s conversations.’
FAC News Clips – July 2, 2025
COUNTY
Flagler News Weekly
July 1, 2025 – Flagler County is seeking photographers who would like to submit their images for the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) 2026 calendar contest “Florida Flower Power.”
Citizen Portal
Commissioners Zalak and Tart showcase employee recognition initiatives at Florida County meeting
In the heart of Marion County, the Board of County Commissioners convened on July 1, 2025, to discuss vital community initiatives and address public concerns.
Click Orlando
Orange County spends millions to house homeless people in jail. Is there a better way?
74 Orlando arrests for public camping since January
WFSU
Leon County approves $500,000 in recurring funds for affordable rental housing
The Leon County Commission has approved a half-million dollars in recurring funds for affordable rental housing.
LEGISLATION
Herald-Tribune
DeSantis vetoes Manatee County’s $4 million in budget requests
Manatee County struck out and will receive zero state budget appropriations sought by local state lawmakers following vetoes by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Watermark Out News
DeSantis signs $115 billion-plus budget with $567 million in vetoes
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a long-awaited state budget June 30 just hours before it would take effect, vetoing $567 million.
FAC News Clips – June 17, 2025
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Finnoexpert
Florida plans for peak hurricane season amid storm of FEMA reforms
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Trump administration’s talk about drastically altering FEMA’s role in disaster recovery has generated heavy uncertainty.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Budget conference: Gov. DeSantis’ office gets power to investigate local governments
DOGE roadshow to hit a town near you.
Florida Phoenix
Legislature approves tax cut package, budget after extended session marked by GOP infighting
The GOP-led Legislature approved a $115.1 billion budget for the next fiscal year, plus a $1.3 billion tax cut package, nearing midnight on Monday after a tumultuous and unusually long legislative session.
Around Osceola
Florida lawmakers pass $115.1 billion budget as session ends
By Jim Turner and Tom Urban — One of the more-contentious legislative sessions in recent history came to a close late Monday as lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion budget for next fiscal year and prepared to send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Orlando Sentinel
Florida moves to shield public officials’ home addresses
Florida elected officials have received harrowing threats, prompting a move to shield their home addresses well before the weekend assassination of a state representative, the killing of her husband, and the shooting of a state senator and his wife over the weekend in Minnesota.
Orlando Sentinel
Proposal to shift tourist revenue from advertising to public works dies
TALLAHASSEE – A state legislative proposal to free up hundreds of millions of dollars a year in tourist tax revenue for local governments to spend on mass transit, roads and other projects that benefit Florida residents has been scrapped.
FAC News Clips – June 12, 2025
COUNTY
Click Orlando
Seminole County considers property tax increase. Here’s how much you could pay
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County’s proposed $1.2 billion budget comes with possible tax hikes as it finds ways to maintain services, keep up with capital projects, and prepare the county for future financial needs.
Caribbean National Weekly
Broward County bans selling driver’s license appointments
Selling appointments for driver’s license services is now an illegal act in Broward County, the Broward Tax Collector’s Office announced Wednesday.
Herald-Tribune
Manatee County sets September for big impact fee increase on growth
Manatee County commissioners voted to sharply increase impact fees on new development to fund needed infrastructure improvements like roads, utilities, and emergency services needs that proponents say have been underfunded for years.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Wear TV
Trump looks to wind down FEMA after this hurricane season
(TNND) — President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to shutter the Federal Emergency Management Agency, telling reporters Tuesday that he’d like to see that process underway following this hurricane season.
TECHNOLOGY
Route-Fifty
New BEAD guidance leaves states searching for answers
Federal guidance issued last week has thrown much of the program into doubt, as states and other organizations try to find a way forward under a compressed timeline.
Route-Fifty
Senate reconciliation bill text tweaks state AI regulation ban
The Senate Commerce Committee would block some funding from states that want to regulate the technology. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers have said any moratorium should be dropped altogether.
LEGISLATION
Tampa Bay Times
‘When’s it going to stop?’ Bill could open Florida Keys to new development
A small tweak could have big consequences for the Keys, the only place in Florida with state controls on growth.
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis and Cabinet vote to preserve huge 78K-acre tract of land in North Florida
The land will be part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor in multiple counties.