Tag: Florida Statutes

County Commissioner John Tobia failed in his effort to get fellow commissioners to approve two resolutions he says were designed to prevent property tax increases in the 2019-20 county budget. Also during Thursday's county budget workshop, County Commission Chair Kristine Isnardi accused Tobia of playing political games with his actions. More: Tobia to push proposal to block property tax increase in next year's budget More: County Commission rejects John Tobia's proposal to nix funding for Port Canaveral aquarium Some commissioners implied that they felt Tobia was trying to get them on record — for political purposes — as voting against a resolution opposing a tax increase. One of the goals of the workshop was for county commissioners to give County Manager Frank Abbate direction in how they want him to prepare a proposed county budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, working in conjunction with Budget Director Jill Hayes and other county department heads. The first of Tobia's two resolutions would have declared the County Commission as opposed to adopting a 2019-20 budget that would require a tax increase, as defined by Florida Statute. Under a provision of the county charter that voters approved in a 2008 referendum, the County Commission cannot raise the property tax rate to a level that would cause budgeted revenue to increase by the lesser of 3 percent or increase in the Consumer Price Index, unless such a critical or emergency need is declared. Isnardi said she felt a regular commission meeting was a more appropriate venue for the vote, rather than a budget workshop, especially because she felt that Tobia did not provide adequate time for the public or the commission to react, as he released his proposal just two days before the workshop. Smith asked, when the County Commission could always vote against a budget proposal from Abbate that commissioners don't agree with. Isnardi said three other commissioners indicated during the workshop that they would support her proposal for increase funding for the bus service. Sure enough, the vote was 4-1, with Tobia opposed.