A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THE LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND LAKE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES

OCTOBER 18, 2005

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in special session with the Lake County School Board and Lake County Municipalities on Tuesday, October 18, 2005, at 9:00 a.m., in the Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Lake County Administration Building, Tavares, Florida, for the semiannual report of the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee. Commissioners present at the meeting were: Jennifer Hill, Chairman; Catherine C. Hanson, Vice Chairman; Welton G. Cadwell; Debbie Stivender; and Robert A. Pool. No members of the Lake County School Board were present. Representatives were present from the Town of Montverde, the City of Mount Dora and the City of Tavares. Others present were: Sanford A. “Sandy” Minkoff, County Attorney; Cynthia W. “Cindy” Hall, County Manager; Wendy Taylor, Executive Office Manager, Board of County Commissioners’ Office; Barbara Lehman, Chief Deputy Clerk, County Finance; and Judy Whaley, Deputy Clerk.

CALL TO ORDER

Commr. Hill called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and introduced Mr. Robert Speaks, Chairman of the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee.

REPORT - SALES SURTAX OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mr. Speaks referred to the handout (a copy is included in the backup material) and read from the Report as follows:

REPORT OF THE EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES OF THE SALES SURTAX

INTRODUCTION

On November 6, 2001, Lake County citizens voted to extend the one-cent sales surtax for a second 15 (year) term. Florida Statute 212.55 authorizes the levy of this tax and specifies its use. The following uses are authorized by the statute:

The proceeds of the tax may be used to finance, plan and construct infrastructure; to acquire public recreation or conservation or to protect natural resources; and to purchase fixed capital expenditures or fixed capital outlay associated with the construction or improvement of public facilities including land acquisition, land improvement, engineering costs and design. Equipment must have a useful life in excess of five years. Vehicles and equipment necessary to outfit certain vehicles are also authorized. Proceeds may also be used for debt service for new bonds.

Ordinance 2001-130 established a Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee with the duty of reviewing the expenditures of the sales tax and providing a semiannual report to the Board of County Commissioners, the School Board, and the municipalities at a joint public meeting.

PROCESS

The Oversight Committee includes two members each, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the School Board, and the League of Cities, as well as representation of two Constitutional Officers.

The Oversight Committee met on September 19, 2005, to review the reports that had been submitted by the sales tax recipients. The reports contain anticipated revenue to each entity for fiscal year 2006 from the sales surtax and the planned budgetary expenditures for the year. Minutes of that meeting and the reports from the various entities are included in the attached document.

COMMENTS

A summary report of all entities’ anticipated revenues and expenditures is included in this document. All individual reports reflect anticipated expenditure and revenue data for the fiscal year October 1, 2005, through September 30, 2006. The intent is to make certain that all planned expenditures meet statutorily defined criteria before the expenditures actually take place. Actual expenditures will be reviewed once year-end audits have been completed.

After review of the reports and a request for clarification of specific items identified in the minutes, the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee accepted all reports as meeting the guidelines of the sales surtax requirements. All requests for clarification have been received. Changes to the reports and/or explanations of the specific item are included in the document.

The next meeting of the Sales Surtax Oversight Advisory Committee is scheduled to be Monday, March 15, 2006, at 8:15 a.m. at the County’s Administration Building in Room 233.

INTRODUCTION OF SALES SURTAX OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mr. Speaks introduced the other Oversight Committee members who were present: Barbara Lehman, Dan Robuck and Robbie Ross. Members who were not present are: Keith Mullins, Martha Hartman, Shawn Hill and Thomas Kelley. Mr. Speaks expressed appreciation to the members for their information, insight and wisdom.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m.

__________________________

JENNIFER HILL, CHAIRMAN

ATTEST:

 

 

__________________________

JAMES C. WATKINS, CLERK