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