1011_Lawmakers_Expecting_Lean

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Lawmakers Expecting Lean Year

Panama City News Herald - October 11, 2011

PANAMA CITY — Facing another grueling year of budget cuts that will be complicated by redistricting, Bay County’s legislative delegation spent some time with constituents Tuesday night to hear their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The delegation meeting is a prerequisite public hearing for local bills, but with no local bills on the agenda, it became a forum for people to discuss issues with Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, and Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna.

“It keeps us grounded with our local constituents,” Evers said.

Many of those who spoke to the delegation Tuesday night, came on behalf of vulnerable people and asked for support for programs that gave assistance to those in need, including FACT, a mobile treatment program for people with mental illness; the Equal Rights Alliance, Brain Injury Association of Florida, Healthy Start Coalition and AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute.

Many of the presenters were cautious in their requests and took care to highlight the savings that could be realized through funding their programs.

“We know it’s going to be another tough financial year, so I’m not here to ask you for money,” Norm Gulkis said. “We’re asking you to hold (the Department of Juvenile Justice) harmless this year.”

Granting all the requests will be challenging because the state is expecting another round of budget cuts and a decrease in federal funding, Coley said.

In the past, the Legislature has tried to find nonfinancial ways to ease the pinch on state-funded agencies, including allowing them more flexibility in the allocation of resources, a method Patronis said is likely to continue this year.

Beyond the budget, Evers, Coley and Patronis all said getting state required septic tank inspections repealed would be their top priority going into the session.

“Let’s kill the septic tank law, balance the budget, redraw our districts and go home,” Evers said.

At the end of the meeting, Evers handed chairmanship of the delegation off to Patronis. As legislative districts are being redrawn, it is unclear whether Evers, Coley or Montford will still represent Bay County next year. Bay County is the heart of Patronis’ district and that is unlikely to change.

The Northwest Florida delegation has a history of working together to counter being vastly outnumbered by South and Central Florida representatives, but Patronis said there could be some infighting as district changes could cause some legislators to run against each other for re-election.

“That’s not going to bring harmony to the family,” he said.