
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The two main taxing agencies in New Smyrna Beach mired in controversy are undergoing a metamorphosis. They are, of course, the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority and the Community Redevelopment Agency. As the clock ticks closer to April, NSBNews.net will take a closer look in the coming weeks at how scandal took root with both taxing entities and what government leaders are doing -- or not doing -- to clean it up in our continuing investigative project, "Show Me the Money: New Smyrna Beach."
And having pored through thousands of pages of public government documents and court records and having covered countless public hearings, including a federal bankruptcy hearing in Orlando, NSBNews.net will shed light on a key business figure deeply embedded in the controversy who benefited from thousands of dollars in taxpayer money and has a trail of debt to show for it. His name is Robert Lott, who just four years ago, was among the most powerful and influential businessmen in Southeast Volusia.