NEW SMRNA BEACH -- The oft-criticized CRA here is among 1,662 special taxing districts in the Sunshine State under review by Gov. Rick Scott today.
Scott ordered his staff to undertake a comprehensive review of Florida’s special taxing districts to continue bringing "accountability to their powers to tax, spend and incur debt at the expense of Florida taxpayers."
The Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget will conduct a review and make recommendations for cutting costs and introducing accountability as directed by Executive Order 12-10. Scott previously directed a review of all water management districts and hospital districts – two examples of special taxing districts.
“A major factor in our goal of lowering the cost of living for Floridians are the roughly 1,600 special districts in Florida which bring in more than $15 billion in taxpayer-funded revenues each year,” Scott said.“Floridians have a right to know what they’re being taxed for and how that money is spent. This review will bring to light these questions and allow us to identify ways to save taxpayers money and increase accountability.”
The following criteria will be examined for each district (excluding water management districts and hospital districts which have already been reviewed):
• Serving the purpose it was created for?
• Being governed efficiently?
• Levying taxes, fees and assessments appropriately?
• Being held accountable to the taxpayers whose lives they directly impact?
• Operating in a transparent manner?
• Prudently spending tax dollars?
• Properly complying with the current level of oversight?
“It has come to my attention that some special districts have been delinquent in submitting information about their activities," Scott said. "With such a significant impact on the lives of every Floridian and our economy, it is critical that we get a firm grasp on how these special districts are operating and hold them accountable."
Previous coverage for "Show Me the Money: New Smyrna Beach"
Segment 9: New Smyrna Beach CRA does business with merchant leader who has $1 million IRS lien http://www.nsbnews.net/content/408083-new-smyrna-beach-cra-does-business-merchant-leader-who-has-1-million-irs-lien
NSB News is a 24/7 Internet newspaper in New Smyrna Beach accessed through NSBNews.net and VolusiaNews.net, launched April 7, 2008, by award-winning breaking news and investigative journalist Henry Frederick and award-winning blogger Peter Mallory. It is the first fully-online newspaper in Florida and among the few in the nation with continuous editorial content picked up by Google News Directories.
