A proposal that could jeopardize Children's Services Councils isn't very popular in Sen. Joe Negron's home district, but his fellow state lawmakers showed the idea overwhelming support Wednesday morning.
The Palm City Republican's bill was passed 8-2 by Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Community Affairs Committee, despite passionate objection from people in Negrons district and elsewhere.
The proposal has gotten Negron in trouble in his Republican-dominated district. If it survives in the Senate, and then through the House, the much-respected Children's Services Council's very existence would require a referendum every six years.
The bill has prompted a possible challenge to Negron's re-election in November, multiple columns arguing against it in Treasure Coast newspapers and a public outcry from childrens services advocates.
Eight of the states 11 Childrens Services districts have been given authority by voter referendums to fund themselves through property taxes.
These agencies, four of which are in Negrons district, can levy as much as much as 50 cents on every $1,000 of taxable property in a county and are labeled independent.
Negron says his bill would mean improved oversight of the districts and give voters more control over their money.
This issue isnt about who likes children more or less, said Negron. It doesnt take one dollar out of [a Councils] budget. Doesnt attack them. Doesnt destroy them. All it says is, You know, if youre getting public money, that should be something that is a direct electoral recommendation.'
Local government officials and children's services advocates told the board repeatedly that the bill was unnecessary and endangered children's programs in their counties.
The Martin County Commission can already call for a referendum whenever it needs to, and it hasn't needed to in recent memory, said Brandon Wagner, representative for the Martin County Board of County Commissioners.
Ted Granger, president of United Way of Florida, said the county already has the ability to demand accountability for its CSC.
"This bill actually waters down that ability," he said.
Negron told critics that the bill instituted a mandatory schedule for the councils, as opposed to the arbitrary one now in place. If a council feels that the lack of a local call for a referendum showed that voters supported it, it should have nothing to worry about on the proposed six-year referendum.
Apparently, I have more confidence in the Childrens Services Councils than the Childrens Services Councils do, Negron said.
Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder, who is considering running for state Senate against Negron, told the committee that councils are crucial to preventing juvenile crimes, reducing infant mortality and funding local childrens programs through matching grants. Hes been to many meetings and seen that they are rigidly regulated.
I would say that there's at least as much, if not more, accountability at those meetings than at Board of County Commissioners meetings, and I attend those quite a bit, he said.
Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said that discussion of the merits of the council did not change the fact that the council needs to be reviewed on a regular basis.
I appreciate the discussion about how good these councils are and the great work they do, and I dont think you can dispute it, Gardiner said. I think the issue is: Every six years, should there be a referendum so that voters can decide if thats accurate?
Donald Rosen, a member of the Sunrise City Commission in Broward County, said the bill will force voters to concentrate on short-term savings instead of long-term gains.
The Childrens Services Council of Broward County could be endangered if submitted to a vote at a time when voters are facing a bad economy and high taxes. He said the council already has a judge and local officials on its board to analyze how money is being used.
You cant get better accountability than that, he said afterward.
Kathy Adams, past chairwoman of the Palm Beach County CSC, said she understood the states need to establish a standard of review for councils, but she pleaded to keep the current law in place.
I am a strong believer in states' rights, she said. I am also a strong believer in local control.
Sen. Thad Altman said after the meeting that the six-year deadline would actually encourage voters to support funding independent councils.
When they vote on a tax and they know that its limited over a period of time, that it would go away unless the voters vote it back up, I think it would be an easier sell," said Altman, who is a past chairman of the Brevard County Childrens Services Council.
Only two senators voted against the bill: Democrat Jeremy Ring of Margate, and Republican Rudy Garcia of Miami.
Contact Alex Tiegen at atiegen@sunshinestatenews.com, or at (561) 329-5389.
