Laserfiche WebLink
special election. You have provided me with a Division of <br />Elections' opinion which suggests that it would not be <br />proper for a public agency to authorize a referendum <br />only if the costs were to be paid by a private interest <br />group. <br />Florida Statutes §100.201 provides, in part, that "The <br />election cost of such referendum shall be paid in whole or <br />in part, as the case may be, out of the county, district, or <br />municipal.treasury." This section was added to the law <br />effective October 1, 1987. As a result of this law and of <br />the opinion of the Division of Elections, it .is my opinion <br />that it would be improper for the Board to condition its <br />grant of authority to hold a bond referendum only if the <br />cost of the election would be paid for by the McKee Jungle <br />Garden Society, Inc. <br />I know of no law, however, which prevents any group, such as <br />the society, from donating money to the general fund of the <br />county to be used for valid public purposes. All that the <br />law proscribes is the connection between the donation and <br />the county's call of the special election. <br />Commissioner Scurlock asked if a public discussion on this <br />matter today might jeopardize the County's position in any <br />current litigation on this site, and Attorney Vitunac advised <br />that we have won all the suits. There has been no thought of <br />downzoning to make the purchase cheaper, and that is the only <br />issue there is. He stated that his office is comfortable with <br />proceeding with this discussion today. <br />Chairman Wheeler asked if anyone wished to be heard in this <br />matter. <br />Grover Fletcher, President of McKee Jungle Gardens <br />Preservation Society, inc., expressed his appreciation of the <br />opportunity to speak on behalf of this group this morning, and <br />presented a computer printout of the names of its members, all of <br />whom have paid $5 to join the organization that is now one year <br />old. Being a former County Commissioner, Mr. Fletcher realized <br />that all of the Commissioners are very conscious of money at <br />budget time, but urged them to open their minds and hearts and be <br />conscious of the fact that all of these people are for something, <br />not against something. <br />Mr. Fletcher introduced the Board of Directors of the McKee <br />Jungle Gardens Preservation Society, and then turned the meeting <br />11 <br />APR 2 5 1989 <br />BOOlc <br />FgE VSi <br />