12/21/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEC 211993 BOOK 91 FA -UE .354 Commissioner Eggert explained that a $750 bill was received on the second year payment on a,4 -year bond for Tax Collector Karl Zimmermann. In checking it out, it was determined that, normally, bonds are paid once for 4 years, and then the question came up about who should be paying for what bonds. The County apparently has been paying for the Mosquito Control District, and by Florida Statute, they are supposed to be paying their own. The question before us today is whether the Board wants to pay the $750 bill and, if so, wants to put $250 in the proper account number. Another question is whether we want to continue paying for the bonds for the Constitutional officers or whether that cost should be included in their own budgets. Alice White, Executive Aide, reported that she got a call this morning from Ron McCall who explained that the person who issued the bond in the first place didn't understand that it could be paid in a single 4 -year payment. Apparently, that person thought that it had to be paid annually. Mr. McCall also advised that they give a discount for the second, third, and fourth year, and that if the Board decides to go ahead and pay for it for the next 3 years, it would be $2025. She explained that only $500 is in the account at this time. Tax Collector Karl Zimmermann noted that State Statute says that the County Commission has at its option the opportunity to establish a figure which will be the amount that has to be bonded by the Tax Collector. He just wondered if the Legislature meant for a potential situation to be created where you could have an adversarial relationship between a Constitutional officer and the County Commission who could set an arbitrarily high bond figure with that amount having to come out of that Constitutional officer's budget. Mr. Zimmermann noted that in many counties, a fee officer does not generate enough fees to pay their own expenses, and they must request that difference -from the County Commission. It didn't seem logical to him, but it wouldn't be the first illogical thing that has happened in the Legislature. He talked to people in other counties and they told him that by and large, the County Commission pays those fees. He knew Alice White did a similar survey and found the same to be true. The Board questioned whether $100,000 was sufficient for the Tax Collector. Commissioner Macht asked if it is possible to waive a bond. If not, he suggested going out to bid on bonds for all the elected officials in order to get lower premium rates. County Clerk J. K. Barton advised that back in 1982 the Board shifted to putting money in the County Commission budget for all 44