Broward County, Florida
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Broward's population as of 2010 was 1,748,066, making it the second most populated county in Florida.[1] It is one of 20 charter counties in the state. It became a charter county in 1975.[2]
Evaluation of website
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida county websites
The good
- Budget and financial reports are available online.[3]
- Commissioners are listed with contact information.[4]
- Meeting schedules, minutes, and agendas, and live broadcasts are available.[5]
- County auditor reports are available.[6]
- Building permits and zoning information is available.[7][8]
- Local tax information is provided.[9]
- Current solicitations and results are online. Contracts are not posted.[10]
The bad
- Includes lobbying information, but does not disclose if belongs to government sector lobbying associations.[11]
- Has an online records search, but does not provide information on how to make a public records request. Tells visitors to its website to conduct own database searches for information on the Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Departments, but does not include links to them.[12]
Elected Officials
The Broward County Charter divides the government into legislative and administrative branches. The Board of County Commissioners serves as the legislative branch, and is composed of elected representatives from nine commission districts. The Council members as of June 2011:[13] [14]
| Member | Title | District | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilene Lieberman | Commissioner | District 1 | $92,096.30 |
| Kristin Jacobs | Commissioner | District 2 | $92,096.30 |
| Stacy Ritter | Commissioner | District 3 | $92,096.30 |
| Chip LaMarca | Commissioner | District 4 | n/a |
| Lois Wexler | Commissioner | District 5 | $92,096.30 |
| Sue Gunzburger | Mayor | District 6 | $92,596.10 |
| John E. Rodstrom, Jr. | Vice Mayor | District 7 | $92,096.30 |
| Barbara Sharief | Commissioner | District 8 | n/a |
| Dale V.C. Holness | Commissioner | District 9 | n/a |
Every third Tuesday in November, the Commission selects a Mayor and Vice Mayor to serve one-year terms. The Mayor is the County's official representative and presiding officer. The Commission also appoints the County Administrator (the county's chief executive), County Attorney and County Auditor. Current administrative officers and their annual pensions, as of 2009:[15] [16]
| Member | Title | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bertha Henry | County Administrator | $301,154 |
| Joni A. Coffey | County Attorney | n/a |
| Evan A. Lukic | County Auditor | $209,122 |
Lobbying
- Main articles:Florida government sector lobbying
Broward County has reported $2,950,000 spent lobbying the federal government since 2000 (see table).
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Broward County has lobbying representation from firms. There are Capitol Hill Group, Ericks Consultants, Pittman Law Group, Ronald L. Book P.A., and Tripp Scott P.A..
For the lobbying it does before the legislature, the county has 16 lobbyists. [20] For lobbying before the executive, it utilizes the services of 11 lobbyists. [21]
The Center for Responsive Politics lists the Ferguson Group as a lobbying firm for the county at the cost of $280,000. Individual lobbyists from the firm who are working on behalf of Broward County are William Ferguson, Jr., Valerie Geinovatch, Ronald Hamm, Leslie C Mozingo, Kareem D. Murphy and Amanda Wood.[22] This information is not included on the Broward County website.
County boards and other offices
The Broward County Board of Commissioners has a lobbyist on its payroll for lobbying before the executive[23] and is represented by the firm Fowler White Boggs, P.A.[24]
The Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals has a lobbyist it compensates between $1.00 to $9,999.00 for lobbying before the Florida legislature. [18] [25]
The Broward County Clerk of Courts has two lobbyists[26] it compensates $15,000 for lobbying the legislature. [27] [18] The Broward County Property Appraiser has two lobbyists[28] it compensates $15,000.[29] [18] Representation is provided by Ericks Consultants Inc.[30]
Sheriff
The Broward County Sheriff's Office is represented by:[24] [30] [18] [19]
| Firm | Branch | Compensation range |
|---|---|---|
| Ericks Consultants, Inc | Legislature Executive |
$15,000 $10,000 to $19,999 |
| Greenberg Traurig, P.A. | Legislature Executive |
$0 $0 |
| Heffley & Associates | Legislature Executive |
$5,000 $1 to $9,999 |
Broward Principals and Administrative Assistants
Broward Principals and Administrative Assistants lobby the executive and the legislature.[24] [30] The group pays at least two lobbyists,[31] [32] and it is unclear whether this is equivalent to the Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association. [33]
Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
Broward pays membership dues[34] to the Florida League of Cities, a government sector lobbying association.
Audits
For Broward County, the County Commission hires the County Auditor who reports directly to the commission. The Charter change established this function.[35]
New ethics law
Broward's state legislators voted against one proposed new ethics law and postponed action on another.
"It sounded like some of these folks don't get the message," said a disappointed Bill Scherer, a prominent Broward lawyer and member of the County Ethics Commission. "This attitude demonstrates some kind of apathy to the problem we face in our community."
The County Ethics Commission is drafting an ethics code for county commissioners.
Opponents to the ethics law said they weren't comfortable moving forward with the legislation until they know all the details of the new code, which will be completed by the end of February.[36]
Bribery arrests
In 2009 Broward County commissioner, a School Board member, a former Miramar city commissioner, and a prominent Hollywood political fundraiser were arrested.
Board member Beverly Gallagher, County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., and former Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman were arrested September 23, 2009 for unrelated fraud cases after FBI sting operations.[37]
The agents slipped more than $40,000 in cash to the politicians while posing as corrupt businessmen. The FBI released hidden tape recorders entangling Commissioner Eggelletion, School Board member Gallagher and former Commissioner Salesman, but more arrests are expected.
Mendelsohn corruption trial
Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, a Broward County physician and unregistered lobbyist who funneled $700,000 in campaign donations and additional income to his family and mistress, was sentenced to a 4 year prison term and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Mendlesohn has admitted to taking $330,000 from political action committees and giving $82,000 of that amount to former state senator Mandy Dawson. U.S. District Judge William Zloch, who presided over the trial, told the court that “a message must be sent to the public that corruption of this scope cannot and will not be tolerated.”[38]
Airport expansion controversy
Runway expansion plan at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has led to some residents complaining about the potentially louder noise. In response, the airport has initiated a "pilot program" to soundproof homes, with the goal being to lower the sound level by 5 decibels.[39] According to airport spokesman Greg Meyer, 48 homes have been identified as requiring the new soundproofing. The price of soundproofing each home is between $65,000 and $70,000. Though the airport is shouldering the costs of the test program, airport officials say that it is up to the county to provide for future soundproofing costs or helping the affected residents sell their homes. A price tag has not yet been determined.[40]
Public employee salaries
- Main article: Broward County employee salaries
See also
External links
- Official Broward County Website
- Browards County Records, Taxes & Treasury Division
- Broward County Clerk of Court
- Broward County on E-Reference
- Broward County Supervisor of Elections
- Broward County Public Schools
- Broward County Sheriff's Office
References
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
- ↑ Florida's charter counties
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Commissioners
- ↑ Meeting Information
- ↑ CAFR
- ↑ Building Permits
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Tax Information
- ↑ Contracts
- ↑ Lobbyist
- ↑ Public Information Request
- ↑ Broward County Government
- ↑ Public Employee Database
- ↑ Broward County Commission
- ↑ Public Employee Database
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE—2009/QTR 1 COMPENSATION BY PRINCIPAL
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 EXECUTIVE BRANCH—2009/QTR 1 COMPENSATION BY PRINCIPAL
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward County
- ↑ 2009 Executive Principal - Broward County
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ 2009 Executive Principal - Broward County Board of County Commissioners
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 2009 Q1 Executive
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward County Clerk of Courts
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Lobbyist by Principal
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward County Property Appraiser
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Lobbyist by Principal
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 2009 Q1 Legislative Lobbying
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward Principals and Administrative Assistants
- ↑ 2009 Legislative Principal - Broward Principals and Administrative Assistants
- ↑ Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association
- ↑ Membership Directory
- ↑ PBC Clerk & Comptroller 5.30.07
- ↑ Broward legislators balk at new ethics law, Sun-Sentinel, January 9, 2010
- ↑ "3 Broward politicians arrested in FBI public corruption stings," Miami Herald, September 24, 2009
- ↑ Weaver, Jay. "Judge slams Broward doctor." Miami Herald. June 2, 2011
- ↑ "Near-airport soundproofing: $65,000 for five decibels less noise," Sun Sentinel, June 13, 2011
- ↑ "Soundproofing test begins on homes near Fort Lauderdale airport," Sun Sentinel, June 13, 2011
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