Florida House Ready To Vote On Trimmed-Down Tax Cuts
June 5, 2015
The House has positioned its dramatically streamlined tax-cut package for a vote on Friday.
But it remains to be seen how the Senate, which has offered four individual tax-cut bills during the ongoing special legislative session, will handle the House proposal.
Katie Betta, spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardner, would only say Thursday that the Senate’s Finance and Tax Committee is “likely” to meet the final week of the special session. The session started Monday and could last through June 20.
The House tax-cut package (HB 33A), stripped down as lawmakers work to cover health-care costs in the overall budget, offers $273.2 million in savings for the upcoming fiscal year, with the number growing to $436 million the following year.
The overall numbers are down from a $690 million plan (HB 7141) that had been proposed by the House during this spring’s regular legislative session and the $673 million in cuts requested by Gov. Rick Scott.
“I believe this is reasonable, given the economic climate we find ourselves in,” said House Finance & Tax Chairman Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who authored the bill.
Democrats proposed several changes to the tax cuts Thursday, though they withdrew most of the proposals before votes could be taken. They were unable to alter the package that was rolled out of the Finance & Tax Committee on Tuesday.
“What was frustrating, in the tax plan they found a way to increase a tax (cut) to businesses, but didn’t increase the benefit for students,” Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, said.
Since the regular session, the House increased a proposed reduction in a sales tax on commercial real-estate leases. The proposal is now expected to provide an overall $44.2 million in savings.
Still, the largest part of the package — a cut in the communication-services tax on cable-TV and cell-phone services — is also the portion that has taken the biggest hit since the regular session.
Once proposed as a 3.6 percentage-point reduction, which would have provided about a $40 a year in savings for Floridians who pay $100 a month for cable-TV and cell-phone services, the communications-services tax is now proposed to drop 0.9 percentage points. The new rate would provide about $10 a year in savings on a $100 monthly bill.
Responding to questions from Democrats, Gaetz said the tax cuts are designed to help a broad range of Floridians, regardless of the overall savings.
“The goal is not to say that $10 or $20 is going to fundamentally, in some earth-shattering way, change the economic climate of the state of Florida,” Gaetz said. “But it might just mean a little something extra for the poor folks that we represent and the working class who need a little extra at their kitchen table.”
Instead of an overall savings once projected at more than $400 million next fiscal year, the reduction in the communications-services tax would now reduce state revenue during the 2015-16 year by about $78.4 million, according to state economists.
Democrats withdrew amendments to maintain the communications-services tax at the current rates as a way to free up money to give state employees pay raises and to create a sales-tax holiday on items purchased at the Florida Historic Capitol and Capitol Building gift shops.
In a mostly party-line vote, the House rejected, 71-29, an amendment by Williams that would have expanded the proposed back-to-school sales-tax holiday from three days to two weeks.
“We come up here and we talk about let’s do all we can for schools, let’s do all we can for our kids, let’s do all we can for families, this is it, this is the opportunity,” Williams said.
The sales-tax holiday is proposed in the bill to last from Aug. 7 to Aug. 9, eliminating sales taxes on certain clothing under $100, school supplies valued under $15, and the first $750 on the cost of personal computers and accessories.
The tax-cut package includes a couple of other sales-tax holidays.
One would be for small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as an alternative to the Black Friday sales offered mostly by big box stores.
The package also would offer a trio of single-day tax holidays on college textbooks, timed with the start of the upcoming fall, spring and summer semesters.
Scott had proposed the sales tax on textbooks be permanently lifted.
The measure also would eliminate taxes on admissions and membership fees for gun clubs, certain farm and irrigation equipment, food and beverages sold in support of school extracurricular activities, recycling machinery, and motor vehicles purchased overseas by internationally deployed service members from Florida.
The package would provide refunds or credits from the state’s 6.9 percent excise tax on fuel to flight schools run by Florida-based colleges and aeronautical schools.
The House plan also would eliminate Florida’s estate tax, increase property-tax exemptions for residents who are widows, widowers, blind, or totally and permanently disabled, and provide more tax credits for businesses involved in Brownfields cleanup and for research and development.
Also, cider made from pears would be reclassified from wine to a malt beverage, which would reduce a tax on pear-cider production from $2.25 a gallon to 89 cents a gallon. Cider fermented by apples is already taxed at the lower rate.
The tax also expands a property-tax exemption for service members when deployed outside the continental U.S. to include the following ongoing military operations: Joint Guardian, Octave Shield, Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, Nomad Shadow, U.S. Airstrikes Al Qaeda in Somalia, Objective Voice, Georgia Deployment Program, Copper Dune, Observant Compass, Juniper Shield and Inherent Resolve.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Century Business Leaders Meet
June 5, 2015
Century business and community leaders met Thursday at the new Century Business Center to discuss ways to move the town forward.
“Century needs to focus on marketing what the town has now, not what it hopes to become,” Century Economic Development Coordinator Allison Tyler told the group. Tyler is working to implement the Town of Century’s Economic Development Plan that was created by the University of West Florida Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
House Set To Defeat Senate Health Plan
June 5, 2015
Despite several changes made in recent days to assuage the concerns of the Republican majority, the Florida House remains poised to defeat a health-care expansion plan backed by a bipartisan group of senators.
More than two hours of questioning on the House floor Thursday gave little reason to believe that the bill (SB 2-A) would survive a vote scheduled for Friday. For all of its new provisions, House Republicans said, the so-called Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange, or FHIX, remains Medicaid expansion in disguise.
The plan, approved by the Senate on Wednesday in a 33-3 vote, would use Medicaid expansion funding from the Affordable Care Act — commonly known as “Obamacare” — to help lower-income Floridians purchase private health insurance. If approved by the federal government, the plan would also give the state increased federal funding levels for the newly eligible Floridians.
That, GOP House members said, is proof enough of nature of the idea.
“If the plan is dependent on the 90 percent federal match rate outlined in the ACA (Affordable Care Act), and it’s a requirement that we serve the exact population defined by the ACA, would you not agree that this plan is truly Medicaid expansion as envisioned by the ACA?” asked Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, questioning Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville.
Jones was thrown into the unusual role of defending a bill she hadn’t crafted and openly admits is flawed. No Republican from the House majority could apparently be found to present the measure, though a few are expected to vote for it Friday.
“I call this the Florida expansion,” Jones said during the discussion of the bill. “It does not immediately or at any point put the participants into Medicaid.”
Shortly before the debate began, the White House Council of Economic Advisers issued a report saying Florida could insure an additional 750,000 people and bring in an extra $5.9 billion in federal funding by adopting Medicaid expansion, though it wasn’t clear exactly how those numbers might be different for FHIX.
Supporters say as many as 800,000 Floridians would meet income limits for health care under the plan, though work requirements likely mean that only 400,000 to 500,000 people would actually be eligible.
The White House report also rebutted the notion that states could end up paying more under Medicaid expansion. According to an analysis by the state House Majority Office, the new FHIX plan would save money initially but then cost the state an additional $66.3 million in its tenth year.
“States electing to expand their Medicaid programs are likely to realize large savings in other areas of their budgets that offset even the modest increase in state Medicaid spending after 2016,” the White House report says.
In any case, Republican and Democratic leaders said they don’t expect the bill to pass the House. Republicans hold an 81-39 majority, though some members of both parties are out of town, and could afford to have about 20 members defect without losing the vote.
Still, some Republicans hammered away at FHIX.
“How can we and most people not see this as a potential massive tax hike on the people of this great state of Florida?” asked Rep. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, who doubles as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
Jones and House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said the measure is not what they would have proposed, but represents the best chance to get something like Medicaid expansion done during the ongoing special legislative session, which was called to deal with health care and the budget.
“I don’t think there’s a single member of the Legislature that’s happy with this bill, including us,” Pafford said. “We’re not thrilled (with) the way it’s written.”
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli also seemed to rule out a compromise idea that Senate leaders had proposed Wednesday, when they suggested that some reforms House leaders have pushed could be added to the bill and approved by the Senate. The House is looking to revamp insurance coverage for state workers and overhaul some longstanding health-industry regulations.
But Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said that wouldn’t be enough to get House leaders to accept the Senate plan.
“No, it’s still got its flaws,” he told reporters. “It’s Medicaid expansion, regardless of what others say.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The Postcard Is In The Mail
June 5, 2015
Escambia County Emergency Management mailed out its 2015 Evacuation Zone postcard to all addresses listed in an evacuation zone Thursday.
The postcard includes information on where citizens can learn which evacuation zone they reside in and how to sign up for Alert Escambia, the County’s new emergency alert notification system. Escambia County Emergency Management strongly encourages those who receive the postcard to take some time to read it and begin the process of creating or updating their disaster plan.
A copy of the postcard to be received by those in an evacuation zone is below:
Wahoos Beat The BayBears
June 5, 2015
Robert Stephenson put together his most complete start for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this season to help propel the team to a 3-1 win over the Mobile BayBears.
The Cincinnati Reds first-round pick, and top prospect the past two seasons, tossed a one-hitter in a career-best eight innings. Stephenson’s dominance allowed the Blue Wahoos (22-30) to defeat the BayBears (27-26) at Hank Aaron Stadium to snap its five-game losing streak.
After losing his first four decisions, Stephenson has won his last three. He improved his record to 3-4 on the year and lowered his ERA to 3.81. He allowed just one hit, one walk and one unearned run, while striking out seven Mobile batters.
His 10th start of the year followed one of his best outings of the season when he fanned 10 Mississippi Braves over seven shutout innings Wednesday, May 27. He now has 17 strikeouts and two walks in his last two starts.
Mobile scored its only run in the first inning, when Socrates Brito beat out an infield dribbler to third base, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Pensacola catcher Cam Maron. Brito then scored on a ground out by Brandon Drury to shortstop. Stephenson started and ended the inning with strikeouts.
Pensacola took the lead for good when it scored two runs in the fourth inning. Reds No. 2 prospect Jesse Winker started the rally with a leadoff single. Ray Chang and Kyle Waldrop also singled to load the bases with no outs.
Zach Vincej hit a sacrifice fly to score Winker for a 1-1 tie. Then, Chang scored on a sharp single by Maron to right field to put Pensacola up, 2-1. Pensacola added another run to go up, 3-1, in the seventh when Vincej scored on an error by third baseman Drury on a ball hit by Beau Amaral.
Amaral is now hitting .290 over his last nine games (9-for-31) and .400 over his last five (6-for-15).
The Blue Wahoos close out the series Friday night in Mobile as RHP Daniel Wright (2-4, 6.34) takes the mound against RHP A.J. Schugel (2-1, 2.45).
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns June 6-10.
Cantonment Man Convicted On Multiple Animal Cruelty Charges
June 4, 2015
A Cantonment man was convicted on multiple animal cruelty charges and is now facing up to 10 years in prison.
Randolph Hewell Rigby, 45, was found guilty of two counts of felony cruelty to animals and two counts of unlawful confinement of animals. The charges involved four different horses. His jury trial lasted over 16 hours, with a verdict coming just after midnight. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail as he awaits sentencing by Judge Jennie Kinsey on June 29.
“Thanks to all who had a hand in helping the horses that were seized from that property. It has been a long hard case, but justice has been served. Sadly, we couldn’t save them all. For some, we arrived too late and they died a horrible death. For those we did save, we are so grateful that we reached them in time,” said Panhandle Equine Rescue President Diane Lowery.
Four other people were originally charged in the case . George Edward Kenneth Ahl, 24, Casey Tyler Ahl, 20, and Frances Rebecca Ahl, 73, pleaded prior to trial. Each was sentenced to a year on probation and prohibited from possessing animals. George Washington Ahl, 76, died before his case was heard. Only Rigby chose to go to trial.
Multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.
Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation in December 2013. A 17-page document released by the State Attorney’s office detailed the investigation and provided numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.
Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus. Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces. There was little food available for the animals.
Animal Control also located eight poodles, a doberman and five cats on the property.
One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.
Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s back up on her own and doing well.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in Cantonment. Pictured below: Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Attacking Younger Brother
June 4, 2015
A Molino man stands accused of assaulting his younger brother during a family argument.
Amos Jones Taylor, 56, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, a deadly missiles weapons offense and criminal mischief.
Taylor allegedly began screaming and cursing at his 80-year old mother at a residence on Bamer Holly Lane in Molino. His 45-year old brother demanded that he stop, according to an Escambia County arrest report, but they got into a physical altercation. Taylor then allegedly lifted a brick over his head in an unsuccessful attempt to strike his brother. The brother them tried to leave in his pickup truck, but Taylor picked up another brick and threw it at the moving pickup, shattering the windshield.
Taylor remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $400.
Molino Park Elementary Presents Third To Fifth Grade Awards
June 4, 2015
Molino Park Elementary School presented the following year-end awards to students in third through fifth grades:
School Wide Accelerated Reader Awards
Highest Points per Grade Level
- Fourth Grade – Aaron Adams
- Fifth Grade – Divine Abrams
Third Grade Awards
Good Citizenship
- Darius Abrams
- Matthew Dix
- Lilly Hatch
- Bobbie-Sue Jarrell
- Samantha Kimmons
- Logan Mace
- Austin Manning
- Chance McElhannon
- Anna McKee
- Alyse McKillion
- Evin PedicordDylan Settle
- DeQuan Shabazz
- Chance Smith
- Domanique Turner
- Trinity Wagner
A Honor Roll
- Anna McKee
A/B Honor Roll
- Kelsey Boykin
- Niko Champagne
- Lilly Hatch
- Logan Mace
- Austin Manning
- Leila Mason
- Chloe Ragsdale
- Dylan Settle
Perfect Attendance
- Hunter Andrews
- Anna McKee
- Alyse McKillion
- Rylan Minor
- Lavon Taylor
Special Recognition – Mrs. Cutler
- Most Improved on Discovery Ed Reading- Devin Pigeon
Fourth Grade Awards
Good Citizenship
- Aaron Adams
- Clay Allen
- Ryan Andrews
- Landry Bellard
- Adelyn Bethea
- Karson Brown
- Christopher Briske
- Fred Carnley
- Levi Carnley
- Nathan Chavers
- Ethan Collier
- Brooklyn Cook
- Kameron Enfinger
- Austin Floyd
- Jace Fryman
- Warren Galloway
- Payton Gilliam
- Cross Goslee
- Miah Guntner
- Alyssa Jackson
- Zacharie Jones
- O’Nykah Kidd
- Waylon Langford
- Shelby Lashley
- Kaylie Leger
- Lexie Leger
- Jeremiah Mace
- Ethan McAnally
- Anna McPherson
- Matthew Mize
- Jimmy Morris
- Austin Pate
- Cameron Partrick
- Chase Pugh
- Briana Ragan
- Wyatt Ramsey
- Alex Roloph
- Asa Schlobohm
- Adian Vaughn
- Shykureia White
- Brycee Woodward
- Loghan Zellers
A Honor Roll
- Aaron Adams
- Cameron Partrick
A/B Honor Roll
- Ryan Andrews
- Adelyn Bethea
- Christopher Briske
- Karson Brown
- Fred Carnley
- Levi Carnley
- Ethan Collier
- Kameron Enfinger
- Tylor Forman
- Jace Fryman
- Warren Galloway
- Payton Gilliam
- Cross Goslee
- Alyssa Jackson
- Kacy Knable
- Shelby Lashley
- Wyatt Ramsey
- Asa Schlobohm
- Brycelyn Woodward
Perfect Attendance
- Ryan Andrews
- Alyssa Jackson
Special Recognition – Mrs. Sapp & Mrs. Driver
- Most Improved, Math – Tres Peña
- Most Improved, Reading – Clay Allen
Special Recognition – Mrs. Madril
- Most Improved, Math – Braydon Harigel
- Most Improved, Reading – Alexandra Oliver
Special Recognition – Mrs. Robinson
- Most Improved, Math – Ethan McAnally
- Most Improved, Reading – Austin Floyd
Fifth Grade Awards
Good Citizenship
- Divine Abrams
- Robery Baggett
- Kristy Beaver
- Kay-Lee Bradley
- Rylee Cain
- Melanie Danforth
- Reagan Daniles
- Aden Fennell
- Serenity Harvell
- Grant Jogan
- Michayla Kent
- Lindsey Kimmons
- Chelsi Lashley
- Shelby Lowery
- Jaden Lewis
- Kileigh Lundy
- Maddie McAnally
- Kenzy McLaney
- Gavin McPherson
- Melody Patterson
- Kaden Pendleton
- Kinzey Powell
- Makayla Ramsey
- Eli Ramos
- Sarah Sconiers
- Shayle Slay
- Mackenzie Sims
- Bryant Walters
- Kailyn Watson
- Trevor Wood
- Lily Worden
A Honor Roll
- Reagan Daniels
- Jaden Lewis
- Melody Patterson
- Sarah Sconiers
A/B Honor Roll
- Divine Abrams
- Rylee Cain
- Melanie Danforth
- Aden Fennell
- Lindsey Kimmons
- Chelsi Lashley
- Kileigh Lundy
- Maddie McAnally
- Kinzey Powell
- Makayla Ramsey
- Chandler Rogers
- Mackenzie Sims
- Kailyn Watson
- Trevor Wood
Perfect Attendance
- Divine Abrams
- Shelby Lowery
- Kinzey Powell
- Excellent Attendance
- Josiah Delarosa
- Wesley Johnson
- Eli Ramos
- Sarah Sconiers
Fifth Grade Special Recognition
Sons of the American Revolution Award
- Jacob Kervin
- Makayla Ramsey
- Lily Worden
- Gavin McPherson
- Michayla Kent
- Jimmy Morris
Student of the Year
- Melanie Danforth
Shining Star Award
- Hannah Hassebrock
Hero Award
- Melody Patterson
Anna L Vidak Award for Academic Excellence
- Jaden Lewis
Spelling Bee Winner
- Jaden Lewis
Science Scholar
- Tanner Bailey
Moby Max Awards
- Wesley Johnson
- Bryson Love
- Maddie McAnally
- Zach Tipton
- Trevor Wood
Sunshine Math Awards
- Kay-Lee Bradley
- Reagan Daniels
- Aden Fennell
- Lindsey Kimmons
- Jaden Lewis
- Kileigh Lundy
- Sarah Sconiers
- Mackenzie Sims
- Makayla Ramsey
- Trevor Wood
Most AR points in 5th Grade
- Divine Abrams
- Michayla Kent
- Carolyn Wilbanks
Council On Aging Needs Fans, A/C Units For Senior Citizens
June 4, 2015
As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise, seniors may be particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
The Council on Aging of West Florida is in need of fans, A/C units and financial donations to help seniors beat the heat this summer. For more information on how you can help a senior stay cool, call the Council on Aging at (850) 432-1475.
Summer Pattern: Sunshine, Slight Chance Of Afternoon Showers
June 4, 2015
Pictured: Wednesday’s sunset as seen from Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here is your official NorthEscambia.com area forecast:
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.