CCFC - State of Franklin County

A Special Message to Franklin County Property Owners:

Donations, which are not tax-deductible, may be sent to the address below.We have a country today in so much turmoil that trivial things like your local taxes don’t seem to rise to the level of concern, study, or action.

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the School Board are unwittingly cruel. How? They seemingly have no concern for what large tax increases may cause financial strain to some people and may put some non-homestead property owners in danger of losing their dreams. Our local government is enjoying a bonanza of increased tax revenues, grant money, and Covid money. The Franklin County School District also is seeing its coffers swell as well, even as the number of students is near historic lows and yet another tax increase is being requested. In addition, the Charter School is still not on an equal footing with the K-12.

In the county, employees are seeing the largest pay increases in history and headcounts are rising. Yet this wealth effect is not translating over to the rest of us. We are overrun with poverty, drugs, and a lack of economic opportunity.

We’re not sure, of course, but with experts predicting a recession, this year might have seen the peak of property value increases for now. Franklin County is not immune to a recession.

We, as the CCFC, remain very concerned with several areas within county government:

1. Our perennial concerns with Weems Hospital. Always in perpetual crisis, Weems continues to lose monies. The Hospital Board meeting in September was canceled amid an inability to provide accurate and up-to-date financials. The most recent Chief Financial Officer recently walked out without notice.
2. 2. The Board of Commissioners continues to be too insular and self-serving. Although mouthing promises of economic development, real planning for growth and development, and even code enforcement, important matters rarely, if ever, get resolved.
3. We see continued growth in county government staffing. Look back twenty years, for example, to see that there was no Tourist Development Council. Today, its multi-million-dollar budget has its own staff and lacks the scrutiny and financial controls such public monies deserve. We see unfettered growth in certain Constitutional Officer's budgets, including padding of staff, that we all pay for. Commissioners have a Constitutional responsibility to oversee all Constitutional budgets yet they ignore that responsibility.
4. Commissioners regularly demonstrate a negative attitude towards the citizens they are sworn to serve which is off-putting, and, too often disrespectful. Artificial barriers have been created to obstruct participation in local government. Handicapped individuals have trouble entering Commission Chambers. This failure to install an assistive door has been brought up to Commissioners previously.
5. Despite the efforts of our excellent Sheriff, Franklin County remains somewhat lawless and reckless with ordinances being flouted including inappropriate homestead designations, improperly zoned properties, and the unexplained financial troubles at Lanark Village St James VFD. The ongoing good old-boy structure of the commission discourages proactive thinking and action.

Let me share with you some of this year’s CCFC efforts made to achieve transparency, seek fiscal responsibility and fair and accountable government in Franklin County.

1. Our most visible function is to answer questions from members. We receive and appreciate taxpayer feedback from the many people who call, write or just spread our words on behalf of good government.
2. We engage professionals (lawyers, investigators, additional accountants) to help in our efforts towards open, honest, representative government for Franklin County.
3. CCFC maintains and operates an independent website (www.ABetterFranklin.com). In addition, we incur mailing and other expenses to bring taxpayers the news, behaviors, decisions, and actions of local leadership, including for County Commissioners, elected Constitutional officers, and others. Also, visit our Facebook page and “Like” us and/or “Follow” us to always be in the know!
4. We have attended all online County Commission Meetings in 2022. When appropriate (under unreasonably restrictive Public Comment rules) we speak up with facts, concerns, and alternatives on matters we believe to be important.
5. We analyze and actively participate in the County’s budget process. We make recommendations and suggestions that would allow officials to reduce their spending, and in that way, help to keep taxes as low as possible. Unfortunately, too often the commissioners ignore our suggestions. We are confident that without the CCFC’s continued oversight, inquiries, and the spotlight we place on the commissioners’ actions and decisions, the county’s budget and spending would be even more bloated. Commissioners know that, because the CCFC exists and exposes what they would rather the public did not know, commissioners must work harder to justify their actions. Ultimately, they know the public is watching and being informed.
6. The CCFC researches best business practices, freely sharing them with appropriate officials.
7. We have repeatedly asked that some meetings be held in the evenings and return to some being held in Carrabelle.
8. We attend Hospital Board Meetings to hear reports and budget facts as presented. We push for accountability and logic in the expenditures for Hospital operations. We also review and analyze Weems’ financial statements whenever hospital management makes them available.
9. We reach out through emails and messages to the Apalachicola Times frequently when taxpayer voices need to be heard.

Please feel free to share this letter with your friends; encourage them to learn more about the work of the Concerned Citizens and to join the CCFC as new members. It is our strength of numbers and the financial support you provide that ensures someone is watching.

Annually, we reach out to the community for help in meeting the financial challenges of continuing our work.

Please support the CCFC with your membership dues to help ensure our continued success. Please invest $50, $100, or more in our Watchdog Association to allow our work to continue. Only through your help and support will we continue to ensure that good government in Franklin County can and will become a reality.

Make your check payable to the CCFC and mail it to P.O. Box 990, Eastpoint Florida 32328. (Dues are not tax deductible)

Please include your email address on your check to ensure you receive our communications and updates.

Thank you for your generous support.

Sincerely,
Allan J. Feifer

President
Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Inc.

Commissioner Contacts:

Commissioner Bert Boldt - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 519-4966

Commissioner Smokey Parrish - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 653-8790

Commissioner Ricky Jones - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 653-8861

Chairman Noah Lockley - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 653-4452

Commissioner Jessica Ward - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 653-9783

Please feel free to redistribute this email to your friends!