SCHEDULED: Budget Committee Meetings

Greetings Clerks and Clerk Staff,

 

Unfortunately, due to the interruption caused by Hurricane Dorian, our budget process is behind schedule. Exacerbating the problem is the calendar is full with so many Clerk meetings and activities during the last three weeks of September it is difficult to plan around. At this point, it is not a question of scheduling an ideal solution but rather one that is workable. It is realized what has been determined is not optimum but I ask your indulgence and cooperation as we make our way through the process.

 

Let me remind you of the current status of things. After years of reduced budgets, the recommendation is that all counties will receive a three-percent across the board increase. There is an additional recommended increase based on weighted case counts. The only recommended limitation is if a Clerk has submitted a budget request for an amount less than the combination of these factors. There is a limited amount that will be distributed based on the special needs requests that Clerks have submitted. The remaining work of the Budget Committee is to determine the worthiness of each of these special needs requests. If there are funds left after the determination of these special needs requests, this amount will be distributed on a percentage basis with the only limit being the budget need of the individual Clerk.

 

There are some technical issues and statutory requirements that require the attention of the budget committee. To accomplish this, the Budget Committee will meet by WebEx on Friday, September 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. See more information on our website: https://flccoc.org/committees/budget/

 

There will be an in-person meeting in Orlando on Tuesday, September 24 from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. The exact location will be determined shortly. This will be an all-day workshop. The purpose of this meeting will be for the Budget Committee to hear presentations from the Clerks making special needs requests and to make determinations on these.  Clerks can attend in person or a phone appointment can be scheduled.  Clerks can also designate staff to present on their behalf. CCOC staff will work to establish a workable schedule.

 

The Budget Committee will then meet by WebEx on Thursday, September 26 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM for what should be a relatively short meeting to finalize our recommendation based on the decisions made on Tuesday to the CCOC Executive Council. Chair Peacock will schedule an Executive Council meeting for Monday, September 30, 2019, for consideration of the Budget Committee’s recommendation.

 

Thanks for your cooperation in helping make this timetable work. Again I acknowledge it is not ideal but based on the disruption in the previous schedule I do think it is workable.

 

Ken Burke

 

 

 

Ken Burke, CPA

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Pinellas County, Florida

315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756

Office (727) 464-3341 |  Cell (727) 647-1859

mailto:[email protected] | http://www.mypinellasclerk.org/