The second Board meeting of the North Lake County (Florida) Hospital District is tonight, Thursday, at 5pm (get there early) in the Lake County Commission Offices.
I haven't really publicized it because we know the Board will not listen to public input or requests for changes, so a few of us reform activists will be there, and I will post a follow up tomorrow, along with my notes on last week's meeting AND my visit to the CFO of LRMC.
Basically, this Board has refused any public requests to initiate changes to the existing legislation to provide more flexibility in the tax rate that is approved each year (currently an almost automatic, rubber stamp rate of 1 mill). They have refused requests even to approve a video tape of the meetings, and they have refused even giving a second vote to discuss issues brought up by Board member Marilyn Bainter.
At this time I don't have any evidence the two hospitals receiving almost $12-million in tax proceeds without conditions have acted irresponsibly. But, the Board won't take any action to act on behalf of taxpayers to research just where the funds are going and initiating specific programs to benefit taxpayers (and maybe with actual input from taxpayers) on how the funds should be spent, or maybe the Board and property tax given to the Hospitals should be eliminated entirely.
As a consequence, plan to attend the Sept. 30 Florida legislators delegation meeting for Lake County (more details later) to press them for the requested changes in the law that has existed without much change for 45 years.
More tomorrow.
vj
