Fiscal Rangers

Orlando Sentinel Finally Reports on North Lake County Hospital District Fiscal Fiasco

It has taken over 2 months to get one of the local newspapers to cover the problems with the North Lake County Hospital District, and the Orlando Sentinel's Christine Show did call new Board member Marilyn Bainter, plus myself, and also TRIED to get responses from the other Board members. As noted in the article below, NONE of the other elected District Board members or the attorney returned calls to the reporter, or if they did, they had "no comment". You can read our earlier list of issues HERE, and HERE. This lack of respect for the taxpayer or the reporter smacks of cronyism, when the other Board members won't even return calls to the press. This, to me, means that problems are deeper than we thought and this might be a smoking gun where the District Tax collections of over $12-million might be going for improper expenditures. For instance: - A main issue is that the two major hospitals ( Leesburg and Waterman) receiving taxpayer funds totaling $12.7-million but had total profits per Marilyn Bainter of over $28.4-million, thus our taxes are subsidizing their profits. (They each also give 5% of their total tax distribution to Lifestream which also... Read more →

North Lake County Hospital District - Public Hearing to discuss millage change canceled

Readers are encouraged to call their local central Florida legislator (see list below) to request them to pass a law change that is needed. This is the public hearing by the Legislature to hear proposals supported by Trustee Marilyn Bainter and FiscalRangers.com to change to the existing law over the Hospital District to allow Board members to decide on a millage rate on property taxes that is anywhere between 0 and 1 mill. The law is currently interpreted to only allow the Board to decide on 0 millage rate taxes, or a full 1 mill rate and nothing in between, and the Board has always selected the maximum 1-mill property tax rate without much public input. It is our opinion that the rate should be variable, and them public hearings should take place before the Board decided on a rate. Look in the right column of this blog under "Background Pages" for the page on the Hospital District with all the background. Marilyn says to call the elected representatives for your district to get them to support having the public hearing AND to pass the recommended law change to allow any millage rate between 0 and 1 mill. The tax... Read more →

North Lake County Hospital District Millage Rate Revision Moves Forward

I have already documented in the separate "page" section about the North Lake County Hospital District (NLCHD) and how Lake county is the ONLY ONE in Florida to have a mandatory, fixed property tax millage rate (currently 1 mill). There are only nine other counties that also have a hospital taxing district, but they have a variable rate that can be set by the elected District Board. So, new NLCHD Board member Marilyn Bainter asked local State legislators to modify the existing law to specify the rate was "up to" 1 mill, so the Board could select a rate less than the 1 mill rate used for years. Well, kudos to state Representative Charles Van Zant, who initiated the proposed revision to the law, and below is the draft. We will post updates here as we get them. I have no estimate of how long it will take to obtain support and get the law passed. vj A bill to be entitled An act relating to the North Lake County Hospital District, Lake County; amending chapter 2002-348, Laws of Florida; providing for range of millage rate; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of... Read more →

North Lake County Hospital District Issues - Where does that $12-million GO???

Update Jan. 15, 2009 - This subject was transferred to a separate page on this blog, which will contain future updates. You can read the "page" HERE. This topic was covered on the local WLBE 790am Radio Show Featuring Ralph Smith & Fred Johnson Fred was running the show. Ralph was on a hunting trip. North Lake County Hospital Property Tax District - Where does the $12-million Go? Note: We intend to revise this document with any verifiable facts from any party and move it later to a separate page on this blog so it is a living document. If any reader has new facts to provide an objective overview, I will verify and add them. vj Marilyn Bainter called to the radio show about the North Lake County Hospital Taxation District (NLCHD). District is a 1 mill property tax on North Lake County property to provide funds to the two local hospitals, Leesburg & Florida Hospital/Waterman. Thus, an owner of a $400,000 valued house would pay $1 (i.e. 1 mill) per $1000 valuation, or $400. Someone with a business property valued at $2-million would pay a tax of $2000 to be paid to the hospitals. Here is the most... Read more →