Regarding the half cent sales tax the county is attempting to ram down the taxpayers throats...
Before Walton County can pass a sales tax increase there must be an audit by a Sate approved CPA firm.
A bill (HB7087) passed the last day of the 20018 legislative session requires ALL county governments and school districts seeking to pass a sales tax initiative to undergo an extensive "performance audit" that must be completed 60 days before the election. Issues to be examined include the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed program and its structure or design to accomplish its goals; alternative methods of providing services and the accuracy or adequacy of public documents and reports related to the program and prepared by local government.
In plain language, the State wants counties to PROVE they are NOT wasting tax dollars before they try to raise taxes!
Sadly, Commissioner Bill Chapman and the County Administrator Larry Jones knew about this shortly after it was placed in the bill at the 11th hour and signed by Gov. Rick Scott and decided not to tell other Commissioners or the people of Walton County and the county attorney Sidney Noyes put this item on the BCC agenda for a vote but did not disclose the audit requirement to other voting members of the BCC. It would take months to engage a CPA firm and it would be impossible to finish an audit 60 days before the November elections so why was such important information kept from other Commissioners?
JUST ONE MORE REASON AMONG MANY OTHERS TO VOTE NO TO A SALES TAX INCREASE!!
The county does not want an audit and have never been able not show the people of this County that they are not wasting taxpayer dollars!! EVER!!
Before Walton County can pass a sales tax increase there must be an audit by a Sate approved CPA firm.
A bill (HB7087) passed the last day of the 20018 legislative session requires ALL county governments and school districts seeking to pass a sales tax initiative to undergo an extensive "performance audit" that must be completed 60 days before the election. Issues to be examined include the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed program and its structure or design to accomplish its goals; alternative methods of providing services and the accuracy or adequacy of public documents and reports related to the program and prepared by local government.
In plain language, the State wants counties to PROVE they are NOT wasting tax dollars before they try to raise taxes!
Sadly, Commissioner Bill Chapman and the County Administrator Larry Jones knew about this shortly after it was placed in the bill at the 11th hour and signed by Gov. Rick Scott and decided not to tell other Commissioners or the people of Walton County and the county attorney Sidney Noyes put this item on the BCC agenda for a vote but did not disclose the audit requirement to other voting members of the BCC. It would take months to engage a CPA firm and it would be impossible to finish an audit 60 days before the November elections so why was such important information kept from other Commissioners?
JUST ONE MORE REASON AMONG MANY OTHERS TO VOTE NO TO A SALES TAX INCREASE!!
The county does not want an audit and have never been able not show the people of this County that they are not wasting taxpayer dollars!! EVER!!
