Governor visits Flagler County

Historic City News was on hand this morning for a breakfast meeting hosted by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce in Palm Coast featuring Governor Rick Scott and Florida Senator John Thrasher.

Scott flew in to Jacksonville International Airport yesterday and spent the evening in Flagler County after dinner and a little impromptu karaoke at the Golden Lion in Flagler Beach.

The Governor visited Flagler County during the recent wildfires; however, this was his first casual experience with the community according to Chamber members who attended.

Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts spoke with Historic City News reporters, before the session started, and he gave us an idea of what he expected to learn from the Governor today — and what message he wanted the Governor to take back to Tallahassee.

“We exist primarily on rural, agri-business,” Netts observed. “We can’t go it alone, but, I realize there is no magic bullet.” Netts said that he wanted to reinforce with Scott that, out of the sixty-seven Florida counties, each has different needs. “One size does not fit all,” Netts said. “We need better cooperation from some state agencies and to be certain that the state legislature is not approving un-funded mandates.”

Governor Scott spent the first twenty minutes, or so, giving participants a recap of the last legislative session and his agenda for next. Senator Thrasher reminded everyone that, because of redistricting that is required this year, the legislature will convene early — January 10th instead of March.

Questions from the floor consumed the remainder of the hour and fifteen minute meeting.

Between the City of Palm Coast, City of Bunnell, City of Flagler Beach and Flagler County officials, only three or four major companies were represented; among them Sea Ray executive Craig Wall, and Florida Hospital Flagler executive, David Ottati.

Flagler County Commission Chairman, Alan Peterson, reacted to the Governor’s overview of the budget and his impression of what to expect from the state next year. Scott pointed out that he has taken Florida, with a budget about $3 billion in the red and a “negative” bond, or credit, rating to a state with a stable rating and a $1.2 billion surplus.

Peterson suggested “this is the rainy day” we have been holding on for and that the state should consider passing that money back down to the local governments.

Flagler County recently raised its bed tax from 3% to 4%, however, County Administrator Craig Coffey expressed concerns that, on the state level, there could be a movement to limit the authority of a county to collect tourist development taxes to the extent they currently do.

Scott took time to explain that he remains committed to “no new taxes, no new fees” as critical to Florida’s economic recovery. “We are in a very competitive environment now,” the Governor said. “We have to be the state where employers want to locate; where the cost of doing business is low and where there is a minimum of regulation.”

So what, specifically, is Scott’s approach?

We need to solve problems, faster.
If we are going to say “no” we need to do it right away — and give the reason.
If you have problems with what you see as over-regulation, call me.
If you find regulatory agencies that don’t see the goal of growing the economy, call me.
If you see opportunities to expedite permitting processes, call me.
If there is a communication problem between regulatory agencies, I am prepared to call the agency heads together into a meeting so that everyone is on the same page.

What is Thrasher’s observation of the Scott administration?

We have “top notch” people
Our regulatory agencies have the “right attitude”.
We are prepared to “break down barriers”
Our mission is to solve problems.
“Help is on the way”

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer