Discussions at the latest Children’s Services Council (CSC) meeting indicate the Council is facing growing pains related to the group’s mission, expectations, pro- gram management and relationship with other local government entities.
Established as an independent special district by the voters of Leon County in 2020, the CSC provides funding through ad valorem taxation to organizations that align with its mission to “ensure all children and youth are social[1]ly, emotionally, and physically equipped to reach their full potential.”
Despite repeated concerns from some citizens about spending priorities, the progress made by the Council over the last three years is noteworthy.
On May 7, 2021, ten council members were sworn in after 66-percent of voters in Leon County approved the creation of the Council. Since that time, Council members have created an operating structure, hired an executive director, created policies, and funded non-profits.
The FY2024 budget for the CSC was approximately $8.2 million with $1 million al[1]located to administration and approximately $6.7 million funding to programs consistent with the CSC mission.
However, with this progress comes expectations and further questions about accountability and spending. Now the questions are not coming exclusively from citizens, but also from Council members.
CSC Meeting
The agenda for the December 19, 2024, General Council meeting set the stage for a discussion of issues related to a growing organization.
The first issue was the employment contract of the first and only executive director of the CSC, Cecka Green. After a discussion related to the evaluation of Green, the Council voted unanimously to approve a new employment contract which will be in place for two years beginning on January 1, 2025. The new contract maintains the current annual salary ($128,000) and clarifies the policy related to recovering travel expenses.
Ms. Green had asked for a pay increase, however a motion by Council Member Carolyn Cummings to provide a cost-of-living raise failed to garner support. Ms. Green will be eligible for a salary adjustment in one year.
Next, the Council approved the financial reports for October and November and approved a settlement with a vendor (Scientiae) that had violated the terms of an agreement with the CSC. The settlement calls for 36 monthly payments of $1,650 ($59,400). The vendor is not eligible for any contracts until the settlement is satisfied.
The Council decided not to opt out of a provision of the Live Local Act, which recently became law, providing incentives for the construction of affordable housing. The incentives could have an impact on CSC revenues in the future. However, the Council viewed the program as consistent with CSC’s mission of addressing children’s services.
Partnering with Other Entities
Now that the CSC is up and running, other entities have become interested in developing partnerships. One of those entities is the Community Human Services Program (CHSP), which is funded in part by the City of Tallahassee and Leon County.
Supporters of the CHSP have in- quired about the CSC altering their funding structure to facilitate a partnership with the CHSP.
However, the CSC attorney advised the Council during the meeting that there was no legislative authority allowing the CSC to partner with the CHSP. The opinion was prompted by a recent Leon County Commission discussion related to restructuring the way local governments fund services related to children.
The Leon County Commission is in the process of redefining the categories that are funded through the CHSP process and is considering removing categories devoted to children’s services due to the creation of CSC Leon.
However, the CSC attorney also noted during the meeting that Florida laws indicate that CSC funds are not to take the place of other funds previously allocated for such services.
Moving the Needle
During the meeting the Council discussed the need for metrics to assess the impact of the programs currently being funded. Measurement of the impact of government funds has always been a controversial topic. However, given the amount of the dedicated funding and the narrow focus of the CSC – children’s services – supporters and critics alike are eager to see results.
Council members discussed the need to measure the impact of programs and “move the needle.” However, there seemed to be some confusion over what needles would be moved as a result of the CSC programs.
Executive Director Green explained there was a system in place to evaluate the programs funded by the CSC but cautioned that “you are not going to see a needle move in a year.”
Renewing Programs
The meeting closed with the approval of continued funding of current CSC programs. The Council voted to continue funding for the Small Investments for Program Success (SIPS) and youth mentoring programs through May 2025.
Picture: Supporters, employees, & Council members celebrate the opening of the CSC’s offices in February 2023 in the Parkway Executive Center on old St. Augustine Road
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Biggest scam out there. They can raise taxes at will, and have not been elected. A giveaway, for sure.
They set this boondoggle up without any way to measure its success, because they never intended that it would be successful.
The CSC is a taxpayer funded giveaway to a handful of political cronies. The CSC only reinforces the city of Tallahassee’s reputation for being a place bereft of ethics and honesty. Everyone sees right through it, and we are sick of it.
Discontinue the CSC or cut their Budget by 50% and cut their Staff by 50%.