The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, who reports approximately 1,400 members, held their annual conference this past weekend at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. The event drew over 500 participants. So, who made the trip? Tallahassee Reports analyzed the attendees list and found that our reputation as a “university town” was reflected by […]
The Chair of the City of Tallahassee Ethics Board, Lila Jaber, asked the recently hired counsel to the Board, Mr. Gerald Currington, “whether the Ethics Board has the discretion to hire an Ethics Officer without advertising.” Noting that the current Ethics Officer was hired under City policies, Mr. Currington wrote “it is my opinion that […]
The recent debate over the proposed 23% property tax increase has overshadowed another double digit increase due to go into effect on October 1. The proposed property tax increase, if adopted, will bring in an additional $8 million annually, beginning October 1. The fire service fee, which is set to increase by 26.9%, will bring […]
It is not surprising that the Tallahassee Democrat’s recent editorial, titled “In Our Opinion: Manufactured Controversy”, minimized the concerns of those who were offended by the recent controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood. What is surprising, and should be alarming to all people in our community, is how the editorial writers botched the facts and provided half-truths […]
Tallahassee Reports spoke with the City’s appointed Ethics Officer, Julie Meadows-Keefe, about the hiring of a law firm to serve as counsel to the Ethics Board that also does significant business with the City of Tallahassee. Tallahassee Reports wrote about the relationship here. Ms. Meadows-Keefe told Tallahassee Reports that she was aware of the relationship […]
Tallahassee’s loss is Kansas City’s gain. Andy Alcock, the former WCTV investigative reporter, told Tallahassee Reports he has taken a job with KSHB, a NBC affiliate, in Kansas City Missouri. Alcock will be part of a five-member investigative team. Alcock told Tallahassee Reports he tried to stay in Tallahassee. “My wife and I love Tallahassee but […]
The local budget debate, over the proposed property tax increase, has taken many twist and turns and final approval is still more than a month away. The recent 3-2 vote to tentatively approve a 23% increase in property taxes leaves the door open for more debate. The City has gone to great lengths to justify […]
UPDATE: On July 27, 2015 the Tallahassee Democrat reported “The city of Tallahassee approved a $2.6-million settlement earlier this month. Shelley estimates a net payment of $1.5 to $1.6 million after legal costs.” The City Attorney for Tallahassee, Lew Shelley, contacted Tallahassee Reports late this afternoon and said that the net payment information reported by […]
At the July meeting of the City’s Ethics Board, the General Counsel position was filled by a lawyer who is employed by a law firm that has been awarded contracts by the City Commission totaling approximately $800,000. The action, initiated by Chair Lila Jaber, is raising questions about the independence of the Board, which was established […]
Following a national trend, existing home sales in Leon county surged in June. Reports indicate there were 349 single-family home sales in June for an average price of $216,622. The average monthly sales of single-family homes over the previous 12-months was 223. At the national level, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that “existing-home […]