Research by Tallahassee Reports indicates that Anita Favors-Thompson is the most powerful City Manager in the state of Florida. This finding is based on a comparison of the formal powers of city managers of major cities in Florida, actions taken by Anita Favors-Thompson and interviews with community leaders. While Anita Favors-Thompson receives high approval ratings […]
Current Chairman of the City’s newly formed independent Ethics Board, Lila Jaber, failed to disclose a business relationship between her law firm, Gunster, and the City of Tallahassee when she applied to be the City’s appointment to the Board. Also, Ms. Jaber is listed as the the vice-chair of the Big Bend Minority Chamber of […]
Tallahassee Reports may have finally found an answer to City Commissioner Scott Maddox’s question about the Mayor and the City Commissioner’s budget. This part of the general government budget funds salaries and activities related to the Mayor and the four elected City Commissioners. Commissioner Scott Maddox asked about an increase in the Mayor and City […]
When City Manager Anita Favors released her proposed budget last month for FY 2016, which includes a 27% increase in property taxes, her press release called the proposal a “public safety budget.” The press release detailed the increase in positions for public safety and also mentioned the $500,000 allocated for street resurfacing. However, one item […]
Today, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson released her proposed budget for 2015-16. In a city press release entitled “City Manager Releases Proposed Public Safety Budget”, Ms. Favors recommends hiring 18 police officers and 16 fireman.Ms. Favors also proposes a $10.8 million property tax increase. The property tax rate would increase by 27% from 3.7 mills […]
It appears the City of Tallahassee’s lack of attention to public safety over the last nine years has not been limited to funding for more police officers. During a recent City budget workshop, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson took time to tell City Commissioners that the City’s Police Department building, located on Seventh Avenue, is […]
On December 15, 2014 the Consolidated Dispatch Agency Director Tim Lee, fired three veteran dispatchers for not following proper protocol on premise hazards. Tallahassee Reports has reviewed a memo written by CDA Director Tim Lee, and sent to the CDA Board, that alerts the board to internal problems with premise hazard information and the management […]
According to agenda item documents to be presented to the full City Commission on Wednesday, Mayor Andrew Gillum is recommending that Ms. Lila A. Jaber be appointed to the newly-created 7-member Ethics Board, which is being organized pursuant to a recent City Charter amendment adopted by voters during the November, 2014 general election. Ms. Jaber […]
In July 2014, Cynthia Barber, Director of Environmental Policy & Energy Resources for the City of Tallahassee informed Equity and Workforce Development about inappropriate activity and misconduct on the part of several Building Services employees. An investigation was initiated and completed on August 27,2014. Tallahassee Reports has uploaded the Executive Summary here. Names of individuals […]
During the City of Tallahassee budget workshop on Monday, June 23rd, staff reported to the elected officials that the budget for FY 2015 was balanced with no increase in property taxes. The proposed General Fund budget will increase from $137.4 million in FY 2014 to $141.6 million in FY 2015. To balance the budget, staff […]