Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno discusses the FY 2024 budget.
Fortune Magazine has named HCA Florida West Hospital a “100 Top Hospital” in the nation for the fifth time. Chief Nursing Officer Angela Ellis and Chief Medical Officer Vinay Pallekonda celebrate the win for their amazing team.
This Weekend
Sid Williams-Heath previews the 2023 Stamped Film Festival.
Bridget Middleton fills us in on the details for this weekend’s Pensacola Seafood Festival.
Next Week
Reneda Cross Pasquale shares how the 2023 Pensacola Beach Songwriters’ Festival will be the biggest ever.
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The full show for Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023: Wes Moreno, Sid Williams Heath, Angela Ellis, Vinay Pallekonda, Bridget Middleton, Reneda Cross Pasquale.
Budget: The Escambia County Commission voted to increase the countywide property tax levy by $26,125,415. A legal notice printed in the PNJ was titled “Notice of Proposed Tax Increase.” State law requires the BCC to certify to the state what it has done. As I recall, the form describes the name of each commissioner present for the vote and how they voted. All five voted to increase the property tax levy. The BCC also voted to increase the property tax levy for the Library Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) property tax. City property owners pay a disproportional amount to support the library system. When I last did the calculation, years ago, the city was paying about 40% pretty unfair given that city residents are only 17% of county residents. The BCC also voted to increase the Sheriff’s MSTU. The tax collector’s bill describes the tax as “Sheriff.” In truth, Sheriff Chip Simmons has nothing to do with the tax. He neither asks for it or has the authority to impose it. In 2014, I asked the county staff and then the Sheriff’s Office to tell me which “municipal services” programs were funded by the tax. No one knew. The Sheriff’s MSTU is a lot of money – $13,473,691. It is only paid by property owners in Unincorporated Escambia County on the mainland. Property owners in Pensacola, Century and at Pensacola Beach do not pay the Sheriff’s MSTU. If Perdido becomes a town, its property owners will not pay the Sheriff’s MSTU.
HCA West Florida: Had an appointment there on Monday. My wife had one today and another tommorrow. Superior in every regard. Very lucky to live so close to that hospital.