John Panyko sent out this email: We have learned that the County will telling the Tourist Development Council this afternoon that the Pensacola Civic Center will require an additional operational subsidy of…
Tourism Committee questions BOCC on hockey
Dear Commissioners: Last Fall each of you were in full support of the steps taken to defease the bonds attributable to the Pensacola Civic Center. This bold and historic action was taken…
Council approves general fund budget…in concept
Yes, the Pensacola City Council approved the General Fund budget, even though they all know that the property tax revenue will not be the same as last year. Unlike other cities around…
2009-2010 City Budget
City staff has projected that property tax revenue will stay the same as 2008-2009. Franchise fees and utility taxes will increase $269,200 to cover the estimated $372K lost in state and other…
City to hold another marathon workshop
The Pensacola City Council is meeting in less than to two hours to hear presentations on the 2009-2010 budget. The meeting is scheduled to run from 1:30 to 8 p.m. and will…
Gannett Buzz
We know about the Pensacola News Journal efforts to continue downsize and increase profit margins by outsourcing its newspaper printing. Here is the other Gannett (owner of the PNJ) buzz: Yahoo Finance…
Should Obama follow Eisenhower example
Jean Edward Smith, the John Marshall professor of Political Science at Marshall University, wrote in today’s NY Times http://100days.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/how-to-end-a-war-eisenhowers-way/. Smith tells how Pres. Dwight Eisenhower was willing to go against his own…
Florida Political Buzz
The Sunday editions of the daily newspapers around the state are filled with political buzz. Sarasota Herald Tribune writes that many consider it a lock that Gov. Charlie Crist will run for…
Pensacola and Escambia get stimulus check
The City of Pensacola is getting $606,500 from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Escambia County will get $2,361,900. These grants…
County subsidizes another arena
The Pensacola Civic Center is not the only county facility subsidized by tax dollars. And hockey wouldn’t be the only sport. The Equestrian Center is subsidized with Local Option Sales Tax dollars….
Pensacola makes USA Today as destination bargain
USA Today is featuring Pensacola and Pensacola Beach – Bargains, beaches and Blue Angels beckon in Pensacola. The Global Grill, Peg Leg Pete’s Oyster Bar, The Oar House and The Fish House…
Should Kerr get the same deal as Studer?
The Escambia County Commission has staff drafting an agreement for a Southern Professional Hockey League team to be owned by Tim Kerr to lease the Pensacola Civic Center. Now people get upset…
Sheriff recommends mental health court
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan is recommending to the recently revived Public Safety Coordinating Council that the County fund the implementation of a mental health court via the county allocation of $834,000…
Meek seeks signatures
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (Dem) is in town – introducing himself, shaking hands, picking up campaign checks and collecting signatures to be the first U.S. Senate candidate ever to qualify by petition….
BOCC heads towards another ED committee
The Escambia County Commission was shorthanded today for its Committee of the Whole meeting. Both Grover Robinson and Kevin White were out of town. The remaining three voted to proceed with a…
Hockey is a go…maybe
The Escambia County Commission instructed County Administrator Bob McLaughlin to negotiate a contract for hockey at the Pensacola Civic Center by May 1. The commission will still have to approve the final…
Rare find at Downtown Library
In September 2008, a hand-bound booklet, very old in nature, of 96 pages was discovered in the Downtown Library garage in a Donations box placed out by the Book Sale Committee.The item…
Kerr owned Ice Pilots for two seasons
Tim Kerr bought the Pensacola Ice Pilots in 2003. His first season (2003-04) he reportedly lost $420,000. The next season despite dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the team won the…
Round 2: Economic Development Polka
Two weeks ago, Mort O’Sullivan and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce delivered to the Escambia County Commission and the Pensacola City Council their proposal for revamping economic development. Tomorrow the…
Engineers make recommendations on bidding process
The Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society is making its recommendations to Escambia County Commission on how to improve its process for awarding professional services contracts. Here are some of…
