On Jan. 8, I was invited to sit in with attorney Bill Rankin on his television show “Within Reason.” Segment One – Ernie Lee Magaha handing out bonuses and pay raises to…
Tag: Ernie Lee Magaha
A Building Named Ernie Lee
The Escambia County downtown complex was renamed yesterday. It is now the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex. During an afternoon ceremony, a crowd of about 100 people stood in front of the…
Magaha Governmental Complex
Escambia County’s downtown complex will be formally unveiled this week as the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex. A ceremony will be held Thursday at 3 p.m., prior to the public forum and…
Magaha Governmental Complex?
The Escambia County Commission will consider waiving policy this week in order to rename the county’s downtown complex in honor of the outgoing clerk of court. Ernie Lee Magaha has served as…
SRIA misuses beautification funds
The Santa Rosa Island Authority has a beautification fund. Has the SRIA used that fund to buy equipment to get the tar balls and oil off the beach? No. How about buying…
No more cuts by Magaha
Spoke with Lisa Bernau, Chief Deputy for Escambia County Clerk of Courts/Comptroller Ernie Lee Magaha, about the change in funding for the Clerk that will go into effect July 1. Other clerks…
Cuts may be coming to Clerk offices
Here is a story that we will follow up on today. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill that changes how Florida funds its 67 clerks’ offices, putting…
Magaha addresses staff reductions
Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha has written a letter to the Chief Judge Kim Skievaski, BOCC Chairman Marie Young, Public Defender James Owens, Sheriff David Morgan, State Attorney Bill Eddins and…
Holley retires, comes back in Jan.
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley retired this month. There wasn’t any big announcement, no appointment by Gov. Charlie Crist to replace her. She didn’t tell anyone earlier in the year of…
Magaha has budget shortfall
The lack of real estate sales has impacted the Escambia County Clerk of Courts office, according to NorthEscambia.com Clerk of the Court Ernie Lee Magaha has asked employees to voluntarily take time…
Magaha is open to Morgan move
Just got off the phone with Lisa Bernau, Chief Deputy for Escambia County Clerk of Courts/Comptroller Ernie Lee Magaha, about Sheriff-elect David Morgan’s request to move the ECSO accounting over to the…
Morgan makes smart move
Sheriff-elect David Morgan has started out his administration with a bold move that is smart politically and fiscally responsible. He wants to move his department’s accounting under the County Comptroller Ernie Lee…
Local double dippers
The St. Pete Times has reported that a growing number of elected officials are quietly taking advantage of a loophole carved into the state retirement law a few years ago that allows…
Audit Findings – Significant Potential Liability
From the report by the Escambia Clerk of Courts: We believe the volunteer fire departments are misinterpreting the Firefighter I exemptions granted by the State, and the non-certified volunteers are being allowed…
What’s happening with other officers
Ernie Lee Magaha, Clerk of Courts, $4,676,281 (up 1.67%) but needs $2,111,446 from County general fund (up 15.9%) because his revenues are projected to be down $212,567. David Stafford, Supervisor of Elections,…
Something’s Burning
Our cover story for April 5 (Burning Down The House) reveals the troubles of the Escambia County volunteer fire departments – nearly 3 out of 4 isn’t properly certified. The state requires…
Lander’s request on County finances
Yesterday I posted a letter from Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha on the County’s attempt to take control of county finances. Here is the actual letter sent by County Attorney Janet…
Magaha vs. Commission battle continues
We got this letter from Escambia County Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha today. You need to read -Â Magaha letter 2
Lessons from failed Whitehead purchase
Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha proved the value of having an independent accounting department. Had Touart & Whitehead been successful in creating their own finance/accounting department – the purchase would have…
Magaha refuses to process Whitehead purchase
Escambia County Clerk of Court Ernie Lee Magaha has sent a letter to County Commissioner Chairman Kevin White refusing to process Commissioner Mike Whitehead’s purchase of surplus county property – 7501 Jamesville…