Pinellas County, Florida
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Pinellas County's population as of 2007 was 944,199. It is one of 20 charter counties in the state. It became a charter county in 1980.[1]
[edit] Evaluation of website
In 2011 Pinellas County earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
This website was most recently reviewed Jan. 27, 2012.
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida county websites
The website was been recognized as one of the most transparent in the country, which it achieved after a website upgrade in 2010.
| “ | Recently we’ve been working with the county administrator on a Gov 2.0 initiative, focusing on maximizing public usability of the Web site, enhanced citizen engagement and open government, leveraging the latest technology for cost efficiency,” said Michael Roiland, eGov/Web manager of Business Technology Services. “The purpose is to maximize transparency of government operations for effective Sunshine compliance and for optimum usability for the citizenry via the Web portal.[2] | ” |
In June of 2010, Pinellas launched Crime Viewer a 24/7, a GIS mapping tool that will automatically track crime every 24 hours.[3]
[edit] The good
- Extensive Budget information is available, including citizen input mechanisms.[4]
- Board meeting schedule[5], agenda[6], minutes[7], and video of every meeting[8] are all available.
- County Commissioners are listed with contact information.[9]
- County Administrator is listed with contact information.[10]
- Building permits[11] and zoning information[12] are available.
- Audits are online.[13]
- Current contracts are listed, plus the actual contracts are available online.[14]
- Lobbying information is disclosed, along with links to the Pinellas County Lobbying Ordinance and all relevent data resources.[15]
- Includes a public records search, and also how to make a public records request.[16][17]
- Local tax information is available.[18]
[edit] The bad
- Personal e-mails are not provided.
[edit] Board of County Commissioners
The State constitution gives the Board of County Commissioners the power to adopt ordinances (local laws), approve the County budget and set millages, and establish the requirements for the departments under its control. The Board governs all unincorporated areas of the county directly; municipalities may call upon the County for specialized services.[9]
The Commission does not have control of the budgets or policies of the School Board. The Commission approves support funding for court services, insofar as County funds are concerned, and approves the budgets of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sheriff, and the Supervisor of Elections. Budgets for the Tax Collector and the Property Appraiser are approved by the State Department of Revenue and filed with the Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners also serve as other Boards for the County, such as the Emergency Medical Services Authority, the Fire Protection Authority, the Mosquito Control Board, the Countywide Planning Authority, and the Water & Navigation Control Authority.[9]
| Name | Title | District |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Brickfield | Commissioner | District 1 |
| Norm Roche | Commissioner | District 2 |
| Nancy Bostock | Commissioner | District 3 |
| Susan Latvala | Chair | District 4 |
| Karen Williams Seel | Commissioner | District 5 |
| John Morroni | Vice-Chair | District 6 |
| Kenneth T. Welch | Commissioner | District 7 |
[edit] County Administrator
The County Administrator manages the business of county government and reports to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners. Robert S. LaSala, County Administrator, joined the county on Oct. 12, 2008.[10]
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying
The Board of County Commission hires lobbyists to assist them in gaining support for issues that effect the departments under the Board of County Commissioners. These departments include Health and Human Services, Public Works, Justice and Consumer Services, Animal Services, and Culture, Education and Leisure. The continuation of funding for beach renourishment, administered by the Department of Environmental Management, is one example of a county interest for which lobbyists have successfully advocated. The issues that are to be supported are approved by the Board of County Commissioners.[15]
Pinellas County has reported $670,000 spent on lobbying the federal government since 2005 (see table).
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $60,000 |
| 2009 | $80,000 |
| 2008 | $150,000 |
| 2007 | $120,000 |
| 2006 | $120,000 |
| 2005 | $140,000 |
[edit] Taxes
Pinellas County has a website dedicated to local taxes.[18]
[edit] Audits
For Pinellas County, the clerk or comptroller performs the internal audits.[20]
[edit] External links
- Official Pinellas County Website
- Pinellas County Public Records
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser
- Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Pinellas County Sheriff
- Pinellas County Tax Collector
- Pinellas County on E-Reference
- Pinellas county schools
[edit] References
- ↑ Florida's charter counties
- ↑ Tampa Bay Newspapers, County receives A+ for Web site, June 22, 2010
- ↑ Gov Tech, Pinellas County, Fla., Unveils 24/7 Crime Mapping Tool, June 23, 2010
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ Agenda
- ↑ Minutes
- ↑ Meeting Video
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 County Commissioners
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 County Administrator
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Building
- ↑ Audits
- ↑ View Contracts
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lobbying Info
- ↑ Public Records Search
- ↑ Public Records Request
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Tax Collector
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ PBC Clerk & Comptroller 5.30.07
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