Rep. Mike Giallombardo carries bill to make county budget officer report to commissioners

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, is carrying a bill, HB 1553, that specifies a county budget officer reports directly to board of county commissioners.

Giallombardo told Florida’s Voice the bill puts that county budget manager “on par” with the county manager and the county attorney.

He said this enables the county commissioners to hire the county budget officers, “so they have someone that directly reports to them that is getting a handle on the budget.”

“Our goal is to create checks and balances to ensure that there is not an overreach of local government on the citizens,” Giallombardo said.

The bill text also states “unless the board designates a different officer, the clerk of the circuit court or the county comptroller, if applicable, shall be the ex-officio budget officer for the purposes of this chapter.”

It says the clerk of the circuit court or the county comptroller, while acting as the ex-officio budget officer, reports to the board in a “strictly legislative” capacity.

Any action taken by the clerk of the circuit court or the county comptroller acting as an ex-officio budget officer does not violate any prohibition on that individual also working in an executive branch capacity.

Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, is carrying an identical bill in the Senate.

Due to sunshine law, Giallombardo said the commission cannot talk about the budget to one another without it being a public hearing, which sometimes puts them in a difficult spot.

“This will will help with some of that, because it will put the budget manager in the position where they work for the county commissioner,” Giallombardo said.

Giallombardo also noted the county auditor, Kevin C. Karnes is currently working through an audit.

“People do want checks and balances. They do want to see where they can do better. So he’s working through that right now,” Giallombardo said.

The bill has been referred to the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee and the House State Affairs Committee.

If passed, the bill will take effect July 1.