Attributed by AI speaker identification from official meeting recordings; excerpts link to the full transcript for context. Attribution is conservative — unverified speech is left unattributed.
And the decision really for you is that based upon the amount spent and the amount of applications we have in, the recommendation is to close the program to new any applications at this time.
Staff will then evaluate the submitted applications and make recommendations to the board to commit the balance of the penny funds available.
So hopefully with our joint delegation for 2026, you know, if you're supportive and other members of this board and our state delegation, we can get a real study done by this commission, by the state, to look at the efficiency of Ford Pinellas.
And then maybe they can revisit the special act, because that's just a local delegation that doesn't, and if none of the senators really oppose it, maybe we could get the authority back here at the board level instead of having to go to Ford Pinellas.
And the other is, yes, some administrators may make more than the governor, but they also want to get some of the other things that the governor gets, like a full security detail, a house to live in, you know, flying or his transportation to wherever he goes.
I didn't want some of the items to kind of be left without an additional comment as to why they are the way that they are, nor do I want residents in the community to feel like they can, they shouldn't or couldn't come to our meetings and express themselves or share their concerns, send an email, have a one-on-one conversation.