2010 Annual Report 

The Fiscal Watch Committee was formed as an ad hoc committee of the Citrus County Council in early 2005.

The Committee’s mission is to promote a fiscally responsible budget developed in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine laws, and hold public officials accountable.

The Fiscal Watch Committee monitors the actions of County Government and works to enhance the quality of media coverage. The Committee educates Citrus County citizens about their rights and responsibilities to make local government fiscal actions more open, effective, and efficient. We encourage both public and private action to create more healthy community standards, and to ensure that government and local media act in the interest of the citizens.

The committee meets with public officials and monitors government meetings to provide citizen input. Our watchdog roll has prompted positive changes in the way Citrus County Government operates.

Objectives:

• Increase Public Awareness
  
  
• Increase the following: Media Coverage; Attendance at BOCC meetings. Maintain FW info on CCC website.
  
  
• Educate Our Organizations
  
  
• Establish a Speaker’s Bureau/ Team and take our message out to organization meetings. Continue reports to the CCC. Maintain FW info on CCC website.
  
  
• "Sunshine" the Process
  
  
• Continue to educate ourselves on the legislative process. Get BOCC to make public on the County web site the details of RFP/RFQ, Master Plans, Department organization flowcharts.
  
  
• Help to Accomplish Fiscal Responsibilities of Government Entities
  
  
• Budget & process reform. Line item budgets from all taxing departments and entities. Monitor Zero Based budgeting with performance based justification (ref AR. 2.04).
  
  
• Change the bidding/contract process. Revise the RFQ, RFP, and No Bid contracting process.
  
  
• Implement accountability for County property ownership. What do we own? Why do we own it? What is the cost of owning it? What is the current or intended use? What income is produced from the property?
  
  
• Decrease dependences on Property Tax and other General Fund revenues. E.g.: Airport funding; Economic development; Sewer and Water systems, etc.
  
  
• Centralized Government Complex outside Inverness City Limits - to include BOCC offices and Board meeting facilities and accommodating the Constitutional Officer facilities. Large parcel to accommodate future with buildings designed for expansion.