What a difference a few weeks make! Our roads are now moving pretty well and the restaurant lines are shorter! The rainy, windy season has started but no storms are on the horizon yet as I write this.
The May Master Board meeting will be followed by our usual three-month summer break. During the summer, our Directors will be preparing their 2026 budget worksheets so Mickey Wheeler can prepare the 2026 budget for approval this fall. Hopefully we will not have to budget a supplement for our Restoration Reserve to cover expenses from a 2025 “wind storm!”
The Florida legislature has completed its 2-month annual session except for the budget which must be completed by June 30. It is interesting that the budget has been delayed by discussions about whether to rebate a couple of billion dollars to the citizens as a reduction in property taxes or sales tax. What a difference compared to our legacy northern home states where they are discussing how to generate more revenue!
It does not appear that the legislature has proposed any significant new laws that will impact our residential associations (HOAs and COAs). Here are some of the proposals that were decided: declined more development (such as resorts, etc.) in the state parks; approved making it easier for those wrongly convicted/incarcerated to be compensated for their jail time; allowed relatives of those over age 25 to sue for medical malpractice; approved protecting emergency utility workers from assault; kept horse breeding and race track gambling connected; turned down a possible repeal of the 2024 law limiting trial attorney fees on insurance litigation; repealed a law that required later start times for high school students; turned down a law defining the flags authorized to fly from governmental buildings in FL; approved a law that effectively makes petitioning to amend our constitution virtually impossible; and approved eliminating fluoride in municipal water systems. Now we wait to see what bills will be signed by the governor by June 30.
This was apparently an unusually difficult session for our “lame duck” governor even though he was reelected last fall with a large majority and “long coat tails.” He took a very active role last fall in defeating two state referendums and financed some of the negative advertising using funds that appear to have been tied to state funding. Both referendums garnered over 50% public support but did not reach the 60% approval for adoption. This is apparently impacting the expected campaign by the governor’s wife to secede him as governor. So far it appears that our congressman, Byron Daniels is the early leader in the 2028 Governor’s race although our sheriff has indicated an interest in running if he can get the FBI to release its investigation report. Aren’t Florida politics interesting?
The big surprise in May was the election of an American Pope. With his family roots in the Chicago area he should be well versed in “saving the fallen.” We wish him well with his difficult new responsibilities. It is interesting that his middle-income family has ties to SWFL with one of his two siblings living in Port Charlotte. They talk to him often and were totally surprised by his election. They will have an interesting location for reunions!
Tariffs have been the principal national news item this spring. Aren’t you glad that there does not appear to be any way to place a tariff on our warm winter weather?! A local item of interest is that Aldi may have decided against the proposed Corkscrew store site.
That’s all for now. Have a fun and safe summer!
