City Council To Consider Budget, Candidate Filing

The city council meets tonight for a budget workshop, but there is more than money matters up for discussion at the meeting set for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 201 N. Howell Ave.

The council also will consider a move to turn over city council candidate filing duties to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections.

Currently the city clerk handles candidate paperwork. At least one council member, Lara Bradburn, contends the county supervisor of elections should take the job to eliminate perception of bias and save money by cutting a duplication of services.

Last Monday, the council agreed to change language in the city code that would make the switch possible, but stopped short of naming the county elections supervisor when Bradburn said she wanted to put the issue up for a vote that night.

The council also will review how much the practice of waiving fees for use of the Jerome Brown Community Center and for other events organized by nonprofit groups is costing the city.

At the council's request, City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha has compiled a history of the waived fees in the last three years. The council has already waived almost $2,000 in fees this fiscal year, according to a memo to the council from Norman-Vacha.