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Get the Facts
The Clerk & Comptroller’s office is committed to transparency and accountability in government. Have a question about something in the news? Check here for facts, updates and background information about issues impacting your tax dollars. Please also view Clerk news releases.
Most of the reports below are in PDF format and must be viewed with the free Adobe Reader.
Court Funding
The Clerk & Comptroller’s office is facing a second year in a row of major budget cuts from the Florida Legislature. In 2009, the office had a $7.1 million budget cut and the loss of more than 100 employees. It faces a $3.2 million budget shortfall in the fiscal year which started on July 1, 2010. These budget cuts and layoffs have caused court document processing backlogs and customer service delays.
How to Contact Your Legislators About Funding for the Clerks:
News articles and supporting documents:
- Commentary: Cutting clerks' budgets hurts public, Palm Beach Post, Letter to the Editor by Sharon R. Bock, Clerk and Comptroller, Palm Beach County; Marcia Ewing, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Martin County; and Joseph E. Smith, Clerk of the Circuit Court, St. Lucie County; April 18, 2010
- Clerk of court cuts threaten Florida's future, Sun Sentinel, letter to the editor by Howard C. Forman and Sharon Bock, April 11, 2010
- Letter from Florida CFO Alex Sink to Governor Charlie Crist expressing concern over the 8% Clerk Trust Fund Administrative Fee, March 30, 2010
- Senators Aronberg and Deutch seek to reverse $23m in Clerk budget cuts, Senate Bill 2700 – Appropriations Amendment 19, filed March 29, 2010
- Clerk Bock asks Senate President Jeff Atwater to prevent Clerk budget cuts, March 29, 2010
- County clerk: state law change could cause 140 layoffs, Palm Beach Post, February 10, 2010
- Clerks: State fee request means hiring freeze for Palm Beach County, Daily Business Review, February 10, 2010
- Clerk Braces for More Staff Cuts in Wake of Warning from State CFO, February 9, 2010
- Letter from Florida CFO Alex Sink’s Office Demanding Immediate Payment by the Clerks of $42 Million in Administrative Fees, February 4, 2010
2009 Legislative Session
- Legislation Forces Closing of Clerk’s Mid-County Branch on June 30, June 10, 2009
- Legislation Causes Severe Cuts to Clerk Staff and Services, May 30, 2009
- Clerk Bock Asks Governor to Veto Senate Bills 2108 and 1718, May 8, 2009
- Pasco County Opposes Court Legislation, March 24, 2009
- Lafayette County Joins Fight Against Legislation, March 23, 2009
- Florida Association of Professional Process Servers Opposes H.B. 1121 and S.B. 2108, March 22, 2009
- Florida Government Finance Officers Oppose Legislation, March 19, 2009
- Florida Sheriffs Association Opposes H.B. 1121 and S.B. 2108, March 16, 2009
- Florida Public Defender Association Against Court Legislation, March 11, 2009
- Common Cause Opposes House Bill 1121 and Senate Bill 2108, March 10, 2009
- Florida's State Attorneys Oppose Transfer of Clerk Duties, March 9, 2009
- Clerk & Comptroller Alert: Legislation Erodes Check and Balance on Courts, February 25, 2009
- Courts Distort Facts in Heat of Battle, letter from Clerk of Court Pat Frank to Citizens of Hillsborough County, February 25, 2009
- SB 2108: Court-related Services Transfer/Fee Disposition, legislation filed February 25, 2009
- HB 1121: Disposition of Court Fees, legislation filed February 24, 2009
- Abandon Misguided Legislation, Miami-Dade County Clerk Harvey Ruvin’s letter to Chief Justice Peggy Quince, February 23, 2009
- Clerk Budget Realities, attachment to Clerk Ruvin’s letter to Chief Justice Quince, February 23, 2009
- Clerks of Court: Budget and Technology Myth vs. Fact, prepared by the Florida Association of Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FACC)
- Clerks of Court: Fact Sheet, prepared by the FACC
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Audit Role Of Clerk & Comptroller
- Collier County Continues Legal Fight with Clerk; Costing Taxpayers More Money, news release issued by Clerk of the Circuit Court, Collier County, November 25, 2009
- Editorial: Collier County Clerk of Courts ... Commission Should Accept Court Ruling, Public Opinion, Naples Daily News, November 18, 2009
- State Court Denies Collier County’s Appeal in Case Against Clerk, Naples Daily News, November 17, 2009
- Appeals Court Denies County’s Two Motions in Clerk’s Audit Case, news release issued by Clerk of the Circuit Court, Collier County, November 17, 2009
- Court Denies Appeal, Reaffirms Clerk’s Watchdog Function, Second District Court of Appeals, Dwight E. Brock, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Collier County v. Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, November 13, 2009
- Court Ruling Confirms Clerk's Audit Role, Second District Court of Appeals, Dwight E. Brock, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Collier County v. Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, September 23, 2009
- Second District Court of Appeals Upholds Clerk of Court’s Fiscal Watchdog Function, news release issued by the Florida Association of Court Clerks & Comptrollers, September 25, 2009
- "Help Preserve Checks & Balances on County Government" - Clerk & Comptroller Alert, February 2009
- Senate Bill 1216 relating to Clerk’s Audit Role, filed February 4, 2009
- House Bill 703 relating to Clerk’s Audit Role, filed February 3, 2009
- “Clerks Seek to Protect, Not Expand, Audit Role” – Sun Sentinel, Letter to the Editor, February 22, 2008
- “Clerk Clarifies Intent of Audit Legislation” - Palm Beach Post, Letter to the Editor, February 19, 2008
- "Help Preserve Checks & Balances on County Government" - Clerk & Comptroller Alert, February 2008
- “Bills Define Clerks’ Role as County Auditors” - Daily Business Review, February 8, 2008
- “Clerk of the Courts & County Comptroller Statewide Audit Role – H.B. 399/S.B. 640” - Read about proposed legislation that clarifies the Clerk’s constitutional role as the independent auditor of county government. Presented at the P.B.C. Legislative Delegation Public Hearing on January 28, 2008.
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County Debt/Bonds
- Proposed Debt Ordinance, presented by the Clerk & Comptroller to the Board of County Commissioners, July 21, 2009
- “End AAA-Rated Patronage” – Palm Beach Post Editorial, May 3, 2009
- Palm Beach County Debt Issuance Process Review - Clerk & Comptroller report reveals practices failed taxpayers, April 20, 2009
- Recommendation to Defer Approval of Financial Advisor Contract, Clerk & Comptroller’s letter to the Board of County Commissioners, January 29, 2009
- Clerk & Comptroller Alert: Clerk to Review County’s Debt Practices, January 21, 2009
- Protocol for Bond Practices Review, Clerk & Comptroller’s letter to County Internal Audit Committee Chair, January 16, 2009
- Plan for Comprehensive Review of Bond Issuance Procedures, Clerk & Comptroller’s letter to the Board of County Commissioners, January 12, 2009
- FY 2007 Debt Guide for Palm Beach County, Issued by Clerk & Comptroller, March 2008
- County’s Debt Policy, Adopted by Board of County Commissioners, May 24, 2007
- Problems with Bond Counsel Selection, Clerk & Comptroller’s letter to the Board of County Commissioners, April 6, 2007
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County Investment Portfolio
Financial Market Issues
- Wachovia Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Wells Fargo, Letter to the Board of County Commissioners, December 29, 2008
- Wachovia Purchased by Citigroup, Inc., Letter to the Board of County Commissioners, October 1, 2008
Note: On October 2, 2008, it was announced that Wells Fargo, not Citigroup, would acquire Wachovia.
- Investment Summary Report, as of September 30, 2008
- Clerk & Comptroller Alert: Taxpayers’ Investment Portfolio Receives Top Ratings in Tough Financial Times, September 30, 2008
- Standard & Poor’s Fund Ratings, September 30, 2008
- Clerk & Comptroller Alert: Financial Market Impact on Safety and Soundness of County Investment Portfolio, September 16, 2008
- Investment Policy Committee (IPC) Update: Safety and Soundness of County Investments, September 16, 2008
- Palm Beach County Investment Policy, December 4, 2007
- Annual Investment Guide, Fiscal Year 2007
Israel Bonds
State Board Of Administration (SBA) Local Government Investment Fund
- State Board of Administration Local Government Investment Fund Update - presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, March 11, 2008
- Investment Policy Committee (IPC) Update: Clerk’s Office Continues to Have Concerns About State Fund, December 27, 2007
- IPC Update: Clerk's Evaluation of Money Market Funds as Investment Vehicle, December 21, 2007
- IPC Update: Clerk Reports State’s Decision on Investment Fund, December 5, 2007
- IPC Update: Clerk’s Office is Proactive in Protecting Tax Dollars, November 28, 2007
- Letter to SBA: Request for Transparency in the State Investment Pool, September 5, 2007
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Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS)
- Case Management System Project Web Site – Updated regularly
- Justice Information Systems (JIS) Policy Board Notes – July 10, 2008
- “A $25 million debacle: Palm Beach County clerk says she'll fix it," Palm Beach Post Editorial, July 16, 2008
- Future of Court Computer Decided, July 11, 2008 - Supplement to Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS): Past, Present and Future
- “Time to let clerk tackle the computer confusion," Palm Beach Post Editorial, June 21, 2008
- Palm Beach County Banner Evaluation - Final Version, June 10, 2008
- Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS): Past, Present and Future, June 5, 2008
- Administrative Order 11.033-3/00 - Initiated the selection of a comprehensive court case management system.
- “Taxpayers Need Answers a Consultant Can Provide” - Palm Beach Post, Letter to the Editor, November 20, 2007
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
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