Miami-Dade Ethics Commission Was Created

Miami-Dade Ethics Commission was created out of a general public need for greater transparency in government organizations and agencies. In fact, it was originally created in 1996 from a vote from Miami-Dade county citizens. According to its website "It is an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers," which is a five member board that governs over government agencies and employees in the region (Miami-Dade Commission 2011). The Commission is a liaison between government agencies and the public.

It essentially keeps the public informed about what is going on in regional government agencies that their tax dollars are essentially funding. Moreover, the Commission focuses on keeping government employees informed of their rights as well. Moreover, the Commission helps find and implement resources for local business to educate employees about the importance of ethics in the work place and how to protect them. This is essentially the important element the Commission handles that does not relate to the board members specifically.

However, there have been a number of issues the Commission has handle internally with its staff. In fact, one of the biggest issues that have occurred with relation to the Board members and staff within the last year is the stepping down of chairman Robert Meyers who is a twelve year veteran of the commission (Hiaasen 2011). This also comes in the wake of a recent scandal that claimed Meyers of an illicit affair (Brannigan & Haggman 2011).

There are now 39 possible candidates trying for his replacement including "A top corruption prosecutor, an ex-judge, and a former fraud investigator," (Hiaasen 2011). There were other allegations regarding the over compensation and perks associated with the positions within the Commission itself. Recently, there were complaints from Miami Mayor in November of 2010 regarding how the Commission "hadn't taken the pay cuts most other employees had," (Brannigan & Haggman 2011). Source: Brannigan, Martha & Haggman, Matthew. "Miami-Dade Ethics Commission Chief Resigns Following Flap." Miami Herald. 2.8.2011. Web.

Accessed June 6, 2011 http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/08/2057148/miami-dade-ethics-commission-chief.html Source: Hiaasen, Scott. "Miami-Dade Ethics Commission Seeks New Chief." Miami Herald. 5.18.2011, Web. Accessed June 6, 2011. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/18/2222740/miami-dade-ethics-commission-seeks.html Source: "The Purpose of the Commission." Miami Dade Ethics Commission. 2011. Web. Accessed June 6, 2011. http://www.miamidadeethics.com/LefthandBarMainPages/purpose.html RESEARCH QUESTION #2: STATE BUDGET REDUCTIONS IMPACT PUBLIC SCHOOLS Governor Scott has created a great deal of controversy with his legislation to cut the budgets of Florida schools by $1.75 billion.

However, the details of his approach are often overpowered by complaints about how it will impact teachers. For example, there is one element of the budget cuts that is important. It is essentially trying to make up for the lack of available federal funding that the state had relied on in the past. According to the research, "About half of that reduction is because the federal government won't be sending the $873 million stimulus for education that it sent last year," (Kam 2011).

Without any cuts, that money would have to be replaced entirely on the burden of the Floridian tax payers. Thus, Governor Scott is trying to avoid that situation with his budget cutting policies. Moreover, the plan also allocated greater savings for property owners throughout Florida. Some of the money taken from educational budget cuts is going to providing Florida home owners with some much needed relief in a recession still claiming foreclosures left and right.

The research states that "a $44.72 property tax savings for the average Florida homeowner with a homestead exemption," (Kam 2011). The research also states that the cutting will actually decrease state property taxes for schools in the area. Therefore, many agree with the necessity of the budget cuts. Overall, the cuts are not impacting the schools themselves, for the research shows that these cuts are existing "while revenue committed to public education remains basically the same," (Kam 2011).

Therefore, they do prove a necessity to ease some of the load of the Florida tax payer. Source: Kam, Dara. "Gov. Rick Scott's Proposed Educational Budget: $1.74 Billion in Cuts." Palm Beach Post. 3.7.2011. Web. Accessed June 6, 2011 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/gov-rick-scotts-proposed-education-budget-1-75-1302720.html RESEARCH QUESTION #3: HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS There were several events provided the basis.