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T H E   C A B I N E T

 

S T A T E   O F    F L O R I D A

 

__________________________________

 

Representing:

 

Division of Bond Finance

Financial Services Commission

Department of Veterans' Affairs

Department of Revenue

Board of Trustees

State Board Of Administration

 

 

 

 

 

The above agencies came to be heard before

THE FLORIDA CABINET, Honorable Governor Bush presiding,

in the Cabinet Meeting Room, LL-03, The Capitol,

Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday, February 25, 2003

commencing at approximately 9:40 a.m.

 

 

 

 

Reported by:

 

SANDRA L. NARGIZ

 

Registered Professional Reporter

Registered Merit Reporter

Certified Realtime Reporter

 

 

 

 

ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.

100 SALEM COURT

TALLAHASSEE, FL  32301   (850)878-2221

 

 

 


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APPEARANCES:

 

Representing the Florida Cabinet:

 

JEB BUSH

Governor

 

 

CHARLES H. BRONSON

Commissioner of Agriculture

 

CHARLIE CRIST

Attorney General

 

 

TOM GALLAGHER

Chief Financial Officer

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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I N D E X

 

DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE

(Presented by Ben Watkins)

 

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved             5

2                   Approved             5

3                   Approved             5

4                   Approved             6

5                   Approved             8

6                   Approved             8

7                   Approved            13

8                   Approved            14

 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION

(Presented by Kevin McCarty)

 

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved            15

2                   Approved            15

3                   Approved            16

4                   Approved            16

5                   Approved            81

 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

(Presented by Rocky McPherson)

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved            19

2                   Approved            19

3                   Approved            25

 

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

(Presented by James Zingale)

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved            26

2                   Approved            27

3                   Approved            28

4                   Approved            28

 

 

 

 


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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

(Presented by David Struhs)

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved            29

2                   Approved            29

3                   Withdrawn           30

4                   Approved            30

 

STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION

(Presented by Coleman Stipanovich)

 

ITEM                ACTION             PAGE

 

1                   Approved            30

2                   Approved            31

3                   Approved            31

4                   Approved            32

5                   Approved            32

6                   Approved            33

7                   Approved            33

8                   Approved            36

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER                 37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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           1                    P R O C E E D I N G S

 

           2             (The agenda items commenced at 9:40 a.m.)

 

           3             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Division of Bond Finance.

 

           4             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on the minutes.

 

           5             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

           6             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           7      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

           8             By the way, the next Cabinet meeting will

 

           9        be Thursday, March 13.

 

          10             Item 2.

 

          11             MR. WATKINS:  Item 2 is a resolution

 

          12        authorizing the issuance and competitive sale of

 

          13        up to $510 million of Turnpike Revenue Refunding

 

          14        Bonds.

 

          15             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.

 

          16             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

          17             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

          18     Without objection, the item passes.

 

          19             MR. WATKINS:  Item 3 is a resolution

 

          20        authorizing the issuance and competitive sale of

 

          21        up to $85 million of Save-Our-Coast Refunding

 

          22        Bonds.

 

          23             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 3.

 

          24             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

          25             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

                                                                      6

 

           1      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

           2             MR. WATKINS:  Item 4 is a resolution

 

           3        authorizing the issuance and competitive sale of

 

           4        up to $58 million in State University System

 

           5        Refunding Bonds.

 

           6             GENERAL CRIST:  Motion.

 

           7             CFO GALLAGHER:  Second.

 

           8             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           9      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

          10             MR. WATKINS:  Item 5 and 6 are companion

 

          11        items dealing with the selection of service

 

          12        providers for the Everglades Restoration Bonding

 

          13        Program.  And if I may very briefly describe for

 

          14        you the process behind the recommendation being

 

          15        made this morning.

 

          16             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Sure.

 

          17             MR. WATKINS:  The process involves an RFP

 

          18        process.  This is for selection of underwriters

 

          19        and bond counsel.

 

          20             We designed an RFP with substantive

 

          21        questions that had scores associated with those

 

          22        designed to elicit the qualifications of the

 

          23        individual firms.

 

          24             We then established a selection committee

 

          25        of individual members to grade the responses to


                                                                      7

 

           1        the RFPs based on their responses to those

 

           2        scores.  Each of the individual members then

 

           3        independently grades the responses to the RFPs;

 

           4        based on that score they rank the firms.

 

           5             The individual rankings of the firms are

 

           6        then aggregated to come up with an overall

 

           7        recommendation of the top ranked firms.  So

 

           8        that's the process that we utilize in making

 

           9        the recommendations to you this morning.

 

          10             I would like to publicly acknowledge the

 

          11        work of Kevin Stanfield and Ingrid King; Kevin

 

          12        with Treasurer Gallagher's office, and Ingrid

 

          13        King is with the Division of State Lands and

 

          14        Department of Environmental Protection.

 

          15             They were the outside members of our

 

          16        selection committee, and it's a very important

 

          17        process and requires a lot of time, effort and

 

          18        energy and painful review of responses to RFPs.

 

          19        So I want to thank them for their contribution

 

          20        in helping us with this process.

 

          21             CFO GALLAGHER:  Glad to have them back to

 

          22        work after all this.

 

          23             MR. WATKINS:  Thanks for letting us borrow

 

          24        them, Treasurer Gallagher.  We appreciate that.

 

          25             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Motion on 5.


                                                                      8

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  There is a motion.  General?

 

           2             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

           3             Just a quick question.  You were

 

           4        mentioning the process, and I imagine one of

 

           5        the questions is the cost?

 

           6             MR. WATKINS:  One of the things, especially

 

           7        with bond counsel, we prescribe a limit on the

 

           8        level of compensation.  So within the cap we

 

           9        provide them the latitude to propose something

 

          10        under our cap.  So an element of the scoring is

 

          11        cost, absolutely, both for bond counsel and for

 

          12        underwriters.

 

          13             GOVERNOR BUSH:  There is a motion and second.

 

          14        Any other discussion?

 

          15             The item passes without objection; both

 

          16        items, I guess.

 

          17             MR. WATKINS:  The underwriting firms, for

 

          18        your-all information, the top ranked underwriting

 

          19        firms are Solomon, Smith, Barney and Goldman Sax.

 

          20        Those are two top ranked firms out of 24 firms

 

          21        responding to the RFP.

 

          22             And in item 6, for bond counsel we

 

          23        received 12 responses and Squire, Sanders and

 

          24        Dempsey is the top-ranked law firm being

 

          25        recommend.


                                                                      9

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  There is a motion on item 6

 

           2        and a second.  Any other discussion?

 

           3             Without objection the item passes.

 

           4             MR. WATKINS:  Item 7 is a resolution

 

           5        authorizing the purchase of a surety bond to be

 

           6        substituted in lieu of a cash reserve for the

 

           7        Preservation 2000 in Florida Forever Bonding

 

           8        Program.  In effect, this resolution does three

 

           9        things.

 

          10             It authorizes the purchase of a surety to

 

          11        be substituted for a cash reserve; it amends

 

          12        the bond resolution for the Preservation 2000

 

          13        and the Florida Forever programs, requiring

 

          14        that the excess proceeds, the cash generated

 

          15        from substituting a financial product for the

 

          16        reserve fund, that that money is transferred

 

          17        into the Preservation 2000 Trust Fund and the

 

          18        Florida Forever Trust Fund, which is where the

 

          19        proceeds of the bonds would have gone had we

 

          20        not used the portion of the proceeds of each

 

          21        prior bond issue to fund a reserve fund for the

 

          22        two bond programs.

 

          23             And thirdly, it incorporates a statement

 

          24        of intent that the proceeds of these bond

 

          25        issues are to be used for a purpose consistent


                                                                     10

 

           1        with the constitutional authorization for each

 

           2        of the bonding programs.

 

           3             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Motion on 7.

 

           4             CFO GALLAGHER:  What we are doing here is we

 

           5        are preserving this money from other

 

           6        appropriations by putting it in the trust fund?

 

           7             MR. WATKINS:  It moves them back to the trust

 

           8        fund.  It's still up to the legislature to decide

 

           9        how to appropriate those monies.

 

          10             There is no budget authority for those

 

          11        monies, so the legislature still has to address

 

          12        the question of how the monies are going to be

 

          13        used.

 

          14             What it does is put them in the trust fund

 

          15        where they would have gone anyway had we not

 

          16        funded a reserve with this.  So it's sort of

 

          17        half of the equation.

 

          18             GOVERNOR BUSH:  The second -- in our budget,

 

          19        in our recommendation to the legislature, we are

 

          20        proposing transferring the monies that we are --

 

          21        that are being proposed to be transferred back

 

          22        into these accounts to the Everglades Trust Fund,

 

          23        so as to have a source of money to continue the

 

          24        state's commitment for funding the Everglades.

 

          25             And that, I think it has symmetry.  We are


                                                                     11

 

           1        taking environmental funds to go to the highest

 

           2        priority.

 

           3             Secondly, in a bazaar twist of fate,

 

           4        environmental groups are suing the state based

 

           5        on a law that passed that makes it impossible

 

           6        to use bonds for the Everglades funding:  Irony

 

           7        of all ironies.

 

           8             So this is the strategy to fund the

 

           9        Everglades for this year.  And I would hope

 

          10        that people would work to -- would support this

 

          11        and work with the legislature to encourage them

 

          12        not to take these monies, which they can still

 

          13        take.  They can take it out of the escrow

 

          14        accounts and put a surety bond in, just as we

 

          15        are proposing be done here, and they can take

 

          16        it out of the accounts as was attempted last

 

          17        year where I vetoed the transfer.

 

          18             So this is only a one-step process towards

 

          19        the ultimate goal which is to have

 

          20        $300 million, I guess, of these -- this is what

 

          21        this money totals up to -- to be put in

 

          22        Everglades Trust Fund where we have a stable

 

          23        source of money for the next two or three

 

          24        years.

 

          25             CFO GALLAGHER:  What we are doing here is we


                                                                     12

 

           1        are putting -- issuing a bond, with the money that

 

           2        we are releasing by that bond we are putting into

 

           3        what trust fund?

 

           4             MR. WATKINS:  Preservation 2000 Trust Fund

 

           5        and Florida Forever Trust Fund, depending on what

 

           6        the source of the monies is.

 

           7             We got 307 million; 260 million would go

 

           8        to Preservation 2000 Trust Fund because those

 

           9        relate to the Preservation 2000 bonds, and the

 

          10        remainder 37 million, 47 million, goes to

 

          11        Florida Forever Trust Fund because that was

 

          12        funded, that's related to the bond issues for

 

          13        Florida Forever.

 

          14             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Treasurer, our hope -- my

 

          15        plan, which was foiled by the lawyers, was to

 

          16        transfer this directly to the Everglades Trust

 

          17        Fund.  Apparently you can't.

 

          18             CFO GALLAGHER:  Here's your other problem.

 

          19        The legislature needs to change these trust fund

 

          20        rules in order to allow it to go to the other

 

          21        trust fund.

 

          22             In other words, the law needs to be

 

          23        changed on this trust fund, these two trust

 

          24        funds, in order to allow the money in these

 

          25        trust funds to be transferred to the Everglades


                                                                     13

 

           1        Trust Fund.

 

           2             MR. WATKINS:  That's correct.

 

           3             GOVERNOR BUSH:  That's our plan.

 

           4             CFO GALLAGHER:  So you have a bill or

 

           5        somebody has a bill to change the trust fund law

 

           6        of those two trust funds to allow it to flow into

 

           7        the Everglades.

 

           8             MR. WATKINS:  Yes, sir, that's got to work

 

           9        itself through the legislative process, that's

 

          10        correct.

 

          11             GOVERNOR BUSH:  So we are in peril.  Any

 

          12        other discussion?  There has been a motion, I

 

          13        believe on --

 

          14             CFO GALLAGHER:  I make a motion.

 

          15             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  I already made the

 

          16        motion.

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  I will second it.

 

          18             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Item 7 has been moved and

 

          19        seconded.  Without objection, the item passes.

 

          20             MR. WATKINS:  Item is a report on award on

 

          21        the competitive sale of $282 million in PECO

 

          22        refunding bonds.

 

          23             The bonds were awarded to the low bidder

 

          24        at a true interest cost of 4.31 percent,

 

          25        generating gross debt service savings of


                                                                     14

 

           1        approximately of $17.6 million or $13.9 million

 

           2        on a present value basis.

 

           3             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 8.

 

           4             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

           5             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           6       Without objection, the item passes.

 

           7             MR. WATKINS:  Thank you, sir.

 

           8             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Thank you, Ben.

 

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          25


                                                                     15

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Financial Services

 

           2        Commission.

 

           3             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on the minutes.

 

           4             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

           5             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           6      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

           7             MR. McCARTY:  Agenda item number 2 is a

 

           8        proposed delegation of authority to the Office of

 

           9        Insurance Regulation and the Office of Financial

 

          10        Institutions and Securities Regulation.

 

          11             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.

 

          12             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

          13             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.  Any

 

          14        discussion?

 

          15             Without objection, the item passes.

 

          16             MR. McCARTY:  Next agenda item is

 

          17        authorization to initiate rule making on proposed

 

          18        rules related to additional organizational

 

          19        structure of the Office of Insurance Regulation

 

          20        and the Office of Financial Institutions and

 

          21        Securities Regulations, as contemplated by

 

          22        Section 20.121, Florida Statutes, for the final

 

          23        proposal rule making authority before the

 

          24        Commission before final adoption.

 

          25             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 3.


                                                                     16

 

           1             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

           2             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           3       Without objection, the item passes.

 

           4             MR. McCARTY:  Finally, for your consideration

 

           5        is a request for authorization to move forward

 

           6        with all steps necessary to transfer the existing

 

           7        rules of the former Department of Insurance and

 

           8        the former Department of Banking to the Office of

 

           9        Insurance Regulation and the Office of Financial

 

          10        Institutions and Security Regulations as

 

          11        appropriate and to make technical changes to the

 

          12        transferred rules.

 

          13             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Motion.

 

          14             CFO GALLAGHER:  Second.

 

          15             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.  

 

          16       Without objection, the item passes.

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  Governor, I have a motion

 

          18        here, and that is the Governor and Cabinet,

 

          19        sitting as the Financial Services Commission,

 

          20        hereby authorize the director of the Office of

 

          21        Insurance Regulation and the director of the

 

          22        Office of Financial Institutions and Securities

 

          23        Regulation to reassign, reorganize, reclassify and

 

          24        otherwise transfer positions to appropriate

 

          25        administrative units within their offices to


                                                                     17

 

           1        efficiently and effectively fulfill the regulatory

 

           2        mandates under Florida law and regulations.

 

           3             I make that motion in order to give both

 

           4        of those directors the opportunity to organize

 

           5        in any way different than was originally done

 

           6        by the committees because we did it before we

 

           7        had basically agency heads here.

 

           8             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

           9             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.

 

          10             Could I ask a question, Kevin?  What is

 

          11        the status of the glitch bill in the

 

          12        legislature?  Is there a glitch bill?

 

          13             CFO GALLAGHER:  It's about 2500 pages, is the

 

          14        status.

 

          15             GOVERNOR BUSH:  We'll call it a gigantic

 

          16        glitch bill.  2500 pages?

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  Everywhere it says Treasurer,

 

          18        Comptroller, Department of Insurance --

 

          19             GOVERNOR BUSH:  It still is a glitch bill.

 

          20             CFO GALLAGHER:  -- all that has to be

 

          21        changed.  That's the majority of what the bill is

 

          22        about.

 

          23             MR. McCARTY:  In response to your question,

 

          24        Governor, we are working with -- and Don Saxon,

 

          25        the director, Leo Fisher -- are working with


                                                                     18

 

           1        Legislature Affairs on that bill, and I know there

 

           2        is a draft, and I don't have anything further to

 

           3        report.

 

           4             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Okay.

 

           5             CFO GALLAGHER:  I think the Senate and House

 

           6        had a similar project to come up with a basic

 

           7        plan.  There is probably two or three, maybe five

 

           8        at the most issues that are -- have any

 

           9        controversy or any really -- most of it is

 

          10        changing names and cleaning up the law.  That's

 

          11        the majority.  There is a few issues.

 

          12             MR. McCARTY:  There are a few substantive

 

          13        areas for consideration.

 

          14             CFO GALLAGHER:  There may be 10, but there is

 

          15        more like five.

 

          16             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Thank you.  There is a motion

 

          17        and second.  Without objection, the items passes.

 

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          24

 

          25


                                                                     19

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Veterans Affairs.

 

           2             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on the minutes.

 

           3             GENERAL CRIST:  Second.

 

           4             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           5     Without  objection, the item passes.

 

           6             MR. McPHERSON:  Good morning.  Thank you.

 

           7             Item 2 is our quarterly report for the

 

           8        department for this fiscal year, attachment 2.

 

           9        It's recommended for acceptance.

 

          10             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.

 

          11             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

          12             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

          13      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

          14             Item 3.

 

          15             MR. McPHERSON:  Item 2, sir, is the Florida

 

          16        Department of Energy Annual Performance Contract

 

          17        for the executive director for this year

 

          18        2003-2004.  It's in attachment 3 and it is

 

          19        recommended for acceptance, pending any  

 

          20      discussion or anything you would like to add, sir.

 

          21             CFO GALLAGHER:  Governor, I would like to

 

          22        move an amendment to that performance contract 

 

          23        and have it comply with the statutes.  As opposed

 

          24       to 87 percent, I would like that moved to 90 percent

 

          25        in regards to bids; the statute requires


                                                                     20

 

           1        90 percent.

 

           2             It would not make much sense for us to

 

           3        have a performance contract that has a goal --

 

           4        I know it would be nice for you -- but have a

 

           5        goal below the statutory goals.  If you want to

 

           6        change and have the legislature change their

 

           7        goal, I would be willing to change ours, but I

 

           8        don't think we should have one --

 

           9             GOVERNOR BUSH:  How about if we do it this

 

          10        way:  How about if we say that the performance

 

          11        criteria is at the statutory requirement, so if

 

          12        the statute does change, then it's automatically

 

          13        adjusted?

 

          14             CFO GALLAGHER:  No problem with that.

 

          15             MR. McPHERSON:  There is, in our long-range

 

          16        plan there is a plan to move this to the industry

 

          17        standard of 87 percent.  But you are correct, sir,

 

          18        it has not been approved by the legislature yet.

 

          19             GOVERNOR BUSH:  We ought to have at least

 

          20        90 percent of our nursing homes occupied just for

 

          21        sound fiscal management.  It actually enhances

 

          22        quality of care because you keep employees.  There

 

          23        is -- it's more than just an efficiency or

 

          24        financial issue; I think it does help quality of

 

          25        care as well.


                                                                     21

 

           1             CFO GALLAGHER:  Where are veterans homes

 

           2        right now?

 

           3             MR. McPHERSON:  Two of the nursing homes

 

           4        are -- Daytona was the first one built.

 

           5             CFO GALLAGHER:  Not where they are, where are

 

           6        they in regards to --

 

           7             MR. McPHERSON:  Current percentages?

 

           8        Approximately 85 percent, sir.  And that's due to

 

           9        some of the distinct things that have gone on in

 

          10        the health care industry.  We have had some

 

          11        staffing issues, and therefore, when you have

 

          12        staffing issues, you have to sometime restrain

 

          13        your occupancy.

 

          14             We are making improvements in that we have

 

          15        come from a low of 83 to 85 and getting back to

 

          16        90 is an attainable goal, but it's going to be

 

          17        challenging and we are glad to accept it.

 

          18             CFO GALLAGHER:  You know and I know that

 

          19        there is more than enough need to fill every

 

          20        single one of those nursing homes to the max.  In

 

          21        fact, you got waiting lists, I know.

 

          22             MR. McPHERSON:  We do have some, yes, sir,

 

          23        but there are turnover factors that do -- you have

 

          24        requirements to keep beds when someone goes to a

 

          25        hospital.  There are things there, you can never


                                                                     22

 

           1        get to a hundred percent.

 

           2             CFO GALLAGHER:  I understand, but the idea is

 

           3        that -- I think 90 percent probably is a good

 

           4        number, we ought to keep our eye on.  Maybe it's

 

           5        hard to reach.

 

           6             Actually year to date we are running about

 

           7        83 percent is what this says.  But I know it's

 

           8        challenging, but at the same time, I look at

 

           9        the other side, and I know there is plenty of

 

          10        veterans that would love to have the

 

          11        opportunity, their families, to have them in

 

          12        one of these really well-run homes.

 

          13             So anything we can do to get -- have the

 

          14        personnel, whatever it takes to get the

 

          15        utilization up, it's good for our state

 

          16        veterans.

 

          17             GOVERNOR BUSH:  I think one of the ways that

 

          18        you can accomplish the 90 percent, we are pretty

 

          19        close to 90 percent on the stable and the mature

 

          20        homes, the homes that have been opened for a

 

          21        longer period of time.

 

          22             It's the Sandy -- facility in Pembroke

 

          23        Pines that has been slow to reach full

 

          24        capacity.  And so the challenge I think is that

 

          25        we have got two new homes coming on stream this


                                                                     23

 

           1        year, right?

 

           2             MR. McPHERSON:  Yes, sir, we do.

 

           3             GOVERNOR BUSH:  You need to develop

 

           4        strategies to really accelerate the filling of

 

           5        those, because the Broward County one is taking a

 

           6        really long time to do so.

 

           7             MR. McPHERSON:  We are working on that now.

 

           8             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Governor, I had a

 

           9        question, too, and that is with some of the

 

          10        changes, both at the federal level on people

 

          11        keeping their family members at home with extra

 

          12        reductions in taxes, and so forth, to help pay for

 

          13        those, it could be that we are actually seeing

 

          14        people who are using those tax deductions to keep

 

          15        their loved ones at home rather than put them into

 

          16        a facility that is creating maybe some of the

 

          17        reasons why we can't get to 90 percent.

 

          18             GOVERNOR BUSH:  I think the universe is so

 

          19        enormous.

 

          20             CFO GALLAGHER:  There's plenty of people.

 

          21        It's the ability --

 

          22             GOVERNOR BUSH:  We do need to do both.

 

          23             CFO GALLAGHER:  It's not a shortage of

 

          24        veterans.

 

          25             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Because you do have waiting


                                                                     24

 

           1        lists, don't you?

 

           2             MR. McPHERSON:  We do, with the exception of

 

           3        the Pembroke Pines facility and we are working

 

           4        that regularly.

 

           5             GOVERNOR BUSH:  You don't have a waiting list

 

           6        for Pembroke Pines?

 

           7             MR. McPHERSON:  No, we are working that one

 

           8        literally daily.

 

           9             CFO GALLAGHER:  Some people may not know it's

 

          10        there.

 

          11             MR. McPHERSON:  And that is part of our

 

          12        issue, is the public getting the word out?

 

          13             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Broward County, you would

 

          14        think --

 

          15             CFO GALLAGHER:  They like to be where there

 

          16        is a military facility close by; so we don't have

 

          17        a military facility.  In fact, Homestead use to

 

          18        have a tremendous amount of Vets around it, and

 

          19        when the facility closed, they started moving

 

          20        north.

 

          21             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Okay.  So the motion is to --

 

          22             CFO GALLAGHER:  -- set the goals at the

 

          23        legislative-set goals.

 

          24             GOVERNOR BUSH:  If you could just keep us

 

          25        advised on a regular basis how you are doing on


                                                                     25

 

           1        this, because this is an important issue.

 

           2             MR. McPHERSON:  Yes, sir, we will.

 

           3             CFO GALLAGHER:  Thank you very much for the

 

           4        performance contract.

 

           5             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Motion and a second.  Without

 

           6        objection, the item passes.

 

           7

 

           8

 

           9

 

          10

 

          11

 

          12

 

          13

 

          14

 

          15

 

          16

 

          17

 

          18

 

          19

 

          20

 

          21

 

          22

 

          23

 

          24

 

          25


                                                                     26

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Department of Revenue.

 

           2             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on the minutes.

 

           3             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

           4             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           5      Without  objection, the item passes.

 

           6             Dr. Z, how the heck are you?

 

           7             MR. ZINGALE:  I am doing great.

 

           8             Revenues are coming in okay, on forecast

 

           9        so far, so we are doing great.

 

          10             If you really want to know, this is the Go

 

          11        Live on all kinds of our systems that have come

 

          12        up since sales tax has been rolled on the

 

          13        system.  I thought it went on live Monday.

 

          14        This week collection integration takes place.

 

          15        By next Monday --

 

          16             CFO GALLAGHER:  Is that the system, the

 

          17        electronic system, or are you talking about SEP?

 

          18             MR. ZINGALE:  The complete Integrated Tax

 

          19        Administration System, between now and Monday,

 

          20      the old system will be gone; the brand new system 

 

          21       will be fully in place.

 

          22             CFO GALLAGHER:  With no glitches whatsoever?

 

          23             MR. ZINGALE:  Well, you know, a lot of lost

 

          24        data in the middle of the night.  Yeah, there were

 

          25        glitches, but nothing that can't -- hasn't been


                                                                     27

 

           1        fixed to this point.

 

           2             Item number 2, amends the sales and use

 

           3        tax chapter, provide guidelines on the

 

           4        application of sales tax to vacation packages;

 

           5        updates refunds for these features, removes

 

           6        definition of trade fixtures as provided by

 

           7        2002 law changes, and provides comprehensive

 

           8        update to all that E-filing and E-registration

 

           9        so that the rules reflect what is actually

 

          10        going on.

 

          11             Recommend approval.

 

          12             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.

 

          13             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

          14             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.  

 

          15       Without  objection the item passes.

 

          16             MR. ZINGALE:  Item number 3 relates to

 

          17        communication services tax.

 

          18             Amendments in this section provide

 

          19        guidance on registration, tax rates, filing

 

          20        requirements and incorporates 2002 law changes

 

          21        related to exemptions for religious and

 

          22        educational institutions.

 

          23             Recommend approval.

 

          24             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 3.

 

          25             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.


                                                                     28

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

           2       Without objection, the item passes.

 

           3             MR. ZINGALE:  Item 4 provides amendments to

 

           4        various miscellaneous tax provisions, provides

 

           5        guidelines for registration, clarifies when tax

 

           6        returns and payments are due.  The amendments 

 

           7        also incorporate 2002 law changes requiring the

 

           8        remittance of certain fees directly to the

 

           9        department.

 

          10             Recommend approval.

 

          11             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 4.

 

          12             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

          13             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

          14             Without objection, the item passes.

 

          15             MR. ZINGALE:  Thank you.

 

          16

 

          17

 

          18

 

          19

 

          20

 

          21

 

          22

 

          23

 

          24

 

          25


                                                                     29

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Board of Trustees.

 

           2             MR. STRUHS:  Item 1, we recommend acceptance

 

           3        of the year 2003 Florida Forever Five-year Plan

 

           4        and to approve the February 2003 Florida Forever

 

           5        Priority List which is in your materials.

 

           6             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 1.

 

           7             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

           8             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.  

 

           9         Without objection, the item passes.

 

          10             MR. STRUHS:  Item 2, we request your approval

 

          11        for consideration of an option agreement to

 

          12        acquire 32.61 acres within Charlotte Harbor

 

          13        Estuary, Florida Forever Project, Swarcomm

 

          14        Investments, LTD/Steincomm Investments, LTD.

 

          15             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Is there a motion?

 

          16             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.

 

          17             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

          18             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded.  

 

          19        Without objection, the item passes.

 

          20             MR. STRUHS:  Item 3, we would ask that item

 

          21        be withdrawn, please.

 

          22             GOVERNOR BUSH:  There is a motion; is there a

 

          23        motion to withdraw?

 

          24             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion to withdraw 3.

 

          25             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.


                                                                     30

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  The item has a motion to

 

           2        withdraw and the second.

 

           3             Without objection the item is withdrawn.

 

           4             MR. STRUHS:  Item 4, our final item,

 

           5        consideration of an option agreement to acquire

 

           6        105 acres within the Tiger Island Florida Forever

 

           7        Project.

 

           8             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 4.

 

           9             MR. STRUHS:  This acquires the St. Martin's

 

          10        Island.

 

          11             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 4.

 

          12             COMMISSIONER BRONSON:  Second.

 

          13             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Moved and seconded. 

 

          14       Without objection, the item passes.

 

          15             MR. STRUHS:  Thank you very much.

 

          16             (At this point, General Crist and

 

          17        Commissioner Bronson depart.)

 

          18

 

          19

 

          20

 

          21

 

          22

 

          23

 

          24

 

          25


                                                                     31

 

           1             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Coleman, where are you?

 

           2             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on the minutes.  And

 

           3        Governor, I recognize you.

 

           4             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

           5             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, the

 

           6        minutes passes.

 

           7             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Item 2, shall I start this?

 

           8             CFO GALLAGHER:  Back to you.

 

           9             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Item 2.

 

          10             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Good morning, Governor,

 

          11        Treasurer, item 2, approval of fiscal sufficiency

 

          12        of an amount not exceeding $510 million, State of

 

          13        Florida, Department of Transportation Turnpike

 

          14        Revenue Refunding Bonds.

 

          15             It is recommended that the board approve

 

          16        the fiscal sufficiency.

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 2.  I recognize the

 

          18        Governor.

 

          19             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

          20             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, 2 passes.

 

          21             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Item 3.

 

          22             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Approval of fiscal

 

          23        sufficiency of an amount not exceeding 85 million,

 

          24        State of Florida, Department of Environmental

 

          25        Protection, Save our Coast Refunding Revenue


                                                                     32

 

           1        Bonds.  It's recommended the Board approve the

 

           2        fiscal sufficiency.

 

           3             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 3.  Recognize the

 

           4        Governor's second.

 

           5             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

           6             CFO GALLAGHER:  Passes without objection.

 

           7             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Go ahead.

 

           8             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Item 4, approval of fiscal

 

           9        sufficiency of an amount exceeding 58 million,

 

          10        State of Florida, Florida Education System,

 

          11        University System Improvement Revenue Refunding

 

          12        Bonds.  It is recommended the board the approve

 

          13        fiscal sufficiency.

 

          14             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 4.  Recognize the

 

          15        Governor.

 

          16             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  Item 4 passes without

 

          18        objection.

 

          19             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Item 5, approval of fiscal

 

          20        determination of an amount not exceeding $9

 

          21        million 500,000, Florida Housing Finance

 

          22        Corporation Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bonds,

 

          23        Andrews Place Apartments.  It is recommended the

 

          24        Board approve the fiscal sufficiency.

 

          25             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 5.  Recognize the


                                                                     33

 

           1        Governor.

 

           2             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

           3             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, 5 passes.

 

           4             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Item 6, approval of fiscal

 

           5        determination of amount not exceeding 9 million

 

           6        tax exempt Florida Housing Finance Corporation

 

           7        Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Hunters Run

 

           8        Phase II Apartments.  It is recommended the board

 

           9        approve the determination.

 

          10             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 6.  Recognize the

 

          11        Governor.

 

          12             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

          13             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, item 6

 

          14        passes.

 

          15             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Item 7, approval of fiscal

 

          16        determination of an amount not exceeding

 

          17        $7,560,000 tax exempt Florida Housing Finance

 

          18        Corporation, Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bonds,

 

          19        Heather Glenn Apartments.  It's recommended the

 

          20        board approve the fiscal determination.

 

          21             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 7.

 

          22             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

          23             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, 7 passes.

 

          24             GOVERNOR BUSH:  You have done well.

 

          25             MR. STAPANOVICH:  The final item on the


                                                                     34

 

           1        agenda is the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund,

 

           2        proposed changes to the total fund investment

 

           3        policy.

 

           4             In your agenda you have some backup

 

           5        materials; specifically you have a memorandum

 

           6        from me dated 2-13-03; you have slide

 

           7        presentations illustrating the Lawton Chiles

 

           8        Endowment Developments to date and key points

 

           9        from Dr. Milevsky, the principal consultant on

 

          10        this project, and authority and annuity

 

          11        structures and investments; his vitae is

 

          12        enclosed as well.

 

          13             You also have the consulting report from

 

          14        Dr. Milevsky, and the final document you have

 

          15        is the proposed revisions to the Lawton Chiles

 

          16        Endowment Fund which will require some action

 

          17        today.

 

          18             Briefly, the process has been a

 

          19        three-month process that began in October and

 

          20        Dr. Milevsky's work on this study was augmented

 

          21        by staff.  Also it was reviewed by our general

 

          22        consultant, Ennis-Knupp and Associates.  It was

 

          23        reviewed by our investment consultant, Callen

 

          24        and Associates, and the study recommendations

 

          25        were presented to the IEC during a one-day


                                                                     35

 

           1        workshop in December.

 

           2             Staff's recommendation to change the

 

           3        investment plan in order to preserve capital

 

           4        through revised payout structure was

 

           5        unanimously supported by the Investment

 

           6        Advisory Council.

 

           7             I have recently met with staff directors

 

           8        of Appropriations in both the Senate and the

 

           9        House to keep them informed on proposed

 

          10        changes.

 

          11             Therefore, I am pleased with the expected

 

          12        lower payouts in this proposal but certainly

 

          13        understand the significance of the capital

 

          14        preservation if this is to continue to be a

 

          15        viable fund over the very long-term.

 

          16             Some background on the fund is, briefly,

 

          17        it was created in 1999.  The statute specified

 

          18        that the fund was to receive $1.7 billion in

 

          19        contributions.

 

          20             If you look at my memo, table 1, page 2,

 

          21        you will see a contribution schedule that

 

         22        1.1 billion was received in 99-01, 200 million

 

          23        in 00-01, and 200 million thereafter, and we

 

          24        just received the last tranche in January.

 

          25             Unfortunately, equity markets peaked a


                                                                     36

 

           1        little over six months after the fund was

 

           2        established.

 

           3             And if you look at table 3 on page 4 of

 

           4        the memorandum -- and I won't go through it

 

           5        line-by-line, but I will give you some idea of

 

           6        the investment returns over that period.  Had

 

           7        the fund maintained his investment objective

 

           8        over that period of time, it would be worth

 

           9        1.8 billion today, and it's worth 1.4 billion.

 

          10             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 8.

 

          11             GOVERNOR BUSH:  -- to put it in cash.

 

          12             MR. STAPANOVICH:  Then you wouldn't have 

 

          13        much in the way of payouts, and I think the

 

          14        legislature would certainly have a problem with that

 

          15       one and a half percent yield.

 

          16             GOVERNOR BUSH:  I understand, I am joking.

 

          17             CFO GALLAGHER:  Motion on 8.  Recognize the

 

          18        Governor.

 

          19             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Second.

 

          20             CFO GALLAGHER:  Without objection, 8 passes.

 

          21        Thank you, Coleman.

 

          22             GOVERNOR BUSH:  Thank you, Coleman.

 

          23             (The proceedings concluded at 10:04 a.m.)

 

          24

 

          25


                                                                     37

 

           1

 

           2                 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER

 

           3

 

           4

 

           5

 

           6   STATE OF FLORIDA         )

 

           7   COUNTY OF LEON           )

 

           8

 

           9             I, SANDRA L. NARGIZ, RMR, CRR, certify that I

 

          10   was authorized to and did stenographically report the

 

          11   proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true

 

          12   and complete record of my stenographic notes.

 

          13             I further certify that I am not a relative,

 

          14   employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties,

 

          15   nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties'

 

          16   attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I

 

          17   financially interested in the action.

 

          18             WITNESS my hand and official seal this 4th

 

          19   day of March, 2003.

 

          20

 

          21

 

          22                       ______________________________

 

          23                       SANDRA L. NARGIZ, RMR, CRR

                                   100 SALEM COURT

          24                       TALLAHASSEE, FL  32301

                                   850-878-2221

          25