Commissioner Starkey NACO resolutions and updates
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Okay, I have some photos. Um I need my notes to remember what they were. Oh, okay, so NACO, New Orleans. Um we had uh a wonderful meeting in New Orleans. Um And I was able to pass Two uh three things out of my committee and I want to share them with you. Um One of them And my committee again is Community Economic Development and Workforce, of which sadly I am now the Chair. Um So
uh we talked here about the HUD Section Eight vouchers and how They are um going to people who do not live with the county, but they come here because they get on a list and they get to take one of our precious housing vouchers. So Um this passed unanimously out of my committee that um we would Uh suggest that HUD change the language to reflect that eighty percent of the vouchers go to citizens currently living in
the county. And um I I did accept a friendly amendment that Or citizens who have a job in the county? And they're living in another county, it's always better to live near where you work. um and that the remaining twenty percent um first go to someone who has family in the county. or has a job pending in the county. And and then after that, then you can import from around the country. But first take care of your local people. And it uh people
were are still shocked to know that this is how that program is operating, so Um this did pass unanimously. I have I have some copies of these. This one for you. And that way you can you can speak out there. Um pass those down. The next one w came to me from our friends from the White House in the Trump's first uh administration. Um somewhere I put it in here. And that was to um Change the um The
uh The way capital gains is um administered when you sell your house. So right now, and this was done in 1992, when you sell your house, Uh If you're a single filer, You have to pay capital gains, uh you get to exclude $250,000 of your capital gains. Um And uh double filer it's half a million dollars and prices of values have gone up tremendously since nineteen ninety two. And if you're
an older person and your whole net worth is tied up in your house and you wanna sell your house, buy another house, but Go traveling or whatever with the money that you've earned and and your appreciation. You can't because you gotta give it to the government. So The the proposal is to double that to 500,000 for single filer and 1 million for joint filers. Um at the same time the national or whatever the the mayor's association is called, I don't really know. Um They passed it and I have the National
Home Builders Association working on passing this as part of their resolution package and the National Realtors Association. And I've spoken to both um congressmen, Bill Arakas and Lun Anna Paulina Luna. I don't I never know how to say her name. Um And they are both wanting to help on this as well. And the same on the other one. The last one came as a little surprise. It's not something I've been able to get out of my committee. Um But um this deals with the Davis Bacon Act that we've
all been upset about. Um and a and a commissioner came in from Minnesota. Who said We have a short construction window in Minnesota. We have from May to October, and we had a very large federal grant. to build some kind of road or bridge or something. And they almost lost it because of Baby's Bacon because they couldn't find anyone to do it. And so um they have suggested That you um adopt so that counties can adopt your own policies To um do
these federal contracts. And this unanimously out of my idea. And um he didn't say the word Aspacon and a normal, very very aggressive union guy. Was not there this time. I don't know where he was. So um we were decided this case so this passed out of my committee. It also passed other com sorry, some other committees as that um As did that uh capital gains one. So uh that's even stronger when you've got more coming out.
Mat matter of fact, for the record, Madam in my committee we've passed the transportation committee first now.
Oh, is that that one on the federal contracts? Okay, yeah. Yeah. I need to get that guy's name. I went out and like hugged it.
You did a great job getting that thing spearheaded
too,
because it's spread out not only just with your committee but with what you guys have done, it's spread out with everybody. So thank you.
All right. I also went to the Spear Oh uh I need to say this. I as I told you I didn't apply to be chair but they called me and asked me Yeah. And I said I do it for one year. Um and then I'll think about it for the second year. But I d I just saw just our county just sent out a PIO thing and I guess I'm vice chair of luck. I did not apply for that either. Um Not sure I I wonder if you can not accept something. I don't need more on my plate. Luck is the large urban county caucus, so it's the big guys at NACO.
Um I went to the Spiro's Proton Therapy ribbon cutting um That that machine is amazing. Um and it was a a really good turnout. We're just so excited to have Moffitt here and to partner with them. The county did a back to school bash at Ben Harrell Rec Center. It was a huge success. They had over 175 families come out. to receive school supplies, enjoy the games and activities. Um and I I have a
letter from Pasco Hope here I wanna read to you. That is our Homeless shelter in my district. I hope you guys can get one in yours. Um his name is Mark. Well maybe I shouldn't say his name. I won't read his name. But he said to staff of Pasco Hope, as I prepare to leave Pasco Hope and move into my own apartment, and want to express my sincere gratitude for the kindness and stability You provided during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. After losing my housing, I
found myself living in my car at sixty seven years old. doing everything I could to find work and rebuild. It was a humbling experience, but when Pasco Hope opened its doors to me You gave me something I needed more than anything else, a safe place where I could rest, care for my health, organize my life, and begin moving forward again. What you gave me was more than shelter. You gave me the opportunity to restore my independence and my confidence. During my time here, my health improved, my finances became stronger, and I was able to prepare for the next chapter of my life. Soon I
will once again have a home of my own, and I will always remember that Pasco Hope helped make that possible. Thank you for believing that every person deserves the chance to stand back up. Your work changes lives and I'm grateful to be one of those lives. I leave with appreciation, renewed hope, and the determination to continue building a good life. With heartfelt thanks. And then our client. Isn't that a little bit more? Yeah, so I wanted to share that with you. And I think that's it for me. Oh and I did tour Marjorie's Hope's development project as well.