Government Digest

Sharpe: more fees, more growth
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who supported raising impact fees for schools, has higher fees on his mind. In answer to a question at the Aug. 21 Tiger Bay Club of Tampa meeting about fees versus increasing the property tax rate, Sharpe says, “The Legislature needs to look at how we assess property,” then adding, “At some point you have to raise your fees.” Earlier, Sharpe, who holds the District 7 at-large seat, told the 70 or so in attendance that he wants more growth, saying, “We've got to bring it in.”

Lawmakers get plum chairs
TALLAHASSEE — Gulf Coast legislators were rewarded with key committee and council assignments when House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, named committee and council chairs and restructured the organizational setup of councils and committees this past week.

In doing so, the Speaker left four committees vacant to better align itself with the Senate structure, and merged others. Bills that would have been sent to these committees will be referred to similarly charged appropriations or policy committees.