Hi, kids!
It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:
Volusia County District Schools: Weaponizing Victimhood to Silence Dissent
“No, no, said the Queen. Sentence first, verdict afterward!”
–Lewis Caroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
For months, teachers, staff members, parents, citizen activists, and others who care about the education of our children (and the ongoing waste of our tax dollars) have warned about the fate that awaits anyone who refuses to go along and get along with Volusia County School Superintendent Carmen Balgobin’s pathological push to spin a false narrative touting inflated “school grades,” rewarding substandard academic performance, and the campaign of toxic optimism that drives it.
Now it appears this obligatory obedience is being enforced through the wholesale destruction of an elected school board member’s personal and professional reputation…
Earlier this year, the Balgobin administration was called out by School Board District 4 representative Donna Brosemer for demanding public employees sign embarrassingly stupid non-disclosure agreements, a secrecy pledge preventing them from discussing budget data and other district financial information specifically open to review by public records statutes.
It also exposed the abject incompetence of the joint district/board legal apparatus…
The district’s weird secrecy policy resulted in a righteous rebuke by annoyed state legislators during passage of Florida’s first School Board Member Bill of Rights, a law which ultimately leveled the balance of power between our elected oversight and appointed district administrators throughout the state.
In reality, the catalyst for the much-needed legislation was the raging dysfunction in Volusia County that saw elected board members paying for public records and kowtowing to the administration for critical budget information. The measure was championed by Donna Brosemer and Senator Tom Leek over the vehement opposition of the Balgobin administration and her obsequious minions on the School Board.
In fulfilling her statutory oversight obligation, Ms. Brosemer publicly questioned how graduation rates are calculated, wrote pointed editorials that ruffled the right feathers, exposed claims of retaliation, and spoke out about recurrent payroll problems, internal/external communications issues, employee morale, questionable land deals, etc.
During a July 2026 School Board meeting, Brosemer threw back the curtain and revealed that the district has become akin to a mafia “protection racket,” exposing an organized intimidation campaign that uses both district employees and outside influencers to silence dissent.
That same month, the district’s Communications apparatus announced it would be shutting down public comments on public social media sites in a clear attempt to suppress public criticism.
At that time, Ms. Brosemer – realizing the move represented a full-frontal assault on first amendment protections – voiced her opinion saying, “This 4th of July … we celebrate independence by ending free speech in our public schools.”
Then, in a cryptic agenda item earlier this month, the Volusia County School Board voted unanimously to approve an outside investigation by a St. Petersburg law firm, apparently into veiled allegations brought by the district’s wholly unqualified Chief Communications Officer Mike Micallef claiming a social media post by Ms. Brosemer amounts to an “ethical” violation.
The details?
Your guess is as good as mine – or Ms. Brosemer’s.
The district is now claiming a statutory exemption, apparently to protect this bogus finger pointing by a vindictive bureaucrat trying to score Brownie points, from public disclosure…
The only insight came from the Machiavellian District 2 member Krista Goodrich, who, after slandering Ms. Brosemer in an open meeting by stating she was the subject of an “ethics complaint” (insinuating a public corruption allegation to the Florida Ethics Commission), attempted to clean herself up by rephrasing the nature of the complaint and claiming she called for the open-ended outside investigation to ensure impartiality.
These manipulative shills have no shame…
According to an approved agreement with Tampa-based Brown Law & Consulting, the firm will receive $300 an hour for attorney time, $200 an hour for a senior human resources consultant, and $90 an hour for paralegal services, to include reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses.
Apparently, the cost of this tag-team political mauling isn’t a consideration, so there is no cap on expenses noted in the agreement…
During the discussion, VCS staff attorney Heidi Crimins could not provide an estimate of how long the investigation will take (?) – or how much this retaliatory charade will ultimately cost those of us who pay the bills.
For her part, Goodrich – a shameless self-promoter who initiated this vindictive witch hunt (no doubt at the insistence of influential outsiders who work her like a cheap sock puppet) – claims she is “devastated” that she had to put Volusia County taxpayers on the hook…
Bullshit.
During the discussion, Ms. Brosemer questioned the ultimate cost of the investigation, citing the fact “It doesn’t reference a statute, a rule, or policy or anything that is being evaluated, and considering the fact that board members are elected officials, there are varying levels of authority. So, what is the target here?”
I think the true target – and intent – of this conniving political persecution is now self-evident…
The cornerstone of American jurisprudence is the fundamental right to due process. That legal principal is rooted in the United States Constitution and guarantees proper notice, an explanation of charges, the opportunity to respond, and the right to confront one’s accuser.
It also guarantees the right to be free from arbitrary or unreasonable government power – such as when a school board publicly exposes unsubstantiated “ethics” charges against a member to slander and defame – as a duplicitous means of influencing the official acts of an elected official.
In this case, it appears everyone except Donna Brosemer has been made aware that she is now accused of an “ethical” violation – one serious enough to warrant thousands-of-dollars in public funds to investigate – her name sullied and her reputation tarnished before the “investigation” even begins…
The crime?
Apparently, Ms. Brosemer exercised her first amendment right to voice an opinion on the everyman’s soapbox of social media.
What is the ‘investigator’ going to ask, “Point on the doll where Ms. Brosmer’s “meme” hurt you?”
Seriously. At $300 an hour, I’m asking…
My hope is when this diversionary (and incredibly expensive) hoax is exposed, Ms. Brosemer files suit against everyone involved for slander, libel, and false statement of facts by district officials and board members who defamed her character in the performance of her lawful oversight duties.
In my view, it is time for Senator Tom Leek and his fellow members of the Senate Committee on Education PreK-12 and the Florida Department of Education to protect those intrepid public servants who face reputational harm for calling attention to the abuse, obstruction, and dysfunction in Queen Balgobin’s Ivory Tower of Power and have those responsible removed from office.
This crybaby distraction and organized bullying should not stand.
Quote of the Week
“I just think for a lot of reasons we have to stop this. We just have to stop it. Put a spike in it,” County Commissioner Greg Hansen said to applause.
The administration of Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson kept the garbage dump proposal secret until 24 hours before it went before the PZA. It disclosed the proposal after Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri raised alarms at a public meeting over the secrecy, and FlaglerLive reported on Jackson’s secrecy, which in this case appeared broader than allowed by law: land use decisions are not covered by the state law that provides for confidentiality of certain aspects of economic development projects.
Nevertheless, county government had been aware of the proposal long before it was disclosed. “There were some details of the project that were known to staff,” Acting County Administrator Adam Mengel said, “but were not widely spread throughout the organization. And when we found out the full details the day before, I don’t think it gave us a real good opportunity for us to be able to come up with a good cogent response.”
“Had we known as a board, I think the board would have been driving the same direction we’re driving today,” County Commission Chair Leann Pennington said.”
–FlaglerLive.com, as excerpted from the article “County Joins Mounting Challenges Against Bunnell Board’s Approval of 610-Acre Garbage Dump,” Monday, September 14, 2026
In my experience, secrecy has no place in local government.
When operating in the sunshine, transparency is incompatible with keeping public affairs secret from those who will be most affected. Outside of active law enforcement investigations that require confidentiality, public policy and economic development discussions should be conducted in an open, honest, and fair manner that allows citizens to participate in the decision-making process.
In my view, when elected and appointed officials, as recipients of public funds, abrogate their duty to those they serve by pledging secrecy to a private for-profit interest – keeping property owners, residents, and commercial interests in effective darkness until the last minute – they cross a distinct ethical boundary.
In keeping with his well-earned ‘secret squirrel’ persona, last week, Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson told some members of the Bunnell City Commission that he was advancing his retirement timeline, while keeping others in the dark.
After developing a reputation for playing things close to the vest when it comes to controversial development projects, Jackson announced through the grapevine that he will be departing in June 2027.
Smart move…
Considering that Mr. Jackson has stirred up a hornet’s nest in the wake of the Bunnell Planning and Zoning Board’s rushed (and final) approval of a 610-acre landfill in the heart of Flagler County’s historic agricultural area, he will be lucky to squeak out another nine-months in the catbird seat.
In the view of many, the manner and means by which Mr. Jackson orchestrated a secretive effort to keep the solid waste management facility under wraps – totally devoid of citizen input – until one day before the city’s planning board convened, is counter to the spirit of the public planning process.
For reasons they claim were purely economic, the planning board ignored the potential environmental impacts to surrounding farms and landowners, to include water contamination, the safety of farm products, wildlife, property values, offensive odors, hazardous runoff, and the resulting quality of life issues.
In my view, these backroom machinations are inherently unfair, especially when statutory protections are misused to keep citizens in the dark this deep into the planning process.
Now, Flagler County and others affected by Jackson’s bureaucratic subterfuge are pushing back.
According to FlaglerLive.com, “Flagler County government will take legal steps that could culminate in a lawsuit to challenge Bunnell government’s approval of a 610-acre garbage dump off of State Road 100. The County Commission may not be alone in ultimately suing the city.
With unanimity and the backing of numerous members of the public, the County Commission at a workshop this afternoon directed its legal office to begin the process with an appeal of the decision to the Bunnell City Commission.”
Good for them. This ambush impacts our entire region.
I’ve said this before, but something stinks in Bunnell…
In my view, public officials should not be involved in shady deals that shield potentially harmful projects from those whose lives and livelihoods will be most affected by decisions made in the dark.
In my view, Bunnell’s secretive City Manager Alvin Jackson should be on his way, sooner rather than later…
And Another Thing!
Floridians can’t say they haven’t been warned…
Last week, diverse groups of bipartisan public safety professionals, environmentalists, non-profits, essential service providers, and concerned citizens cautioned voters on the potential effects of Amendment 3’s property tax shift on the viability of our hometowns and quality of life.
“Municipalities, hospitals, non-profits spent the summer telling voters that Amendment 3, which drastically reengineers property taxes in Florida, would impact services they rely upon.
Now law enforcement and firefighter associations have dropped a stunning rebuke, saying if the November ballot initiative passes, Florida residents can expect protection to crater.
This means we are going to have less deputies, slower 911 response, and ultimately more crime,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and current president of the Florida Sheriffs Association said at an Orlando news conference Sept. 15.”
–Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, as quoted by USA Today Network, “Florida sheriffs launch ad blitz against Amendment 3,” Thursday, September 17, 2026
“Do you think the governor and a crew of professional politicians, whose loyalty is directly aligned with their juiciest campaign contributions, will care about Volusia County when larger, richer, and more influential places compete for state dollars?
This is a slow-rolling disaster and a power grab! Don’t be fooled by loud advertising. The folks behind this do not have your best interest at heart. Keep local control over our budgets and our lives. Vote “no” on Amendment 3!”
–DeLand resident Lane Jones, September 15, 2026
“The consequences of this amendment will be devastating as property taxes are a critical source of local revenue that supports county and city parks, land preserves, and other public spaces, as well as public safety, schools, and hospitals.
If Amendment 3 passes, municipalities will no longer be able to fund stormwater management and runoff programs, flood mitigation, and fire prevention and abatement at the level they do now.”
–Sierra Club Florida, September 2026
“Amendment 3 Would Leave Florida Growing Without a Plan
Florida is growing every day. Without reliable local funding, communities face unchecked development, more traffic, delayed infrastructure, crowded parks, stormwater challenges and fewer safeguards for the places people call home.
Know What’s Really at Stake. Vote No on Amendment 3.”
–Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, September 2026
“So vote ‘No on 3’ now, and tell your legislators: ‘Get to work. I want tax relief, and I want my public safety protected. And by the way, I want my stormwater ditches clean, I want my mosquito control, I want my parks, I want my libraries,’” he said, standing in front of a sign reading ‘Amendment 3 is an Emergency.’ “You can have it all with responsible work by your legislators, but not with Amendment 3.”
–Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, September 17, 2026
“The witless legislators who voted to put Amendment 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot should pray that the voters have better sense than they did. If it passes, counties and cities will be forced to beg Tallahassee to pay for the police, firefighters and free libraries that Amendment 3 would sacrifice.
The Legislature did nothing to determine what Amendment 3 would cost or how to make up for it. It all happened in less than three days with a shameful lack of policy discussion.”
–South Florida Sun Sentinel, as excerpted from the editorial “No, no, no on awful Amendment 3,” Saturday, September 19, 2026
It doesn’t stop there.
According to a recent study by Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, local governments around the state would lose $4.9 billion the first-year Amendment 3 it goes into effect and $5.7 billion the next year.
Volusia County stands to lose $160.7 million the first year and $273.7 million in 2028. Flagler County will lose $49.5 million the first year and $88.3 million the second.
In a recent essay in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, the great editorialist Mark Lane explained those potential losses represent “A big hole. A hole that would be partly plugged with new and creative fees, a greater dependence on state government funding, service cutbacks, and deferred maintenance of roads, parks and facilities. And of course layoffs, program cuts and the occasional library closure.
It’s funny how the people who are most critical of local government are also the people who argue that those same governments will meet this fiscal challenge by cutting unnecessary programs and prudently pruning unneeded expenses. Nobody will feel a thing!”
The fact is nobody – to include those feckless state legislators who claim Gov. Ron DeSantis strongarmed them into putting Amendment 3 on the ballot by holding the budget hostage – have a clue how this Tallahassee power grab will affect our hometowns.
Anyone who tells you they know the ramifications – like the real estate industry who foresees a hike in home prices and influential developers who want to eliminate local land use regulations in favor consolidated central governments they can more easily control – is simply spewing bullshit…
One thing is certain, if Amendment 3 passes it will devastate your local government’s ability to provide essential services such as law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, utilities, flood control, right-of-way maintenance, transportation infrastructure, special events, etc., during this period of explosive growth.
According to Florida TaxWatch, “Because property taxes are one of the primary revenue sources supporting local government operations, any significant reductions in property tax collections could require changes to county budgets, service levels, taxes, fees, or alternative revenue sources. As a result, local governments would have to decide whether to cut funding for these services or raise revenue by other means. The most likely scenario is a combination of significant service level reductions and/or tax and fee increases.”
In recent weeks, I’ve seen various reasons ranging from the reasonable to ridiculous explaining why some claim they will vote to approve Amendment 3.
They include a few who want to punish law enforcement for individual grievances, some who say they want to see Republicans actually “defund the police,” others who simply hate government at all levels, and an uninformed few who want to starve public school districts (Amendment 3 doesn’t affect school funding) or suggest a two-cent increase in sales tax will solve all our problems.
I’ve also listened to the rational arguments from concerned homeowners who feel their property taxes are too high, and government needs better fiscal stewardship (I agree).
I have also heard from residents still on the fence who worry about access to emergency medical services, funding for their local police and fire departments, begging Tallahassee for money, libraries, youth programs, senior centers, summer camps, fireworks, parades, festivals, and other events that give a civic identity and help make a community home.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
In my view, Florida taxpayers deserve responsible property tax and spending reform – not this ham-handed shim-sham that shifts the burden to creative revenue sources that could adversely impact those who can least afford it while transferring total control to Tallahassee…
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, former Republican Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp explained last month:
“Moreover, Florida TaxWatch and Sachs Media this month conducted a statewide poll and tested that very message. After learning that a constitutionally required commission convenes in 2027 and could propose property tax reforms as early as 2028, about one in three initial ‘yes’ voters moved off a firm ‘yes’ into a ‘wait’ posture. If that argument holds with voters on Election Day, then topline approval would drop to 42 percent; well short of the 60 percent required for passage.”
When educated voters understand what Amendment 3’s Tallahassee power grab will do to our quality of life during this period of explosive growth they want nothing to do with it.
Ask yourself, when did those compromised shills in the Florida legislature who have repeatedly preempted local growth management regulations have my family’s – or our hometown’s – best interests at heart?
In my view, this rushed and ill-thought tax shift – gross political opportunism that favors influential developers and campaign contributors who seek to eliminate local growth management regulations at any cost – isn’t the way to affect responsible spending reforms or protect the interests of all Floridians.
Please vote “No” on Amendment 3.
That’s all for me. Have a great weekend, y’all!
