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Florida’s 67 elections supervisors are continuing to talk with Homeland Security and the FBI over attempts to hack the voter database in some counties during the 2016 election, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Governor Rick Scott is now proposing money for more security at both the state and local level.

As many as a dozen of Florida’s 67 elections supervisors got suspicious emails last summer and fall that could have lead to a breach of the voters database. None were successful says Ron Labasky, the attorney for the Supervisors.

“Whatever the purpose of that, we don’t really know” says Labasky.

Taylor County Supervisor Dana Southerland was on the warning call with the FBI and others last year. She is the Supervisors Association President.

“Did they tell you you were in danger of being hacked?” We asked.

I don’t know that they used those words so to speak, but I think anytime you are dealing with electronics and computers, everybody is prone to something happening” says Southerland.

Governor Rick Scott is asking for a half million dollars to add five people at the state level. In an email, a spokesman for the Secretary of State told us: The Cybersecurity Unit will bolster current efforts and focus solely on cybersecurity for all of the department’s mission critical system

Another 1 point nine million would go to local supervisors.

If the money were divided equally, it wold be just over twenty eight thousand dollars a county. that wold go a lot further in a small county than a big one.”

“We’re sorta going through a number of protocols” says Labasky “talking to the state, Department of State, and some of the Federal people who brought information forward to find out what is needed.”

Final budget decisions are up to lawmakers, who could decide that supervisors need even more to make sure public confidence in elections isn’t eroded.

In addition to cyber security money, the Governor is also asking for $800,000 to assist individuals with disabilities and more than $445,000 for election fraud prevention.

The death two weeks ago today, an FSU fraternity pledge after a night of drinking at an off campus homeport a dampen today;’s homecoming parade. Following the death,  FSU President John Thrasher banned alcohol at all school events and banned greeks from taking part in campus activities. Now as mike Vasilinda tells us, the President is taking the alcohol ban on e step further.

Hundreds, not the usual thousands, lined the route for FSU’s homecoming parade. Alumna Nancy Bracewell as disappointed but not surprised,

“What do yo think of the turnout” we asked.

“It’s not good at all. It’s terrible actually” Bracewell responded.

Members of this fraternity said they would have had a float if they had not been banned from all activity following the death of a 20 Pi kappa Phi pledge two weeks ago. The few people watching from the Pi kappa house scattered when they saw our camera.After banning alcohol at all student activities, FSU President John Thrasher has now banned alcohol from the President Box for homecoming and the following home game,

“I mean, I think it would be a little bit hypocritical for use to serve alcohol in our box and ask them not to do what they are doing” says the President.

On Thursday, the President eased restrictions against Greek organizations. He’s allowing them to meet, but only with an advisor.

Students for the most part were taking the ban on Greek involvement in stride,

We caught up with Joyce Chiang riding on a float.

“Homecoming is supposed to be a time when we all come together and celebrate the school year, but obviously, we can’t do that this year like we have. We have a sorority under us F 85 under us and they can’t practice with the band homecoming, so it’s a little upsetting, but hopefully everything will be better” Chiang told us.

2017 will likely be a homecoming to remember, but for all the wrong reasons.

The President has not set a timetable for when Greek activity may resume. A vigil was held for 20 year old Andrew Coffey on Wednesday night.

All four announced democratic candidates today called on the chairman of their party to resign after six women came forward and said he leered at them and created a hostile environment by using a breast shaped exercise ball. The got they wish. Candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew gillum says it is for the best.

“If women have to fell like they have to go two by two  into their bosses office to avoid an environment of fear or intimidation, or inappropriateness, then something is clearly wrong and we have to change that dynamic, so the chairman stepping down was the right thing to do” says Gillum.

Bittel says he is working with others in the party to set an election for his successor.

If you pay more in property taxes this coming year, would you consider it a tax hike. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, it’s a battle state lawmakers are about to have, and depending how it turns out, it could cost you more.

Property values in some counties are up 9 percent this year. As a result, school districts will collect 569 million more from property owners

“That’s not a tax increase”  says Senate Budget Chair Rob Bradley.

The Governor, and lawmakers like Bradley who want the money to boost school spending say it’s not a tax increase, because the tax rate did not go up. Bradley uses the analogy of buying a two lawnmowers months apart.

“You will pay more taxes on the second lawnmower than the first lawnmower because the price has increased, but that’s not a tax increase. the tax rate is the same” says Bradley.

But Rep. Matt Caldwell, who chairs the House Governmental Accountability Committee calls the comparison Apples and Oranges.

“At the end of the day the taxpayers are paying more than they were last year” says Caldwell.

The issue is important because lawmakers, not local governments, set the required local effort, which is designed to equalize school funding across the state.

Lawmakers have actually reduced the required local effort over the last two years.

Last year the House drew a line in the sand. Rep. Paul Renner wants to keep it that way again this year.

“We certainly want to lower the tax burden on citizens this year, not increase it” Renner told us.

Rick Scott is siding with the Senate this year. The bulk of his proposed increase for public schools comes from higher local property values.

This year, Governor Rick Scott is seeking fewer tax cuts  and more spending ahead of what is expected to be a run for the U-S Senate.

We asled the Governor’s Office for a statement. Here’s what they sent:

Q: Why did local funds increase in the FEFP?

• The local millage tax rate will not increase and will remain at the Fiscal Year 2017-18 level of 4.308. This means there is no tax increase because the rate will not change.
• The amount of local funding provided in the FEFP calculation primarily increased due to a 6.15 percent, or $117.1 billion, rise in the school taxable value that was the result of an increase in the value of Florida property. When property values rise, it’s a good thing for Florida families.
• While Florida is currently experiencing increased local revenues because property values are rising, the state has also experienced significant reductions in local revenues when property values decline, as it faced during the national recession.

Q: Has state funding increased at a higher rate than local funding in the FEFP since Governor Scott has taken office?

• Yes. During Governor Scott’s administration, state funding for Florida’s K-12 public schools has increased by $3.2 billion or 36.7 percent, from a total amount of $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2011-12 to $11.9 billion in the 2018-19 Securing Florida’s Future budget. During this same time period, the local contribution to the FEFP has risen at a slower pace, increasing by $1.6 billion or 20.8 percent.

The House Select Committee on the Hurricane Irma response began delving into why its taking to long to remove tree limbs and other debris since the storm passed. Rep. Paul Renner says its important to know what went wrong before the next storm.

“We want to look and see what happened. you know, did people skirt their contractual obligations and what the remedy should be going forward for that. And how do we make sure in the next storm that we get debris picked up in the shortest time possible, Look at best practices” the Palm Coast representative told us.

In some counties, debris was taken to a central staging area quickly, where other contractors than permanently disposed of the debris.

50 or so Haitian refugees walked the hallways of the State Capitol today, they came to ask the estate to send a message to Congress Give Haitians in the US on temporary status, which is set to expire early next year, at least 18 months to make arrangements to go home. The Committee voted overwhelming for the resolution sponsored by State Senator Daphne Campbell.

“Everyone understands they re not asking to stay on temporary status all the time. Just give us the time to be ready, that’s all” says Campbell.

Q: Give enough time?” we asked.

“Yes, make decisions or be prepared. You know if I have to leave, I can sell my home, my business, to know where I am going to leave my children” says Campbell, who is of Haitian descent.

Some of the 60 thousand Haitians here have been in the US on temporary status since an earthquake rocked the island nation in 2010.

Florida lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to replace the statute of a Confederate General representing the state in the US Capitol with that of a civil rights icon and educator, As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the move is not with it’s critics.

In 2016 lawmakers voted to boot Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith from Statutory Hall in the US Capitol. Smith became one of two statues representing the state in 1922. The other is air conditioning inventor John Gorrie.

Months later, a special committee narrowed more than 130 recommendations down to three. Civil Rights Icon Mary McLeod Bethune was the top vote getter.

At the time, Daisy Grimes was a special assistant at Bethune Cookman University.

“She stood bold for what she believed in. And she believed in this country. She believed in the goodness of this country and what it could be” said Grimes.

Lawmakers dodged the change last session. Now it’s back.

Sen. Perry Thurston is the bill sponsor.

“Dr. Bethune served as the first African American woman to head a federal agency” he told fellow Senators.

Opponents, like Don Russ of Jacksonville, tried to convince budget writers that keeping Smith was a way to remember history.

“I got to tell ya, you need to reconsider what you are doing” Russ told Senators. He later stormed away from the podium after accusing Chair Rob Bradley on not listening and already having his mind made up.

Only Dennis Baxley voted no. His Great-Great-Great Grandfather was a poor farmer who fought for the south.

“I’m very concerned what this does to us as a culture, we go through cultural purging” said Baxley before the vote.

Supporters of Kirby Smith say if he is indeed removed from the nation’s Capitol, he ought to be brought home here to Tallahassee to the old Capitol.

David McCalliser of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Tampa wants Smith brought back to Florida.

“We need to turn this into a positive thing and respect our veterans.”

Who would pay to replace Smith, or bring him back to Florida, aren’t addressed in the legislation.

A 2016 estimate says it will cost $388,000 to replace the Kirby Smith statue,  which includes bringing Smith back to Florida.  The 2016 law replacing him suggested the money would have to be raised privately.