Seth Johnson
The state of Florida has asked CareerSource of North Central Florida to combine with CareerSource Florida Crown, hoping to streamline the services while increasing consistency and coordination.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a draft government structure created by county staff that would manage the new region, but commissioners doubted whether the other five counties would agree to the plan.
Alachua County currently operates CareerSource of North Central Florida, Region 9, with Bradford County. The two counties have an interlocal agreement, but Alachua County has 75% of the voting power.
The state wants Alachua and Bradford counties to combine with Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union counties—CareerSource Florida Crown or District 7. The state has also asked for six other consolidations or rearrangements across Florida.
Tommy Crosby, assistant county manager, said he doesn’t want the other counties to view the state’s decision as a takeover.
“Alachua County did not ask for this at all,” Crosby said. “We are strictly trying to comply and work with the state with what they asked.”
Crosby said county staff tried to balance giving the state and other counties a fair option for consolidation while also protecting Alachua County’s interests and managing potential costs.
The draft government structure would create a Local Workforce Development Board to control the new CareerSource region. The board would include a voting member from each county—either the board chair or a commissioner designee. But Alachua County’s board member would get 50% of the vote.
The BOCC decided to switch the language so that Alachua County has two seats on the board but with 25% of the vote each. If one of the two Alachua County members is unavailable at the meeting, their voting power would be passed to the remaining member or to an interim replacement from the BOCC.
Crosby said Alachua County essentially has complete veto power.
“We can stop bad things from happening,” Crosby said. “We can’t necessarily make things happen alone. We have to get buy-in from one of the rural counties, but at least we can stop things from happening that we see as detrimental to the workforce.”
Alachua County contains 66% of the population for the six-county area, and in the plan, Alachua County would take on 66% of the exposure while having 50% of the voting power.
Commissioner Anna Prizzia said she didn’t agree with how county staff had set up the structure. She pointed out that counties with only 4% of the population would get 10% of the voting power while keeping a smaller share of the exposure.
“I’m glad we have veto power, but I just don’t think this is a good deal,” Prizzia said. “I don’t think it’s a good deal for Alachua County, I don’t think it’s a good deal for Columbia County, and I honestly don’t know why we’re even having this conversation right now.”
The BOCC had staff amend the draft to reduce Alachua County’s exposure to the same as its voting power—50%. The other five counties would then have 10% voting power and 10% exposure.
Commissioner Ken Cornell said he told the four counties not partnered with Alachua County to visit Bradford County and see how the relationship has worked. Cornell said that Bradford County is receiving more resources than if it weren’t partnered with Alachua County—even if it lacks substantial voting power.
All five counties besides Alachua County are fiscally constrained, according to the state. Staff included protections in the draft so that any current District 7 liabilities wouldn’t become an Alachua County issue if the counties merge.
Crosby said Alachua and Bradford counties had only recently pulled its CareerSource region into a positive fiscal direction following issues five years ago. He said the county doesn’t want to tackle the fiscal issues currently in District 7.
Cornell said the state might need to get involved to settle the issue.
“I don’t think they’re going to agree to it,” Cornell said of the other counties. “I think this is wrought with failure from what I’ve heard from the [elected officials]. Maybe I’m wrong, and I think the state is going to have to get involved on that side.”
According to backup documents, the state has asked that significant action be taken by the end of June for the new governance and operational transitions.
Crosby said he thinks the agreement will be tough to broker, especially in Columbia County based on a meeting he watched.
“Thank you for continuing to step us forward and good luck with those negotiations,” Cornell said.