To the Editor:
The Community Development District 7 supervisors have proposed a 530 percent budget increase for legal fees.
The proposed budget increase is for the upcoming fiscal year 2021-22. Fiscal year 2020-21 budget listed $10,000 for legal fees. FEMA reimbursed CDD 7 $63,000 for Hurricane Irma damages that has now been diverted to budget line item #313 (Legal Fees). The cost items submitted by CDD 7 to FEMA did not list legitimate legal fees for reimbursement.
The CDD 7 supervisors removed the previous attorney and advertised a RFP (Request for Proposal) for a replacement. Hopping, Green and Sams (HGS) was the only law firm within 300 miles to respond. HGS is located in Tallahassee. The supervisors accepted HGS’s original proposal of $100,000.
CDD 7 supervisors need to explain going forward what is justification of the 530 percent increase of legal fees.
The public hearing for beginning discussions on fiscal year budget 2021-22 is set for 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 at Savannah Center.
Gilbert Windsor
Village of Bonita