Pensacola Times

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Escambia Children's Trust. Applications are available online at MyEscambia.com or in person at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, located at 221 Palafox Place, 4th floor. The application consists of several parts: an Escambia Children's Trust application, a questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments and an optional resume. Both applications must be completed and submitted together to be considered for an appointment. The deadline to apply is Dec. 29, 2022, by 5 p.m. CST.
Resumes and both applications may also be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or by mail to:

Jose Gochez, Program Coordinator

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners

P.O. Box 1591

Pensacola, FL 32502

On Nov. 3, 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Escambia Children's Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Escambia Children's Trust will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.

The ECT is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The ECT, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance  with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the ECT must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.

To be considered for the ECT, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24-month period and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the county’s population.

The Board of County Commissioners will nominate three applicants to be submitted to the Governor for review and potential appointment. Following the Board’s selection, the County Administrator will then send a letter to the Governor and the Governor’s Appointments Office with the list of three nominees to be considered for appointment to the ECT. All of candidates will be notified of their nomination. In accordance with Florida Statutes, the Governor then has 45 days to make a selection or request a new list of candidates.

Per Section 125.901, Florida Statutes, the Escambia Children's Trust shall consist of 10 members, including:

•    The superintendent of schools;

•    A School Board member as appointed by the School Board;

•    The Department of Children and Families District Administrator, or his or her designee;

•    A judge assigned to juvenile cases as appointed by the Chief Judge;

•    A County Commissioner as appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; and

•    Five members appointed by the Governor from candidates nominated by the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four-year term.

Visit EscambiaChildrensTrust.org for more information about the Escambia Children's Trust and how to donate to the cause.

Original source can be found here.