Prescribed guidelines for awarding 1 percent merit pay increases to Hillsborough County executives were not followed when County Administrator Pat Bean gave the raise to herself in 2007. ...more

October 28, 2009

The state Commission on Ethics will officially investigate the actions of Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean and County Attorney Renee Lee regarding 1 percent raises they got in 2007. ...more

October 24, 2009

The phrase, "stepping out" has numerous connotations and residents at Freedom Plaza are exploring several new ones this month. ...more

February 25, 2009

Highlands County's first written policy on employee cell phone use, adopted Tuesday by the county commissioners, is designed to provide better oversight and could lead to cost reductions. ...more

December 12, 2008

The cost of providing cell phones to about 150 of the Highlands County commissioners' 400 employees might be reduced under the first ever written cell phone policy, which is under review now by the county commissioners. ...more

October 28, 2008

County Administrator David Hamilton is a skilled leader who has steered county government toward a new level of efficiency in half a year, according to county commissioners. ...more

September 12, 2008

Saying Monday afternoon Plant City expects a "direct hit" from Fay, Mayor Rick Lott announced all municipal departments are preparing to deal with anticipated 60 mph winds and the storm's aftermath. City hall and all municipal offices will be closed Tuesday, Lott said. ...more

August 18, 2008

SEBRING — The first chop of Highlands County's budget-cutting ax fell Thursday. It fell on the proverbial neck of Highlands County Sports Complex manager Rocky Ellingsworth. He will not have a job with the county effective Oct. 1. That's the day that the county's new fiscal year and new budget begin. Ellingsworth's job is proposed to be eliminated in preliminary planning for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Ellingsworth said he does not want to comment publicly yet about this move, which was announced late Thursday afternoon during the second of three successive daylong county commission budget workshops. ...more

May 30, 2008

During the tumultuous twin budget hearings held last September, hundreds of residents raised the battle cry: Lower taxes and stop government spending. ...more

November 27, 2007