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Consumer Alert: Retirement Planning Tips

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Planning for something that seems far off in the future or feels unattainable, like retirement, may seem like a daunting task. According to the National Retirement Planning Coalition, only 22 percent of baby boomers believe that they are adequately preparing financially for retirement, and 58 percent of generation x-ers haven’t even tried to calculate how much they need for retirement. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation reminds Floridians that having a comprehensive retirement plan is key to a successful and stress-free retirement. Below are tips to get you started:

Think about your retirement goals. Do you plan to travel extensively, live in a different city or plan to retire at a certain age? Thinking about what you want out of retirement will help you better understand how much money you will need. 

Make a plan. After assessing your desired retirement goals and financial situation, create a savings strategy. Aim to increase your savings regularly, and periodically re-assess and potentially re-align your strategy as your goals, financial situation, and life changes. Online retirement calculators can be very helpful. Be sure to include healthcare costs in your retirement plan.

Protect yourself from fraud. Unfortunately, retirees are targets of scams. Know the red flags of common scams ensnaring retirees, like investment scams, reverse mortgage scams and identity theft. Be wary of unsolicited offers and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation offers Floridians a robust online Consumer Knowledge Center, where you can find more information on many financial topics, including tips on how to spot potential financial scams.

Commissioner Stewart Names Five 2018 School-Related Employee of the Year Finalists

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Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart announced the five 2018 School-Related Employee of the Year finalists. This award recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to students and families in their schools and districts. Each of the finalists will receive a $6,500 cash prize, and the statewide winner will receive $10,000 at the May 16 State Board of Education meeting in Pinellas County.

“It is an honor to recognize these outstanding individuals as 2018 School-Related Employee of the Year finalists,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “School-related employees are essential to a school’s day-to-day operations. These men and women have truly gone above and beyond to ensure Florida students have the best education experience possible, and they deserve to be commended for their hard work. I look forward to announcing the winner next month.”

The five finalists for the 2018 School-Related Employee of the Year are listed below.

Bay County – Sylvester Jones, Rutherford High School
Sylvester Jones has been serving the students of Bay District Schools for 13 years. He is currently Rutherford High School’s In-School Suspension Coordinator and Head Coach of the Boys Track and Field Team, for which Jones is praised for his calm demeanor and professionalism. In addition to his assigned duties, he mentors struggling students and contributes to his community by volunteering with the Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Club and the Shaldera Panthers Track Club, an Amateur Athletic Union team. He has earned the Eva P. Jordan Award for unselfish dedication to the community and was recognized as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s 2015 Person of the Year.

Clay County – Stephanie Melton, W.E. Cherry Elementary School
Stephanie Melton is an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Behavioral Health Assistant at her alma mater, W.E. Cherry Elementary School. During the eight years she has served in the position, she has demonstrated a commitment to honing her skills to meet students’ individual needs; for instance, she learned sign language to communicate better with non-verbal students. Despite working two jobs and pursuing a postsecondary degree in Education, Melton makes time to support students and their families after school and on the weekends. She also assists local non-profit organizations in raising awareness about special needs. For eight years, she has organized the annual HEAL Zoo Walk for Autism; through her efforts, significant funds were raised and W.E. Cherry Elementary School received five iPads for ESE classrooms.

Miami-Dade County – Jermaine Green, Jose de Diego Middle School
Jermaine Green has been employed with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 17 years and has served the students at Jose de Diego Middle School as a paraprofessional for the last two. A talented artist and photographer, Green utilizes art to help his special needs students develop fine motor skills, improve their concentration and enhance their own artistic abilities. He sponsors 5000 Role Models, a club designed to improve male students’ behavior and academic performance, and he leads beautification and restoration initiatives within local schools and his community.

Pinellas County – Debra Canning, Office of Strategic Partnerships
Debra Canning serves as a 21st Century iClass Liaison and has been with Pinellas County Schools for five years. In this role, she has helped more than 500 students at seven sites develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for literacy, math, science, technology and the arts. Through partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, Canning has arranged for students and their families to access books and educational experiences, such as museums and theaters, at little or no cost. Her supervisor applauded her for creating a culture that emphasizes high academic expectations and embraces each student’s unique attributes.

Sarasota County – Sarah Woods, Gulf Gate Elementary School
Sarah Woods currently serves as the Food and Nutrition kitchen manager for Gulf Gate Elementary School where she manages all aspects of food production and the food service staff. Although Woods’ daily responsibilities are significant, she has a reputation for seeking out students who need positive attention and taking the time to create and maintain relationships with them. She was heralded for her efforts during Hurricane Irma, when Gulf Gate Elementary School became a shelter for more than 2,000 community members. Woods and her team sprang into action and worked tirelessly to ensure all shelter guests received three meals each day.

More information about the School-Related Employee of the Year Program is available here.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

Florida PSC Expands Natural Gas Service in Escambia and Palm Beach Counties

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Helping expand natural gas service and grow economic development, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved two projects for Peninsula Pipeline Company—a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. New natural gas pipeline projects are planned in West Palm Beach and in Escambia County, including two transfer stations.

“Providing natural gas service alternatives to Escambia County boosts economic and job growth in the important Pensacola area market,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “Peninsula’s construction and ownership of a new pipeline in West Palm Beach protects Florida Public Utilities Company’s (FPUC) customers, who benefit from the service but are sheltered from project costs and risks.”

Peninsula’s transportation service agreement with Central Florida Gas (CFG) –also a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities – is to construct a pipeline and two transfer stations in Escambia County. Upon completion in late 2018, CFG’s new distribution system will provide gas service to an industrial customer and to Pensacola Energy, a municipal natural gas utility. CFG’s expansion plans also include serving additional customers.

In its agreement with FPUC, Peninsula will construct and own the Belvedere Pipeline that will interconnect with the interstate Florida Gas Transmission line in the West Palm Beach area. FPUC’s growing service demand in the area drove the need for this project and for construction of additional pipeline to interconnect with its existing natural gas distribution system.

Peninsula received PSC approval in 2007 of an intrastate gas pipeline tariff that allows it to construct and operate intrastate pipeline facilities and to actively pursue agreements with natural gas customers. The company provides transportation service only and does not engage in the sale of gas.

For additional information, visit floridapsc.com.

Traffic Shift Along John Young Parkway in Orlando

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During the week of April 22, a traffic pattern change is expected on State Road (S.R.) 423/John Young Parkway between S.R. 50/West Colonial Drive and Shader Road. The work is part of the department’s widening project.

The traffic shift will affect northbound traffic. Initially, traffic between Technology Drive and Silver Star Road will be shifted west onto the existing southbound lanes. Once past Silver Star Road, northbound traffic will move back east onto the newly constructed temporary pavement until it transitions back to the existing configuration at Shader Road.

Electronic message boards and other signage will be used to direct traffic. Motorists are asked to be prepared for the changes and exercise extra caution when driving through the work zone.

Please note construction schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances. Electronic message boards will be used to alert motorists to lane closures and detours. Updates will be available on the FDOT’s Central Florida website CFLRoads.com.

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].

Gov. Scott: Florida Businesses Created More Than One and a Half Million Jobs Since December 2010

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Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida businesses have created more than 1.5 million jobs since December 2010, including 12,500 private-sector jobs in March and more than 167,000 in the past year. Governor Scott made the announcement at VOXX International in Orlando, which moved its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to Orlando in 2015.

Governor Scott said, “When I took office, I made it my number one mission to make Florida the best place in the world for job creation. I’m proud to announce today that Florida has achieved another incredible milestone – 1.5 million private-sector jobs have been created since December 2010. This incredible turnaround should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country. If you cut taxes, eliminate burdensome regulation and invest in the priorities that matter most to families, like education, job creators respond by growing and creating jobs. Congratulations to every business who has chosen Florida as the best place to create jobs.”

Florida’s annual job growth rate of 2.3 percent continues to exceed the nation’s rate of 1.8 percent. Florida’s annual job growth rate has outpaced the nation for 71 of the past 72 months. The only month in which Florida did not exceed the nation was a result of Hurricane Irma.

As of March, Florida’s unemployment rate remains low at 3.9 percent, a drop of 6.9 percentage points since December 2010; this drop is faster than the national decline of 5.2 percentage points. In the past year, 132,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 1.3 percent, which is greater than the national labor force growth rate of 1.0 percent.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Since December 2010, businesses have created more than 1.5 million jobs for Floridians and their families. This tremendous growth demonstrates Florida businesses’ confidence in our economy and our talented workforce.”

Other positive economic indicators include:

  • Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-year were:
    • Professional and business services with 38,100 new jobs;
    • Leisure and hospitality with 32,300 new jobs;
    • Construction with 31,600 new jobs;
    • Education and health services with 21,200 new jobs; and
    • Financial activities with 15,600 new jobs.
  • Florida job postings showed 255,327 openings in March 2018.

To view the March 2018 employment data, click here.

PSC Declaratory Statement Allows Residential Solar Equipment Leases

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today issued a declaratory statement that affirms Sunrun, Inc. can offer residential solar equipment leases in Florida. After reviewing Sunrun’s draft lease agreement, Commissioners determined that Sunrun’s 20-year solar equipment lease is not a retail sale of electricity.

PSC rules have long allowed leasing of renewable energy equipment, but the lease terms cannot be structured to, in effect, sell electricity to the customer. Commissioners originally considered Sunrun’s petition at the March 1 Commission Conference, but requested to evaluate its lease agreement before making a decision. Sunrun filed its draft lease on March 20.

Today, Commissioners agreed that Sunrun’s lease conforms to its petition by offering customers fixed payments independent of electric production. As a result, Sunrun will be allowed to lease rooftop solar equipment to homeowners without being considered a public utility under the Commission’s jurisdiction. Homeowners can lease equipment to generate electricity for personal use and also benefit from interconnection and net metering with their local utility.

“Residential equipment leasing makes solar more attractive for some customers, and today’s decision confirms that Florida’s ratepayers have that option,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham.

In its declaratory statement, the PSC found today that:

  • Sunrun’s residential solar equipment lease does not constitute a sale of electricity;
  • Offering its solar equipment lease to customers in Florida will not cause Sunrun to be a public utility under Florida law; and
  • The residential solar equipment lease will not subject Sunrun or its customer-lessees to Commission regulation.

Located in Tampa, Sunrun is the nation’s largest dedicated residential solar storage and energy services company.

Thirty-Four Florida Students Earn National Merit Scholarships

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This week, Commissioner Stewart commended the 34 Florida students who were honored as National Merit Scholarship recipients. The awards, funded by approximately 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations, recognize students who have excelled academically and demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities.

“This announcement highlights the fact that hard work truly does pay off, and I applaud these students on this tremendous accomplishment,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “In Florida, we are proud to offer students a high-quality education that prepares them to succeed in college, career and throughout their lives. I appreciate the scholarship’s sponsors for recognizing the importance of investing in our students’ futures and making it even more affordable for these students to pursue postsecondary education in Florida.”

Most National Merit corporate-sponsored scholarships are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year, while some provide a single award amount between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their award at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship Award, students must fulfill several requirements, including a detailed application that incorporates the student’s academic record throughout high school, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and honors and awards received. The student must also be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn an SAT score that confirms their earlier high performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students are selected based on exceptional skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The scholarships honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

The list of Florida’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists can be found HERE.

For more information about the program, visit National Merit Scholarship Program.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

League of Women Voters of Florida Welcomes New President

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The League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) today announced the installation of veteran state board member and Orange County league leader Patricia “Patti” Brigham as the organization’s new state president. Outgoing president Pamela Goodman will pass the gavel to Brigham at the meeting of the state board on Saturday.
Goodman has presided over three years of unprecedented growth in membership and expansion of league engagement in voter education and advocacy. Her term capped 13 years serving in voluntary leadership positions at local, state and national levels. She is resigning from league leadership to pursue a new professional opportunity. As executive director of Ruth’s List, she will be working to encourage more women to run for public office in Florida.
“Our strong board of directors and our leadership succession plan allows this organization to seamlessly continue its mission under the new leadership of Patti Brigham,” Goodman said. “Our members are the lifeblood of this organization and I am confident their passion, commitment and professionalism will continue to make LWVFL a powerful force for Florida’s voters and our future.”
A proven national and Florida grassroots leader and coalition builder, Brigham joined the LWVFL state board in 2015 and moved into the position of first vice president in 2016. After joining the League of Women Voters of Orange County (LWVOC) in 2013 Patti quickly assumed leadership duties, serving on the Membership Committee and working with young League members to organize and host “Speak Easy with the League” events. In 2014 she formed the LWVOC Gun Safety Action team which was later adopted statewide. That same year she was appointed to the LWVOC Board of Directors and served for two years. In 2016, in the days following the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Patti partnered with Goodman to form the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence which now includes more than 100 organizational partners.
“This is an exciting time for the League with the growth we’re experiencing and so many young people eager to be ready to vote,” Brigham said. “I hope to carry forward Pam’s many accomplishments and build on them.”
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. League has never endorsed a candidate or a political party in its 98 year history. Voting rights, voter registration, and election reform are consistent priorities of the organization. Other current issues include Education, Healthcare, Natural Resources and Solar Energy expansion, Gun Safety and Juvenile Justice. LWV Florida has experienced an 80 percent growth in membership in the last 3 years and is now the second largest league in the country. Florida touts the largest local leagues in the country with Palm Beach County, Orange County, and St. Petersburg leading the way. The League is represented in 30 counties throughout Florida.
“Election years are when the League becomes particularly vital to voters to help them make informed choices,” Brigham added. “I’m ready and excited for the challenge!”
To learn more and find your local chapter, visit lwvfl.org.

UNF’s CAMP Osprey Leadership Mentoring Awards Feature Leadership Guru Drew Dudley

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The University of North Florida’s Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management along with the Taylor Leadership Institute will host the Collegiate Achievement Mentoring Program (CAMP) Osprey Leadership Mentoring Awards, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at the Student Union, Building 58W, Ballroom, Room 3703.

The ceremony will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CAMP program which has impacted more than 1,500 students and trained over 500 collegiate mentors. Drew Dudley, Ted Talks speaker, author and founder of Day One Leadership, will be the inspirational keynote speaker. Jonathan Catherman, best-selling author of “The Manual to Middle School” will also provide advice to students on achieving their full potential.

“This event serves to honor the work of the amazing leaders who have helped to create CAMP Osprey,” said Dr. Matthew Ohlson, program director and assistant professor of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management. “We want to model our mission of ‘leaders can change the world, one person at a time’ by allowing every participant the opportunity to enhance their own leadership skills and be a force for positive advancement in their schools and communities.”

The ceremony will honor three student mentors from the CAMP Osprey program, junior Nicholas Marchese, sophomore Casey Estes and senior Diandra Thompson. Three community leaders will also be recognized, including Tenikka Hughes, Emmy-nominated Action News journalist; Dr. Bruce Taylor, former UNF Board of Trustees chairperson and co-founder of the Taylor Leadership Institute; and Lt. General Rick Tryon, Taylor Leadership Institute director. Francesca Enea-Bruey and Jason Watkins, two former mentors who helped to get the initial program off the ground, will also be honored.

Marchese is a student-athlete who received the Jeffrey Dow Leadership Award for his commitment to service as a leadership mentor working with high-poverty students from Putnam County. Estes is a student-athlete who served as a mentor at Tiger Academy in Jacksonville’s Northside and exemplified service leadership by helping a group of high-needs girls increase confidence as well as leadership skills. Thompson is a communications major who created her own expanded mentoring model for female students within the culturally diverse River City Science Academy.

Hughes will be honored with the Community Engagement Award for her passion in promoting education and for making a positive impact on local youth. For their exceptional commitment to creating leaders at the University and in the community, Taylor will be honored with the Leadership Legacy Award, while Lt. Tryon will receive the Leadership Catalyst Award. Students and community partners from Flagler County schools, Putnam County schools and River City Science Academy will also be honored.

Admission is free with a children’s book donation to Tenikka’s Books for Kids drive to benefit the Jacksonville Public Library’s summer learning programs. Ticket and sponsorship packages are available on the CAMP Osprey website. Contact Ohlson for event questions at (904) 620-5271.

In 2008, the CAMP program began pairing collegiate students with high-needs children as CAMP Gator at the University of Florida. The hallmark of the program is effective leadership development that increases student achievement, confidence and leadership abilities.

The program moved to UNF as CAMP Osprey in 2015 and has expanded to nine schools in three states utilizing face-to-face and virtual mentoring. CAMP Osprey has been supported through generous grants from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Deerwood Rotary, the Cummer Foundation, Clay Electric and Florida Blue.

Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Gilchrist County Deputies Killed in Line of Duty

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement regarding the two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who were killed in the line of duty this afternoon.

“This heinous and senseless act of violence has claimed the lives of two of our state’s heroes. The deputies killed today will forever be remembered for their courageous and selfless dedication to protecting others. My prayers are with the family and loved ones of the fallen deputies, as well as the entire law enforcement community, during this tremendous time of grief.”