TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – With Leon County\u2019s new charter, also known as its constitution, up for review, one proposal seeks to make food security a countywide standard. <\/p>\n
During Leon County\u2019s charter review committee meeting, Dr. Bruce Strouble made a proposal to establish a charter amendment for food security. However, county staff said this wouldn\u2019t be necessary as the county has spent millions each year to combat food insecurity and homelessness, one of its underlying causes. <\/p>\n
A staff report from the county notes that they\u2019ve spent just under 8 million over the last five years on food insecurity. It also noted that no other county in Florida includes a food insecurity charter. <\/p>\n
Assistant County Administrator Shington Lamy also said Leon Count has enough authority to support food insecurity, adding that food insecurity is mostly combatted by SNAP and WIC. He advised that rather than a charter, the committee should make policy recommendations as the county already has a dedicated department to food insecurity.<\/p>\n
School Board member Darryl Jones countered that it would still be worth it to show their values. \u201cTo say these things matter to us,\u201d Jones said. \u201cWe want our people fed, housed and healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jones said the charter would also make food insecurity \u201cimmune to political changes.\u201d Committee member Barry Wilcox then asked what would happen if the legislature cuts county budgets due to the charter. <\/p>\n
Lamy responded that, \u201cOur needs are changing constantly. There would be tough decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The county attorney also pointed out that they couldn\u2019t compel the school board to follow the new charter. The charter could compel the county commission to fund specific departments on the school board, but the amount would be up to them.<\/p>\n
Along with the charter, Strouble suggested an office that monitors food insecurity sort of like a command center. \u201cWe can\u2019t be dependent on the federal administration. We should move forward towards a localized food control,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A committee member questioned what the county is doing right now to combat food insecurity and Lamy said that the county is, \u201cworking hard on this issue everyday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe meet every single month. We bring back recommendations to the county commission.\u201d One committee member Shamarial Roberson said passing the charter would be difficult without knowing fiscal impact but she liked the idea of an annual report.<\/p>\n
Another committee member Jarrett Terry said he also wants it to be clear that the county values combatting food insecurity. <\/p>\n
The Charter review committee voted down a motion to simply recommend policy on combatting food insecurity. Next, the committee will need to pass final language, then the county commission gets a vote and if they pass it, voters can get the final say in November of 2026.<\/p>\n
Tune into Eyewitness News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the full story. This article will be updated in the evening with all the details.<\/p>\n
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