Last Call for 2.18.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

Opposition to a proposed hospital district consolidation in Broward County is no longer confined to polling data.

Advocacy group Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability announced that more than 1,800 Broward residents have submitted letters to the county’s legislative delegation urging them to reject HB 1047, which would allow taxpayer-funded hospital districts to merge or enter joint ventures without voter approval.

The letters were hand-delivered this week as the proposal continues languishing in both chambers. The House version hasn’t made an agenda yet; the Senate version (SB 1122) was temporarily postponed in its first stop earlier this month.

The bills would authorize two or more hospital districts to jointly form, participate in or control a broad range of collaborative health care ventures, including public-private and for-profit entities, within their combined boundaries. It would also grant those joint arrangements state action immunity from certain legal challenges.

Opponents have said the policy would effectively greenlight a “backdoor merger” of the North and South Broward Hospital Districts, sidestepping a countywide referendum otherwise required under state law.

Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability has further concerns.

Although much of the discussion has centered on Broward’s North and South Broward Hospital Districts, the legislation applies statewide. Florida has 30 hospital and health care special districts, meaning the framework authorized under HB 1047 could extend beyond a single county. In addition, the group warns that shared liabilities across districts could expose taxpayers to broader financial risk.

The latest push follows a January survey conducted by The Tyson Group that found significant resistance to similar changes. The poll found two-thirds of Broward voters approve of the health care services currently available in the county. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters said hospital districts should not be allowed to change how they operate without triggering legal requirements, including voter approval.

The letters were delivered to the offices of Delegation Chair Robin Bartleman, Vice Chair Rosalind Osgood, and members, including Sen. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Christine Hunschofsky. Taxpayers for Healthcare Accountability said it will continue to advocate for transparency and voter approval requirements as the bill progresses through the legislative process.

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Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia brought his statewide “fiscal accountability” tour to Fort Pierce on Wednesday, arguing the city has room to cut property taxes without reducing public services.

Speaking to a small crowd, Ingoglia said his office’s review of Fort Pierce’s general fund budget found roughly $10.5 million in what he characterized as excessive spending in the last fiscal year alone.

“I am often referred to as the Jim Cantore of wasteful spending,” Ingoglia joked. “When I show up, it’s usually not great.”

Ingoglia said his team applied a formula that measures local government budget growth relative to inflation and population growth since the 2019-20 fiscal year. Under that methodology, he argued, Fort Pierce’s general fund has grown faster than those benchmarks would justify.

The CFO said the city’s general fund budget has increased by nearly 60% and added 90 full-time employees over the last six years, while the population grew by about 4,500 residents. 

If the city trimmed the fat — as defined by his office — Ingoglia said it could cut its property tax rate by 1.93 mills. For a home assessed at $400,000, that would translate to about $772 in annual savings.

Local officials had not yet responded to the Fort Pierce findings. Ingoglia, however, predicted he would get pushback. If municipal government rebuttals following his past stops are any indication, he’s probably right.

“If your tax bill went from $3,500 to $6,500 and they cut the millage rate, did your taxes get raised? Yes or no?” he said. “Of course it did. There’s a game that they play. Don’t fall for the games.”

Evening Reads

—”The obscure media theory that explains ‘99% of everything’” via Derek Thompson for Substack

—”Why voters hate Donald Trump’s (pretty decent) economy” via Eric Levitz of Vox

—”Grand juries tend to defer to prosecutors. Not in this Justice Dept. case.” via Alan Feuer, Glenn Thrush and Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times

—”‘Playing checkers’: Trump’s bid to revive coal is nonsensical” via Thor Benson of Rolling Stone

—”Dems’ fightin words” via Peter Hamby of Puck News

—”The most interesting man in the Democratic Party” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”The Harvard of the South … of the West?” via Rose Horowitch of The Atlantic

—”The Rise of RentAHuman, the marketplace where bots put people to work” via Kyle Macneill of WIRED

—”In Kentucky, Ron DeSantis downplays 2028 plans, disses Andy Beshear, doesn’t stand by Thomas Massie” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

—”‘Let me be clear’: Florida teachers union doesn’t support student walkouts” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—”Charitable bail groups say measure moving in the FL Legislature could put them out of business” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix

Quote of the Day

“Let me be clear … The Florida Education Association has never encouraged or organized, and would never encourage or organize, students to walk out or miss class.”

— FEA President Andrew Spar, on claims that teachers are involved in student walkouts.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

FEA is skipping the Frosted Window and reaching for the Windex by reiterating its non-involvement with student-organized protests at K-12 schools.

At UF, it was bourbon and lime juice; at Ohio State, it was a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout; now, it’s time for New College to put its spin on the Bourbon Meyer.

Sen. Jason Brodeur will have to settle for a Closing Argument served in a coupe glass because Senate Appropriations didn’t need to be convinced to pass his Florida Debate Initiative bill.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Gators look for sweep of Hatters

The Florida Gators host Stetson in the second half of a mid-week home-and-home series against the Hatters (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

The two teams played last night in DeLand, with Florida (3-1) taking a 12-2 decision in seven innings. It was the second run-rule win of the season. Florida has scored in the first inning of all four games this season, totaling 15 runs in the first inning. 

Gators’ centerfielder Kyle Jones, a former Hatter, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to stretch the lead. Jones was the ASUN freshman of the year in 2024 while playing at Stetson.

The Hatters (0-4) have allowed three of four opponents to score at least 11 runs this season. After sharing the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship last season, Stetson was picked to win the Graphite Division of the ASUN this season, but has started slowly. 

After tonight’s game, the Gators welcome Kennesaw State to Condron Family Ballpark for a three-game weekend series. Florida is ranked No. 12 in the D1Baseball Top 25.

Florida will face other teams from the Sunshine State this season, including a pair of games against Jacksonville, North Florida, Miami, and Florida State, and single games against Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.