The Special District Information Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity (the “Program”) is committed to helping special district personnel and board members attend the FASD annual conference. In the past, the Program provided funding to sponsor “scholarships” to pay their registration fee. This year, the tradition continues, but with revisions to encourage newer and smaller special districts to send a representative to the conference. Instead of being called “scholarships,” the Program and FASD developed a revised “Registration Reimbursement Program” in which up to one board member and one non-board member from a limited number of qualifying special districts will not be required to pay a conference registration fee.  Funding does not include any other expenses, such as travel, hotel, meals, and per diem costs. Instead, the Program will reimburse the FASD for conference registration fees for special district personnel and board members using the following criteria with the highest weight given in descending order:

1. The district must be in compliance with the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Annual Financial Report requirement with the Department of Financial Services and if applicable, the 2010-2011 Annual Financial Audit Report requirement with the Auditor General, and  the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 special district annual fee and update requirements with the Special District Information Program.  To check whether or not your District is in compliance, please email Jack Gaskins at Jack.Gaskins@deo.myflorida.com.

2.  The district did not benefit from the Registration Reimbursement Program in 2012.

3. The district with the lowest annual total revenues as reported to the Department of Financial Services on the district’s FY 2010-2011 Annual Financial Report.  To see total revenues, visit https://apps.fldfs.com/LocalGov/Reports/, select “2011” and “Total Revenues, Expenditures, and Debt,” then “Get Report.”

4. The district that has not sent a representative to the conference in the past.

5. The earliest date that a request to attend under the Registration Reimbursement Program is received. All requests for reimbursement must be postmarked or received via email or fax by May 11th.

*When checking in at the conference, the attendee must provide their social security number or the statutory reference exempting them from this requirement in order to be considered for the reimbursement. This is a requirement of the State Comptroller.

To register online for the reimbursement, go to the “Registration” link above and register for the conference. At the end of the registration process you will have an option for the reimbursement program. Choose that option, if you feel your district is eligible, and you will be registered for the conference and entered into the FASD Registration Reimbursement Program. To confirm your request for reimbursement, the Reimbursement Form must be sent in prior to May11, 2012, to 2713 Blairstone Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32301; fax – 850-224-7775; or email – fcrawford@fasd.com. Your conference registration will be the date used for reimbursement purposes provided your Reimbursement Form is received by the May11th deadline. You may send in the Reimbursement Form with your Social Security number or statutory exemption reference, call either in to our office at 850-224-7775 or provide either onsite when you arrive at the conference. However, reimbursements will not be issued, even if approved, without FASD receiving your Social Security number no later than your arrival to the conference. The decision for who gets the reimbursements will be made May 18, 2012. If you do not receive the reimbursement, you must pay your registration to the conference by May 31, 2012 or your registration will be cancelled.  If you have any questions about the Special District Information Program, special district reporting requirements, or noncompliance issues, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org/SpecialDistricts or call Jack Gaskins at 850-717-8430.  If you have any questions about conference registration, please call Fred Crawford at 850-224-7775.