Escambia County will vote on new policy to track how commissioners use discretionary funds

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Discretionary fund spending in Escambia County remains under review.

Last week, Clerk of Court Pam Childers announced she was placing a hold on all discretionary fund spending by county commissioners to ensure taxpayer money is being spent properly.

This pause has caused the Pensacola City Council to look at their policies.

"You're giving contributions for churches for their picnics or something they're having, I think that's a violation," said Childers.

This conversation at last week's Escambia County Commission meeting has caused other communities to look at their discretionary fund policies.

This comes as Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states are adopting Elon Musk's policy of slashing government spending and rooting out wasteful spending.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has started Florida DOGE. Childers said lawmakers and their spending habits are going to be looked at closely.

"Any time we can stop and reflect, I think its worthwhile," said Pensacola City Councilmember Jennifer Brahier.

Brahier says the city of Pensacola has a strict policy on how discretionary funds are used by councilmembers.

"It all comes before the general public on an agenda and it's posted ten days in advance," Brahier said. "So everyone has an opportunity to see what they're spending and if there's any questions."

It's not just Brahier who agrees with the review process. Councilmember Alisson Patton said it should be seen as a positive any time a governing agency reviews the spending of taxpayer dollars.

Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County sent WEAR News their discretionary fund policies.

The only discretionary funds available to Okaloosa County commissioners are for roads and bridges. In Santa Rosa County, each commissioner is given 50,000 dollars a year.

Each expenditure needs to be used solely for public purposes and, like Escambia County, the clerk of court has auditing authority.

Discretionary funding goes before the board as an agenda item or verbal add-on and all requests must be followed with additional documentation to be approved. The items are approved during BCC meetings.

"Every time something like this happens, whether it's a different governing body or ours, it's good to stop and take a close look to make sure everyone agrees that what we're doing is for the public good," Brahier said.

Escambia County has created a new policy that will closely look at how commissioners use discretionary funds. recipients must provide additional documentation in order to receive the approved funding.

Chairman of the Board Mike Kohler said the policy will be voted on either at the end of April or at their May 1 meeting.