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Small County Coalition praises Baker County for protecting state hospital, warns of proposed statewide county term limits
Summary
A Small County Coalition representative presented plaques to the commission recognizing Baker County’s role in keeping Northeast Florida State Hospital public and warned of a proposed legislative move to impose 8‑year county-commission term limits by statute; the coalition urged counties to preserve local choice.
Chris Doolin of the Small County Coalition addressed the commission Feb. 18 to deliver two recognitions and a legislative briefing. Doolin said the coalition awarded Baker County a plaque for “outstanding leadership successfully securing commitments to protect Northeast Florida State Hospital from being privatized” (June 2024) and a separate recognition for Commissioner Jimmy Anderson’s legislative advocacy on behalf of small counties during the 2024 session.
Doolin described the coalition’s role: representing 40 small counties in Tallahassee on issues such as road funding, environmental programs and responding to state actions that increase county costs. He told the commission the coalition monitors proposed bills that could affect local authority and cited two issues to watch this legislative session: increases to sovereign-immunity liability caps (from current caps toward proposed higher limits that could affect county insurance costs) and possible legislative action to impose an eight-year term limit on county commissioners by statute.
“What our position was is that the legislature shouldn’t do it to you. You should be given the opportunity to do it to yourself,” Doolin said, urging local referenda if residents seek term limits.
Doolin also encouraged commissioners to participate in upcoming Rural Counties Day and to engage with the coalition as session work began. Commissioners thanked Doolin for the coalition’s monitoring and assistance on prior issues related to the state hospital.
