Letter to Governor Crist Asking Him to Appoint Chiles Endowment Fund Advisory Council

June 22, 2009
The Honorable Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Dear Governor Crist:

I write to express my concerns for the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund. As you are aware, $700 million was withdrawn from the account on June 15, 2009, leaving an estimated $600 million remaining.

According to Florida statute 215.5601 which oversees the Chiles Endowment Fund, an advisory council is to be appointed “for the purpose of reviewing funding priorities of the state agencies, evaluating their requests against the mission and goals of the agencies and legislative intent for the use of endowment funds, and allowing for public input and advocacy.”

To date, however, the council has not met since the start of your administration, nor have the six appointed seats on the council been selected by the governor.

I ask you to appoint the advisory committee, as outlined in the statute. I encourage you to appoint the remaining six seats in a timely manner, as the council must evaluate and provide recommendations for funding priorities by November 1, 2009, as stipulated by the statute.

With less money in the fund available for Florida’s most vulnerable citizens - children and the elderly, the advisory council helps ensure those who depend on the fund are not adversely affected in the long term.

Sincerely,

Lawton ‘Bud’ Chiles
Director, Worst to First Initiative

cc: Honorable Bill McCollum
Honorable Alex Sink