Due to a mandate then-Gov. Jeb Bush and the state legislature passed in 1999, Florida cities have been severely hampered asserted Kathy Till when she appeared before city commissioners at its Feb. 4 regular meeting. She was there to garner the commission’s support on several items, among them pension programs, which she was referring to in her comment about the mandate.

“It has cost local governments over a half-billion dollars,” said Till. “What we’re trying to get the legislature to do is to remove the mandate.” She was quick to add that the FLC was not trying to take away pension plans, only make the funds sustainable.