Volusia County awarded for Amendment 10 implementation.

Written by Anthony Bicy

Belden Communications News

The Florida Association of Counties has awarded Volusia County with the Best Practices Award for the rapid and comprehensive implementation of changes required by the passage of Amendment 10 in 2018. The voter-approved ballot measure created constitutionally elected offices for the sheriff, tax collector, supervisor of elections, and property appraiser.

Once the amendment passed, County Manager George Recktenwald appointed Business Services Director Jeaniene Jennings to head a team of division directors. Jennings’s team reached out to the county’s constitutional officers, conducted in-depth research, and developed a plan for support services like accounting, budget, and more.

The team overcame the pandemic and worked for two years to ensure a seamless transition for residents, Recktenwald noted.

The amendment took effect on January 5, 2021, and Volusia County was the first county to implement it. Since then, the county has offered its assistance to other counties and shared its documents.