Tallahassee vs. The Keys

Who decides our priorities?

Ed. Note: I recieved this from a friend and it got lost in the shuffle, but given Tallahassee’s attacks on home rule in the Florida Keys, it is important now more than ever. — TL

By Steve Torrence | Special to Above the Fold

I recently shared a post about the proposed budget cuts, but at that time I did not yet have the full picture or depth of information regarding DODGE and the power of Tallahassee. I am grateful to a friend who took the time to call me and carefully explain the truth—and the incredible authority the governor’s office has amassed through this process. That conversation made clear that what we are facing in Monroe County is far bigger than a local disagreement.

For more than 40 years, I have worked with nonprofit organizations across Monroe County, and I have seen our community at its most vulnerable and at its most resilient. In addition to serving many years on the Health Services Advisory Board, I also sit on the Sheriff’s Asset Forfeiture Fund Board, the Monroe County Homeless Coalition of Continuum of Care, the State’s Community Alliance (DCF), the Juvenile Justice Board, and several other advisory groups. This involvement has given me a unique perspective on the wide network of services and agencies that hold Monroe County together.

That perspective makes one thing painfully clear: the challenge we face today is not of our commissioners’ making. The real driver is Tallahassee, where the Department of Commerce’s Office of Demographic and Government Efficiency—better known as DODGE—has been given sweeping authority to rewrite local budgets.

What DODGE is doing

DODGE’s stated mission is to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and ensure that tax dollars fund “core” government functions. That might sound reasonable—even familiar. It’s the way many of us manage our household budgets. But the way it is being applied across Florida is something else entirely.

DODGE is armed with a checklist that targets areas such as nonprofit funding, programs that overlap with private business, or services labeled “trendy” or “low return.” In practice, this means programs that directly serve working families, children, and vulnerable residents are suddenly on the chopping block.

We’ve already seen the fallout here. The Conch Connect worker transportation program was eliminated largely in part because private companies like Uber and Lyft exist—even though they cost five times as much and are not realistic for many in our workforce. Now dozens of nonprofits—organizations providing food, shelter, housing, health care, and victim services—are facing a minimum mandatory funding cut of 50 percent, with the possibility of even deeper reductions if Tallahassee chooses to go further. These cuts are not the result of failure or mismanagement, but simply because their work no longer fits Tallahassee’s definition of “core.”

I don’t say this lightly—I’ve watched these agencies work miracles with very little. And I’ve seen the faces of people who would have nowhere else to turn if these nonprofits weren’t there.

Why this matters in Monroe County

The Keys face unique challenges that Tallahassee does not see up close: isolation, sky-high housing costs, fragile infrastructure, and a workforce that keeps our economy alive while often struggling to live here. Nonprofits have filled these gaps for decades, working alongside county programs, schools, and law enforcement.

If you’ve ever seen a family turned away from housing or a senior left without transportation, you know these cuts aren’t just numbers on a page—they are real people’s lives.

I’ve seen this from every angle—through health services, housing, victim support, juvenile justice, and public safety. I know how interconnected these agencies are. When you cut one, you weaken the whole system.

What we can do

We cannot let frustration with Tallahassee spill over into blame toward our local commissioners. They are not the enemy here. They are doing their best within rules they cannot control. The reality is that DODGE and the governor’s office have the power to override their decisions.

Still, we must show up and make our values known. Two budget hearings remain before the final county budget vote:

   •   Sept. 3, 5 p.m. – Harvey Government Center, Key West

   •   Sept. 10, 5 p.m. – Nelson Center, Key Largo

This is our opportunity to say we are willing to make tough choices—even higher taxes—if it means protecting the services that care for our children, our elderly, our workers, and our most vulnerable neighbors.

The bottom line

DODGE speaks the language of efficiency, but without compassion, efficiency becomes austerity. Monroe County cannot afford to lose the organizations that sustain our community’s health and safety.

Let’s also be clear: it is not our county commission that has the final word. The bottom line will be written in Tallahassee, by DODGE and the governor. That is why I urge us to treat our commissioners with respect and courtesy as they carry out a nearly impossible task. The real fight is not with them, but with a system that puts ideology above community needs.

Closing thought

At moments like this, the character of our community is tested. We in the Keys have always been resilient—through storms, economic downturns, and national crises. This challenge is no different. If we come together with respect, compassion, kindness and persistence, and a clear voice, we can protect the services that make the Keys not just a place to live, but a community worth fighting for.

Rev. Steve Torrence

HSAB Board Member