Lavish Spending and Questionable Deals: The Troubling Allegations Against Sarasota County Official Mike Moran

Sarasota County Commission chair Mike Moran has faced scrutiny over his spending habits and business dealings, raising concerns about his accountability to taxpayers. A public records request has revealed that Moran, who also serves as the executive director of a government special district, has spent over ,000 of taxpayer money on lavish trips and expensive meals, while also receiving a lucrative bonus arrangement from the agency he oversees. As Moran runs for the position of county tax collector, these revelations have sparked calls for an independent investigation into his actions.

Uncovering the Questionable Spending and Bonus Deals

Lavish Trips and Extravagant Meals

According to financial records obtained through a public records request, Moran has spent over ,000 of taxpayer money on lavish trips to Las Vegas, New York City, and California during his tenure as the executive director of the Florida PACE Funding Agency (FPFA). These expenses include multiple thousand-dollar-plus dinners at upscale steakhouses, as well as charges for wine, tequila shots, and other indulgences.One particular trip to Las Vegas in February 2023 saw Moran and his wife, Lori, attend a concert with FPFA board member Jon Mast and his wife, Teresa, who is now running to fill Moran's soon-to-be-vacant county commission seat. The group's expenses that evening included a ,345 dinner at a Caesars Palace restaurant, as well as a ,300 Hilton hotel suite.Four months later, Moran attended a conference in New York City, where he booked a private dinner for 35 at the upscale Smith & Wollensky steakhouse, costing taxpayers ,550, including ,279.75 for 11 bottles of wine and numerous cocktails.In September 2023, just days after Moran spearheaded a decision to cut funding for early learning and childcare programs in Sarasota County, he traveled to California with his wife and FPFA's director of operations. This trip, which included visits to steakhouses, a brewery, and other restaurants, as well as eight shots of tequila, cost taxpayers ,907.Moran's penchant for fine dining at taxpayer expense extended to local Sarasota restaurants as well, including visits to high-end venues like Seasons 52, Osteria 500 at Waterside, and Pascone's Italian restaurant. The receipts he submitted for reimbursement feature a roster of prominent local figures, including state and county officials.

Lucrative Bonus Arrangement

In addition to his lavish spending, Moran's employment contracts with FPFA included an unusual provision that allowed him to receive additional compensation of 0.20% on every project financed by the agency. According to data from FPFA's website, over 6 million of projects were financed during the period when Moran's company, Moran 360, LLC, was entitled to this bonus.Public records reveal that Moran's company, Southern Sky Energy, received over ,000 in payments from FPFA during the first three months of 2023. However, Moran's most recent financial disclosure statement does not mention any income from Southern Sky Energy or Moran 360, LLC.Ethics and state government experts have questioned the legality and appropriateness of this bonus arrangement, with one stating that it is "far from standard operating procedure" and "unheard of" for a special district to compensate an executive director in this manner.

Concerns over Accountability and Transparency

The revelations about Moran's spending and bonus deals have raised concerns among government watchdog groups and ethics experts. Ben Wilcox, the executive director of Integrity Florida, a non-profit government watchdog organization, described the situation as raising "a lot of red flags" and calling for an independent audit to investigate the matter.Furthermore, the FPFA's board chair, Mike Steigerwald, has acknowledged that none of Moran's reimbursements were approved by the special district's governing board, stating that the responsibility for enforcing the travel policy falls solely on Moran and his staff.The controversy surrounding Moran's actions has also intensified the ongoing legal battle over the PACE program, which has reached the Florida Supreme Court. The bond validation judgment that allowed FPFA to expand its operations statewide without local government oversight has been criticized as a "Trojan horse" that ignited the litigation.

Pushback and Legislation

In response to FPFA's aggressive expansion efforts, other PACE districts, such as the Green Corridor PACE District in South Florida, have sought to distance themselves from FPFA's approach. Green Corridor's chair, Philip Stoddard, stated that his district would not allow the type of expenses incurred by Moran, such as those for steakhouses and alcohol in Las Vegas.The Florida Tax Collectors Association has also championed legislation, Senate Bill 770, which aims to curb FPFA's statewide expansion by requiring local government consent and adherence to consumer protection laws. Moran, however, fought against this legislation, with FPFA's board approving the hiring of a well-connected lobbyist at a cost of nearly 0,000 to taxpayers.The passage of SB 770 in June 2023 dealt a critical blow to FPFA's expansion plans, and the Attorney General's office has also weighed in, filing an amicus brief in support of the tax collectors and counties against FPFA's actions.As Moran continues his campaign for the position of Sarasota County tax collector, these revelations about his spending habits and business dealings have raised serious questions about his commitment to accountability and transparency. With calls for an independent investigation and ongoing legal battles, the scrutiny on Moran's actions is unlikely to subside anytime soon.