ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County judge on Wednesday will determine if a freeze on funds placed on the county’s elections supervisor must be lifted.
Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean filed the lawsuit and requested the hearing after the county commission voted to freeze the monthly budget allocation of nearly $1 million to Gilzean’s office for December. Comptroller Phil Diamond requested the freeze over concerns about how Gilzean was spending the money.
The elections supervisor wants the judge to give the county a shorter timeline to explain why budget money is being withheld, saying his workers may not get paid. However, instead of sending the funds to Gilzean’s office, Orange County commissioners on Tuesday voted to direct money in a way that those funds will be used only for payroll.
In response to the vote, Gilzean posted on X in part, “Unfortunately, our office was put in this position due to lies told by the Mayor & an astonishing misunderstanding of elections by the Comptroller. We will continue to fight in court and shine a light on the laws the county broke to score cheap political points using taxpayer dollars.”
Today was a win for the Supervisor of Elections office. I will always fight for my staff & am glad the county voted to ensure payroll is made over the holidays.
— Glen Gilzean (@GlenGilzean) December 17, 2024
Unfortunately, our office was put in this position due to lies told by the Mayor & an astonishing misunderstanding of…
The county attorney said the commissioners vote may mean Wednesday’s hearing is not needed.
The budget battle stems from concerns over how Gilzean spent millions in surplus dollars back in October from the previous budget, as well as how Gilzean is spending money allocated from the current annual budget.
Gilzean spent some $4 million of the previous budget to establish a scholarship at Valencia College and to fund programs at CareerSource Central Florida.
The virtual hearing begins at 8:30 a.m.
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