News Briefs - April 12, 2008

Meese new CEO at Santa Rosa Medical
Santa Rosa Medical Center has a new President and CEO, Larry Meese, who was present at Thursday’s County Commissioner’s meeting to introduce himself. Meese most recently served as COO at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsen, Alabama. He says he is interested in maintaining the good relationship between the hospital and the county, and intends on improving “the healthcare delivery system of our community.”

School system picks new bus contractor
Santa Rosa County Schools have entered into a new transportation contract with Durham School Services, the nation’s third largest student school bus transportation contractor. The contract terms will be announced at the next School Board Meeting on April 24 when it is officially approved.

City announces budgetary cuts
Milton Mayor Guy Thompson announced several cost cutting measures during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, including reducing department budgets by 5%, freezing out of town travel, reducing hours for contract employees, and freezing unfilled positions and promotions.
All combined, the list of budget cuts amounts to an estimated $484,635 in expense reductions. “We find ourselves in a situation of having to cut expenditures due to actions in Tallahassee and the vote by the people to reduce taxes,” says City Manager Donna Adams.