March 19, 2025 Press Release from Fant Farms Organics Morriston, FL
No. 1 of 2 Ethics Complaints Filed Against Desiree Mills by Allen Fant
Dear Members of the Florida Ethics Board,
I am writing to bring to your attention discrepancies in the financial disclosures filed by County Commissioner Desiree Mills over the past three years.
Commissioner Mills has not listed her extensive farm equipment as assets in her required Florida financial disclosures (pg. 3, 6, 10), despite including a few items on her tangible personal property filing (pg 2)(that isn’t listed on her financial disclosure) Moreover, her tangible personal property filing ( pg 2) lists only $33,455 in equipment valuation, while her farm equipment collection includes high-value items such as tractors, grain combines, peanut combines, sprayers, planters, and diggers as well as vehicles and tillage equipment. This incomplete reporting shows a violation of Florida Statute 193.055, which mandates accurate reporting of tangible personal property for tax purposes, and violates Florida Statute 112.3145 which mandates that public officials disclose their assets, liabilities, income, and financial interests in a comprehensive and truthful manner. Additionally, it raises a red flag given Commissioner Mills’ role as the chair of the Value Adjustment Board (VAB), where she is responsible for evaluating property tax assessments and where she oversees cases brought before the board to decide a dispute between the property appraiser and a taxpayer which also brings to question if she is receiving a special treatment from the property appraiser.
Commissioner Mills has reported her farm income as $60,000 every year for 3 years ( pg. 4, 8, 12). However, as the farm operates as a joint venture with her husband (and not an LLC or Corporation) all income should be accurately reflected as joint income and not just a number she decides to pull out of thin air to pay herself. The total income received from the farm should therefore be fully disclosed. This omission of complete income violates Florida Statutes 112.3145 which mandates that public officials disclose their assets, liabilities, income, and financial interests.
In her 2021 disclosure, Commissioner Mills reported receiving $40,000 in USDA subsidies and none on the proceeding years (pg. 4, 8, 12). However, a review of the farm subsidies database reveals that the actual amount received by Commissioner Mills and her husband Jerry M Mills Jr.(a joint farm venture) was $100,037 in 2021, $187,265 in 2022, and $36,106 in 2023 (pg 14). NONE of these are shown on her financial disclosure showing a violation of FS 112.3145 .
These discrepancies show non-compliance with Florida’s financial disclosure requirements and raise concerns about the potential misuse of office to secure personal benefits. I respectfully request that the Florida Ethics Board investigate these issues to ensure accurate and transparent financial reporting.
No. 2 of 2 Ethics Complaints Filed Against Desiree Mills by Allen Fant
The timeline of events related to the sale of the “old baker building” and adjacent properties raises significant legal and ethical concerns regarding Commissioner Desiree Mills.
On August 22, 2023, during a county commission meeting, Commissioner Desiree Mills announced she had a buyer for the properties (pg. 1). She made a motion to surplus the buildings, which was seconded by Commissioner John Meeks and unanimously approved by the board. For further context on the proceedings and commissioners’ demeanor, refer to the audio recording available on the Levy Clerk of Courts website, specifically from 10:35 to 23:08 (the audio truly puts this in perspective and shows intent).
On December 19, 2023, the county attorney presented Ordinance 2023-12, which streamlined the process for surplussing and selling county properties. Commissioner John Meeks motioned to adopt the ordinance, which was seconded by Commissioner Mills and passed unanimously (vote included Mrs. Mills) (pg. 2-3). The ordinance allows properties to be sold to the highest bidder with minimal public notice requirements—only listing in a small local newspaper and on the county’s website, which may not reach a significant portion of the population. This process raises concerns about transparency and public access, as required by the Government-in-the-Sunshine Law (Florida Statutes § 286.011).
On April 2, 2024, the board reviewed the final bids for the properties (pg 4). The highest bid was $175,000 from First Southern Bank in Alabama, with a lower bid being slightly over $20,000. Commissioner John Meeks made a motion to accept the bid from the bank, seconded by Commissioner Matt Brooks, and the motion was UNANIMOUSLY approved (vote included Mrs. Mills).
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Violations:
The situation raises significant concerns due to Commissioner Desiree Mills’s financial relationship with First Southern Bank. Her public financial disclosure forms for 2022 and 2023 indicate an outstanding loan of $820,000 with the bank (pg. 6,8), and her account balance with the bank increased from $10,000 in 2022 to $25,000 in 2023 (pg. 5,7).
This financial relationship presents a conflict of interest under Florida Statutes § 112.313(3), which prohibits public officials from participating in decisions that could benefit themselves or their financial associates. Mills’s involvement in the property sale and her financial ties to the bank should constitute a violation of these laws. Additionally, Florida Statutes § 112.3145 requires public officials to disclose financial interests to prevent conflicts of interest. This situation may also constitute a violation of 112.313(6), as it appears that Mrs. Mills used her position to secure a special benefit for the bank.
On September 17, 2024, during a county commission meeting (Levy clerk of court BOCC recording starting at 2:01:20 and ending at 2:02:05) Chair Desiree Mills publicly announced the opening of a new bank and encouraged people to visit it, despite having questionable relations with the institution. This raises concerns of conflict of interest and misuse of public office, as it appears she may be using her position to promote a business with which she has personal or financial ties. Such behavior potentially violates the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees (Chapter 112, Part III), which prohibits public officials from using their position to secure special benefits for themselves or others. Additionally, promoting a private entity during a public meeting could create the appearance of impropriety, eroding public trust in her impartiality as an official. This situation also raises concerns of unfair competition, as promoting one specific bank may give that institution an advantage over others in the area.
A thorough investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics (and the FDLE) which should include a complete financial audit, as well as a review of her text history with bank officials, should be conducted to determine whether Mrs. Mills’s financial interests influenced the property sale process.
The procedures for surplussing and selling county property should be reviewed to ensure they comply with transparency and conflict of interest laws.
SERIOUS CONCERNS RE: Ethics Violations – Norm Fugate, Special Magistrate & Desiree Mills, BOCC Chair
(Editor’s Note: Excerpt from Allen Fant’s opening statement during his code violation hearing today by Special Magistrate Norm Fugate)
“Mr. Fugate, have you given legal advice to or do you represent Mrs. Mills in the two ethics violation cases I filed against her? If so, I’ll take your refusal to answer as a yes which means, you are in clear violation of Florida Statute § 112.313(6) – Misuse of Public Position, Florida Statute § 112.313(7) – Conflicting Business or Personal Interests, and Florida Bar Rule 4-1.7 – Conflict of Interest.
As Levy County’s Special Magistrate, you cannot simultaneously serve as legal counsel for a sitting commissioner facing ethics charges—especially when those charges were filed by me, who is here today because of an ordinance that Mrs. Mills helped write and seconded the motion to pass. Florida law prohibits public officials from using their position for private gain, and your dual role compromises both your impartiality and the integrity of county enforcement.
Your actions demand immediate scrutiny. If you are representing Mills, you must recuse yourself from any county proceedings (including the ones earlier today and for the last however many months you have represented Mrs. Mills), and you should self-report to the Florida Bar and the Florida Commission on Ethics for investigation.”
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Posted March 19, 2025
