Broward Schools and Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners

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Crist: Budget could be cut up to $1 billion

Facing a souring economic outlook, Gov. Charlie Crist today ordered state government to trim up to $1 billion from agency budgets for the fiscal year that starts Sunday.

 

3 schools in Palm Beach County, 9 in Broward get F grades from state

The state just gave Broward and Palm Beach county public schools their report cards, and the grades are mixed: Fewer A’s and more F’s in Broward while in Palm Beach County, A’s increased from 96 to 111.

 

Rep. Reagan on tax fix: At least we got on base

LAKEWOOD RANCH –Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, was succinct when describing the recent property-tax bill he and fellow lawmakers passed.

 

GOP attacks rivals on property tax vote

Republican House leaders unleashed their harshest round of political attacks in the property tax wars Thursday, sending fliers to voters in a handful of districts accusing Democratic incumbents of voting against tax relief.

 

Crist to ask for places to trim budget

Spurred by fears that Florida’s economy is slowing down, Gov. Charlie Crist and the GOP-controlled Legislature will ask today that each state agency draw up plans to cut their budgets by as much as 10 percent.

 

Crist vetoes bills on nursing home inspections, teacher standards

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bills that would have reduced state nursing home inspections and lowered training standards for some teachers of students who speak English as a second language were vetoed Thursday by Gov. Charlie Crist.

 

Anti-tax activists oppose proposed cut

Opponents fear measure will undermine their efforts to gain even deeper cuts.  If there is one thing the state’s anti-tax, anti-spending activists agree upon, it is that they would rather not see voters approve the proposed “super-exemption” property tax amendment when it shows up on the presidential preference primary in January.

 

County budget includes record tax cut

Leon County’s preliminary budget includes the biggest tax cut in its history along with fewer cuts than initially proposed.

 

Collier begins painful budget process in wake of tax reform

Collier County commissioners took the first step toward slashing $35.5 million from the county’s $1.29 billion budget Thursday when they discussed taking money away from several constitutional officers and county departments.

 

Phones let schools reach out to parents

With bomb scares and lockdowns a part of the daily vocabulary in schools across the nation, automated messaging systems are just one step schools are taking to keep parents involved and aware.

 

No Rhyme or Reason Behind Determining Property Tax Rates, Says Expert

ORLANDO – The odd thing about property taxes in Florida, John F. Heatley suggests, is that how much you pay on your home’s value doesn’t just depend on how big your house is, where it’s located or the age of the home. When you bought it can make a huge difference.

 

Crist to Agencies: Start Planning Cuts Now

Property taxes aren’t the only things that state officials are cutting.
Gov. Charlie Crist and House and Senate budget offices have sent a memo to all state agencies warning that revenues for the 07-08 fiscal year aren’t expected to push high enough to support the $71.5 budget that Crist signed last month. In short: start planning cuts – now.

 

Tampa Cuts Jobs Of 121 Employees

Mayor Pam Iorio laid off 121 city workers Thursday and eliminated an additional 115 vacant, full-time positions. 

 

Here’s how to spend millions very, very badly

Up, up, up, up.  That’s the direction your taxes are going.

Now, a number of governments in Lake County have slid past the greedy mark and are well into the arena of rip-off.

 

Dems court black America, blast Supreme Court ruling

Democratic presidential candidates won applause from a predominantly black audience Thursday by accusing the Supreme Court of retreating earlier in the day from the goal of eliminating school segregation.

 

Crist signs off on 47 measures, expands gambling in Broward

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist let 47 bills become law during the past two days, including two that expand gambling in the state and another that has owners of lions and tigers in a panic because it may force them to take out millions of dollars in insurance.