Broward Schools and Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–November 5
Nov 7, 2010
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Crist vows to end strong as governor, as new legislature ponders veto overrides
Agricultural property tax exemption bill among those to be taken up
A day after Floridians delivered an indisputable rebuke of his independent run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist emerged from the tony confines of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club Wednesday morning looking and acting like he was still running for office.
Amendment 8 aftermath: Florida school districts ready to sue if hit with class size fines
Smaller class sizes are here to stay, and the stage is being set for a court battle over who will pay for them.
Miami-Dade County seeks Florida Legislature’s OK to freeze some senior’s tax bills
In an effort to keep lower- and middle-income seniors in their homes, the county commission is urging the legislature to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow Miami-Dade to freeze those persons’ property tax bills.
Florida military tax break amendment passes
Florida voters easily approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that will give a new property tax break to thousands of military members based in the state.
Pasco voters reject extension of property tax for school operations
Pasco County voters soundly rejected the School Board’s request to extend a local property tax for school operations.
Port St. Lucie voters OK giving tax breaks to some businesses
Voters on Tuesday authorized the City Council to give property tax breaks to new businesses and expanding businesses.
Business tax exemptions pass in Indian River County, Fellsmere, Vero Beach
Indian River County voters largely voted in favor of increasing economic development locally, passing ballot initiatives that allow tax exemptions for new and existing businesses that create jobs in the region.
Milton approves business tax break
New and expanding businesses will be eligible for property tax breaks, courtesy of a referendum approved by city voters on Tuesday.
Martin School Board incumbent Barry-Sorenson wins, tax levy defeated
Incumbent Maura Barry-Sorenson retained her District 4 seat Tuesday on the Martin County School Board, defeating former teacher Tina McSoley in a tight race by slightly more than 50 percent of the votes.
School tax hikes win in Orange, Volusia, but lose in Seminole
Voters in Orange and Volusia counties Tuesday overwhelmingly approved property-tax increases for public schools, but a Seminole County effort for a half-cent sales tax to benefit schools lost in a close vote.
North Port voters to rule on borrowing
Voters in North Port will determine today the scope of the city government’s role in driving local development as they answer two ballot questions about whether to authorize borrowing for $40 million in road projects and a $22 million water park.
Toxic schools: Florida’s aging, leaky schools outstrip dwindling pot of money to fix them
Florida schools resort to triage in fixing aging, leaky buildings
Bill Smith sends this warning to Florida’s teachers, students and parents: If you think indoor-air quality in public schools is bad now, just wait a few years.
Monroe schools’ gasoline costs to be probed
The Monroe County School Board on Tuesday heard briefings from internal auditor Ken Gentile and Superintendent Joseph Burke on “big-ticket” spending items that have raised questions, including a report of discrepancies in districtwide gasoline consumption.
Committee crafts new school zones for central Pasco
With little hue and cry, a committee of Pasco County parents and school district officials on Monday redrew attendance zones in order to ease crowding at Wiregrass Ranch High and John Long Middle schools.
Is Advanced Placement worth the cost?
We’re not sure how many folks saw the explanatory sidebar that went with Sunday’s St. Petersburg Times story about AP costs, so we’re posting it here.
No raises in works for school employees
The state’s public education system is requesting more than a $650-million increase for next year to pay for higher enrollment, plus special reading and technology initiatives.
Voters limit state tax hikes, budget battles
Voters in many states on Tuesday made clear their distaste for tax hikes, voting to limit how their states may raise revenue and changing how some budget decisions are made.
Schools struggle with how to meet mandate to rein in bullying
It’s become a national rallying cry, from the classroom to the White House: End school bullying now.
Wall Street Journal: Fiscal Reality to Hit Quickly for New Governors
Winners of gubernatorial races across the country barely had time to brush the confetti off their shoulders before they began confronting the same economic and fiscal woes that helped drive some of their predecessors from office.
The research and innovations developed daily at Florida’s 11 state universities play a unique role in driving our state toward long-term, sustainable economic growth.