Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners

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Sink: Workers’ comp rates to be cut in half next year

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –While Florida business owners may still be struggling with high property insurance costs, another major business expense will go down next year: workers’ compensation assessment rates are set to be cut in half.

 

Margate: Residents invited to offer suggestions on budget cuts

Margate officials, under state orders to cut their 2007-2008 budget by $1.3 million, want suggestions from residents on what they should do.

 

Preschool programs fall victim to budget squeeze

Thirteen colorful paper backpacks are tacked up on a bulletin board in Rossana Perez’s West Pines Preschool classroom, each with a child’s name printed in a neat uppercase hand.

 

Giuliani visits Daytona Beach company to promote tax cuts

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani visited a plastic parts manufacturer Thursday to make the point that President Bush’s tax cuts have helped companies and should be made permanent.

 

Service cuts in Cooper City’s budget proposal draw criticism

Three jobs, road project could be cut

COOPER CITY The city plans to eliminate two code enforcement officers, one school resource officer and a roadway resurfacing project under next year’s proposed $34.6 million budget.

 

Budget reflects ‘a new reality’

Gainesville will charge higher fees to make up for a forced reduction in its tax rate under a budget proposal that also calls for cuts in a wide range of programs, including homeless services and land conservation.

 

County loses 5th DCF chief in 5 years

Palm Beach County will lose its fifth Department of Children and Families chief in five years next week when Ben Shirley Jr. returns to the Tampa Bay area.

 

Palm Beach County DCF violated overtime laws

WEST PALM BEACH — The Department of Children and Families is paying $166,516.51 to current and former investigators in Palm Beach County after admitting the agency violated federal laws by pressuring workers not to bill for overtime.

 

Lauderdale Lakes official to enter legislative race

Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, arguably the most high-profile Caribbean-American elected official in Broward County, has her eyes on a seat in the Legislature.

 

FAMU faculty member found dead in home

Woman’s husband in critical condition

A Florida A&M University faculty member was found dead Thursday evening and her husband critically injured, inside their northwest Tallahassee home.

 

FAMU’s pharmacy satellite in Miami on hold

Florida A&M University’s administrators hoped that undergraduate and graduate pharmacy students could earn degrees in a satellite location planned for Miami’s Liberty City.

 

Tax cuts may halt biotech funding

The state may have $250 million available for luring biotechnology and high-tech institutes as well as companies to Florida, but local governments may not have the money to kick in their part of the cash.

 

Save a trip — get library books online

Cardholders at South Florida libraries — along with thousands of others nationwide — are borrowing books, movies and music for free without leaving home.  They can get materials 24/7, and they never pay late fees.

 

FGCU almost ready to announce site for marine research lab in Bonita

Florida Gulf Coast University has nearly finalized plans to acquire land in Bonita Springs for a marine research lab and could sign off on the deal and announce the location of the property as early as Monday, said Steve Magiera, executive director of the FGCU Foundation.