Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–April 7
Apr 7, 2009
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Florida‘s Budget Crisis: Tax Mood Turns Serious
Florida’s economy is so bad that Republican legislative leaders are seriously contemplating tax increases.
Officials Sidestep Fla. Tax Reform
Florida’s lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist are prepared to ask a few Floridians to help carry the entire state over a $6 billion budget hole, ignoring long-term fixes for a tax system that critics call an unfair and antiquated factor in the state’s dire fiscal crisis.
No-tax-hike pledge causing pain
It’s the read-my-lips moment that some Florida lawmakers dread: having to break a pledge not to raise taxes.
Tax exemptions likely staying put
The long-shot effort to eliminate some of the 200-plus sales tax exemptions for various products and services may be dead for this year.
Florida Senate gives up on tax repeals
The Florida Senate is giving up on trying to repeal sales tax exemptions due to resistance from the House and a desire to focus on other revenue-raising proposals, including a cigarette tax increase, the chamber’s finance and tax chairman said Monday.
Florida Senate proposes shutting down some corporate tax loopholes
Toys R Us could be forced to stop shielding its Florida income from taxes.
Legislators wrap up short week with talks on budget, visit by Sandra Day O’Connor
It’s the shortest week of the legislative session by far, but lawmakers on Tuesday will try to make up for lost time.
Bill has good news and bad for schools
State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, has written a bill designed to give school board members more flexibility to spend state money, free of the Legislature’s control.
EDITORIAL: Schools not held harmless
The Legislature is saying it will hold schools harmless by giving them the same per-student allocation next year that they had this year. Given the cuts schools suffered this year, that’s like a bully who just beat up a victim saying he isn’t about to hit the kid again.
Gambling would financially help Florida, economists say
The state’s top economists concluded Monday that a House plan to allow the Seminole Tribe the exclusive right to operate slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties would yield about $257 million in the first year — much more than the $100 million previously projected under the proposal.
Does more gambling equal better education?
Some state legislators are betting more gambling will mean better education.
Letter: Beware of legislating spending caps
As the citizens and governments of Florida struggle to work themselves out of a deep economic hole, some in the Legislature are working to dig the hole deeper.
Duval schools transportation vote to impact thousands
District trying to cut $4.8 million costs for next school year
Thousands of Duval County public school students could be walking a little farther to school in the fall, or their parents will have to drive them, if the School Board approves recommended changes Tuesday to its transportation policies.
Bill would limit Fla. scholarship program
Florida’s Bright Futures scholarships would no longer pay for many dropped classes under bills moving through the Legislature.
Fla. school grading may be revamped
The House is moving ahead with a proposal to include all Florida schools in an experimental federal school grading program.
School board to pay West Palm Beach $49,216 in land dispute
For at least four decades, school district administrators thought they owned the site of Northboro Elementary.
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