Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug. 23

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Business group backs tax amendment

TALLAHASSEE — One of the state’s largest business groups today endorsed a controversial proposal by Republican lawmakers to lower property taxes.

 

Broward teachers get 5.6% pay raise

Broward’s public school teachers have a tentative contract that calls for an average 5.59 percent raise and boosts starting pay for teachers to the highest in the region.

 

Hebrew lessons on hold at charter school

A charter school with a focus on Hebrew language is leaving out the language component for the next few weeks.

 

Commission: Cut bureaucracy, save services

In their most concrete discussion of Miami-Dade’s impending budget crunch, county commissioners Thursday suggested dipping into cash reserves and cutting unspecified bureaucratic costs in order to preserve funding to community organizations, parks maintenance and other services.

 

Education law has unlikely advocates on both sides

If you like your politics full of surprising twists, you’ll absolutely adore the debate over renewing the No Child Left Behind Act when it kicks into gear next month. The landmark federal education law is supported and opposed by so many unexpected fellow travelers that you might think Washington has fallen off its axis.

 

Disappointing tax notices has homeowners owners asking, ‘Where’s the drop?’

Two months ago, a triumphant Gov. Charlie Crist visited Palm Springs and promised that a tax reform package he had just signed would cause property taxes to “drop like a rock.”

 

Our view: No slots for tots

Don’t tie more Florida school funding to unreliable gambling revenues

Gov. Charlie Crist suggested Tuesday that a deal allowing the Seminole Tribe to run Las Vegas-style slot machines could plug a budget hole of up to $700 million in public school funding.

 

Role of race in schools still proves divisive

As Orange County schools continue to work toward lifting court-ordered desegregation orders, the two sides of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision offered advice Tuesday on the role race will play in the future of public education.

 

Prosecutors warn against budget cuts

TALLAHASSEE — Even a small budget cut would give the bad guys the upper hand, prosecutors are warning Gov. Charlie Crist.

 

DBCC board’s makeup concerns community leaders

DAYTONA BEACH — Your money — tax revenue and tuition — is the source of a $77 million budget at Daytona Beach Community College.

 

Labor agency clerk gets 10 years, must pay back $2.4M

The prosecution said Brenda Felder used the funds of Broward County’s labor agency as her ”own personal ATM.” Her own lawyer contended that she stole from the people of Broward County. The judge agreed.

 

Change to cityhood is a complicated decision

From Day One, Neighbors has told the stories of residents fighting proposed bowling alleys, strip malls and other developments as a growing distrust and sense of alienation from the county government brewed.

 

Fla. Primary A Concern To Democrats

WASHINGTON – Top officials of the national Democratic Party are threatening tougher-than-expected sanctions against Florida over its too-early Jan. 29 presidential primary date.