Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug. 28

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Council Members Want Unions To Fight Superexemption

TAMPA – Some city council members want to put some muscle behind defeating January’s referendum on a homestead superexemption.

 

DMS chief pans purchasing rules

The head of Florida’s housekeeping agency said Monday taxpayers often lose money on major purchases because state rules are so “complex and convoluted” that companies don’t want the bureaucratic hassle of selling to government agencies.

 

Area leaders meet to discuss future of ‘No Child’ act

Local school officials say the federal No Child Left Behind Act doesn’t provide an apples to apples comparison of how students in Florida perform compared to other states and offers punishments rather than rewards.

 

Low pay drives Florida Highway Patrol troopers to the exits

35% leave each year, creating a shortage of officers.

Longtime Florida Highway Patrol troopers continue to leave the agency in droves for higher-paying jobs as police officers, deputy sheriffs and even federal air marshals.

 

Budget cuts could influence ability to prosecute cases

State’s Attorney Earl Moreland said Monday that proposed state budget cuts would hurt his office’s ability to respond to rising crime in the area.

 

Florida’s housing slump blamed for lower tax revenues

Tallahassee Facing the worst budget crunch since the 2001 terrorist attacks devastated Florida’s tourist economy, state legislators on Monday were told they might need to slash state spending by more than $2 billion over the next two years.

 

Editorial:  Work together

School Board and Blue Ribbon Panel should iron out their differences.

You can’t blame some members of Orange County’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Education for being frustrated after the way their groundbreaking report was treated by the School Board.

 

Florida’s fiscal outlook bleak

Budget-cut talks may last to spring

The fiscal picture is getting gloomier and budget cutting will have to stretch longer, into next spring, lawmakers learned Monday.

 

New panel to coordinate state agencies to benefit state’s youth

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp was appointed Tuesday to head a new state cabinet that will help agencies coordinate children’s needs.

 

Editorial:  Boundary jumpers deserve a stern hand for lying

“Boundary jumpers” in Palm Beach County face a felony for lying on school enrollment forms.

It may seem like a harsh move, making felons out of parents who lie to get their kids into their preferred public schools, but that’s how desperate the Palm Beach County School District has gotten to crack down on the unfair practice of “boundary jumping.”

 

List of School Board hopefuls grows

The pool of those bidding for the Palm Beach County School Board seat left open when Bob Kanjian joined the county commission is now at double digits. The newest candidates to petition for Gov. Charlie Crist’s appointment to the school board include:

 

State to raise billions less

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s economic slowdown won’t bottom out until next year, state economists said Monday. That means lawmakers will not only have to cut $1 billion from the current year budget next month to balance the books, they’ll have to consider a $2.5 billion shortfall next year.

 

Pre-K program gives kids a taste of school

The voluntary prekindergarten classes help get the little learners ready for the real thing.

It was a day of tears and sighs, spilled milk and many requests to use the bathroom.

 

How teachers talk about God determines whether Hebrew charter school is legal

When do you let God into the public classroom?

State and Broward County educators say during junior- and senior-level courses such as The Bible as Literature, Old Testament History or Jewish History.