Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug. 29

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Exemption might not be so super

Many would be better off with Save Our Homes, analyses show.

TAMPA — Living in your dream home? Have visions of growing old there?
You’ll want to think long and hard before switching to a new “super homestead exemption” if voters approve it in January.

 

Report: Segregation in U.S. Schools is Increasing

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Public schools in the United States are becoming more racially segregated and the trend is likely to accelerate because of a Supreme Court decision in June, according to report published Wednesday.

 

Property Tax Policy Brief from the House Majority Whip’s Office

Read a policy brief on property tax reduction from State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff

 

‘Rock’ puts Crist in hard place

The governor finds out what happens when his promises create high hopes in the constituency.

TALLAHASSEE — For months, Gov. Charlie Crist has utilized his knack for compressing complex issues into crisp sound bites to create high hopes that insurance rate relief was on the way and property taxes would “drop like a rock.”

 

You Face a Big Decision on Property Taxes

This page will guide you through the Florida Legislature’s two-part package designed to cut property taxes by up to $30-billion over five years.

 

State mandate, sheriff put squeeze on county

Too bad everyone didn’t hear the ringing cell phone. Forty-two minutes into a County Commission budget meeting Monday, it signaled someone trying to contact the bystander in the white Fraternal Order of Police T-shirt by sounding the theme to a once-popular television show and a series of three movies.

 

Budget plans would release some prisoners

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers balked Tuesday at a proposal to let prisoners out early to help trim the state budget, with one senator telling Corrections Secretary Jim McDonough the option “won’t even be considered.”

 

Lawmakers to wield heavy budget ax in special session

TALLAHASSEE — As Florida Medicaid director Tom Arnold explained a list of potential budget cuts to lawmakers this week, he offered a brief aside.

 

Team Building Turns Ugly For School Board

TAMPA – A Hillsborough School Board training session erupted in accusations, scoldings and door slamming Tuesday as the group met to create a vision for the district.

 

Low land prices lure Cabinet

Despite a deficit, it wants Florida Forever to snap up environmentally sensitive acres.

TALLAHASSEE – After years of paying top dollar for environmentally sensitive land, Florida wants to jump into the buyers’ real estate market.

 

Budget Crunch Jeopardizes Services For Severely Disabled

TALLAHASSEE – For Jonathan Hughes, buying his own home in 2005 felt more like scaling a mountain than passing a milestone.

 

Tampa Treasures Tools 4 Schools

When someone has a good idea and brings it to life, it’s human nature to applaud the effort and move on. But good ideas need steady support to thrive over time, so it made sense last year for the Hillsborough Education Foundation to embrace the free store for teachers and disadvantaged students called Tools 4 Schools.

 

An Employee Perk Florida Can’t Afford

Given that Florida State University plans to freeze enrollment next year because of state budget cuts, it’s entirely reasonable that the university would stop allowing state employees to take some classes for free.

 

Budget plans would release some prisoners

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers balked Tuesday at a proposal to let prisoners out early to help trim the state budget, with one senator telling Corrections Secretary Jim McDonough the option “won’t even be considered.”

 

Stop outbound money train

Between $300 million and $400”million in gas taxes from Florida are financing mass-transportation projects in other states. The money flows out courtesy of the state’s focus on building roads that will take people farther to suburban sprawl.

 

Florida property tax cuts a disappointment to many residents

Property taxes are falling for many — but not all — Floridians, although the reductions often are not as much as expected.

 

Florida kids defy dip in SAT scores in U.S.

Flat SAT scores for this year’s Florida graduates wouldn’t seem to be good news, except by comparison to national scores, which dropped, again.