Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug 6

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Judge upholds Save Our Homes law

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida law that shifted about $7.8 billion in property taxes from homesteaders to all other property owners this year is ”even-handed” and not discriminatory, a Tallahassee judge ruled Monday.

 

Tax commissioners offer property tax proposals

Homeowners got a little closer Monday to being able to take existing tax breaks with them when they move.

 

PBC school district wants more control of state cash

The Palm Beach County School District is calling on the state legislature to scrap Florida’s Merit Award Program, tap the rainy day fund and give school districts more discretion in how they use education money to try to curb what could be a $27 million shortfall this year.

 

Grassroots groups organize to seek lower property taxes

Joe Raineri, a radio talk show host in Palm Beach County, got mad one day about property taxes and decided to do something about it. So did part-time Broward County residents Bill Levison and James Guglielmo, as well as others including Dory Kilburn and Frank MacNeil.

 

Downtown BID district will continue

While property owners across the state celebrate tax reform, some in downtown Coral Gables have agreed to keep taxing themselves more for shared marketing and advocacy services.

 

State gains ground in burying bureaucratic babble

TALLAHASSEE — Too many cooks spoil the broth.  That is the plain language version of an old saying.

 

Notter expected to be a shoo-in as Broward school chief

Interim Superintendent Jim Notter soon will become permanent. 

 

Some anti-tax groups in Florida

CUTTER or Citizens Urging Total Tax Education & Reform:

 

More casinos a sure bet for South Florida

Floridians defeated casinos in bruising statewide votes in 1978, 1986 and 1994. But that was before poker rooms throughout the state and slot machines at Indian reservations and Broward County parimutuels made Florida what it rejected three times over: a gambling state.

 

State fortunes will rise as home prices go down

Not only is the drop in home prices good for Palm Beach County, the Treasure Coast and Florida, prices need to go down more, and soon. The shakeout won’t be easy, but it’s necessary and overdue.

 

Hillsborough County Contemplates Free Fares

TAMPA — Riding the bus could get a whole lot cheaper. Try free.

 

Op-Ed: Superexemption Will Kill Save Our Homes Cap

Floridians love their Save Our Homes homestead protection. Personally, I love the fact that I have a 3 percent cap on any property tax increase each year.

 

Forbes:  Katrina’s Surprise

In the hurricane’s aftermath, a charter school in New Orleans defies the odds and thrives.

 

Housing downturn bankrupts borrowers

The housing boom may seem a distant memory, but experts say the real-estate speculation and “creative” financing it generated are now driving many investors and homeowners into bankruptcy, especially in Central Florida.

 

Real estate recovery hopes fizzle with rise of mortgages in default

Foreclosure filings across South Florida continue to rise, as hopes for a housing recovery have fizzled.

 

A GOP Muddle On Taxes

The 42 senators and 196 House members who have signed a no-tax-increase pledge received a stern warning Wednesday from Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform: If you vote for Amendment 2548 to the Democratic-sponsored expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), you will violate your solemn promise. However, Amendment 2548 is not the product of tax-and-spend liberals but of conservative lawmakers and policy experts.

 

Palm Beach County should not spend public money on amendment campaign

Governments should not use public money for political campaigns. Reading your article about Palm Beach County’s intentions to educate the voters on the property tax amendment with an expensive campaign reminded me why Senate Bill 734 is so important.

 

Education erased from issue board in campaign talk

Despite an early start, a large stable of candidates and an unprecedented level of media attention, the 2008 presidential race has been largely missing an issue that many experts call central to the state and the country’s future – education.