Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug. 7

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Broward school board members agree to hire Jim Notter as superintendent of schools

Jim Notter has become Broward’s 18th superintendent of schools–on his 61st birthday.  School board members unanimously agreed today to hire Notter to lead the nation’s sixth largest school district at least through 2010.

 

Save Our Homes challenge tossed; appeal planned

TALLAHASSEE — The man who led a drive to put a homeowners tax break into the state constitution said Tuesday he was confident the amendment will survive an appeal that could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

Lower taxes for Broward homeowners might mean higher fees

Riding a bus, adopting a pet, visiting a park, returning an overdue library book and parking at the airport may soon be more expensive in Broward County.

 

No tax cut for Disney’s district

Another Central Florida government is preparing to ignore the Florida Legislature’s recent order to slash property taxes — but, unlike others, it doesn’t have to worry about igniting a revolt among tax-weary voters.

 

Residents explore options in light of tax plan

As summer tax notices arrive, Broward County residents may be surprised by how little their taxes have changed.

 

Other states’ tax advice? Good luck

State lawmakers at a national conference get an earful of their peers’ property tax struggles.

BOSTON – When Florida lawmakers passed a plan to reduce property taxes in June, they gathered under a sign boasting of historic cuts and spent 30 minutes slapping each other’s back.

 

Supreme Court may consider part-timers’ Save Our Homes suit

Florida’s controversial property-tax cap for residents is finally drawing more than just sharp words from part-timers paying higher taxes for their beachfront homes.

 

Tax bills top Florida voter concerns

Note to Charlie Crist and state lawmakers: Your top priority should be addressing economic issues like taxes, energy costs and higher-paying jobs, according to a survey of voters by one of the state’s biggest business lobby groups.

 

County vows to fight takeover of housing agency

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Manager George Burgess took defiant swipes Tuesday afternoon at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s takeover of the county’s troubled housing agency.

 

Get ready for budget pain

If Gov. Charlie Crist honestly views the state’s $1.5-billion shortfall as merely “an opportunity to continue to tighten our belt,” he is living in a budgetary bubble. The new financial forecast reflects an ominous trend for at least the next four years and is directly at odds with his promises to schoolteachers and university presidents.

 

Tax commissioners offer property tax proposals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Homeowners would be allowed to take existing tax breaks with them when they move under a proposal made Monday to some members of a constitutional tax and budget panel.

 

Palm Beach County educators to tell legislators: Don’t cut our funding

The Palm Beach County School Board has a message for the state Legislature when it convenes a special session in September: Don’t touch education dollars.

 

Elementary pupils to get 30 minutes of PE every day this year

As the Aug. 22 start of the school year gets nearer, the Palm Beach County School District is closer to figuring out how it will implement 30 minutes of daily physical education into elementary school schedules.