Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–December 23
Dec 23, 2008
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Madoff scandal to cost Palm Beach County public schools
Palm Beach County public school students rely on the Picower Foundation for after-school programs, science lessons, field trips to concerts and plays, sneak peeks into the business world and even sex education.
Crist: Not yet standing in way of new Fla. revenue
Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday that he’s not going to stand in the way of discussion about new revenue to help bail the state out of its financial mess – at least not right away.
State’s budget plan: Tap trust funds, increase debt
Florida legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Crist have agreed on a basic road map for closing a $2.3 billion budget hole next month by draining trust funds, delaying construction projects and going deeper into debt.
COLUMN: Lawmaker proposes tax on drug paraphernalia
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, whose district includes parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties, has an interesting idea for raising revenues during these tough times.
State’s Republican party slams Crist for London trip
The Republican Party of Florida spent more than $45,000 this summer on chauffeurs, a luxury hotel, meals and attractions in London about the same time Gov. Charlie Crist and others traveled there on a trade mission.
Democrats Plan To Go After ‘Empty Chair Charlie’
Buoyed by Barack Obama’s victory in Florida last month, state Democratic Party Chairman Karen Thurman today took aim at one of her next targets: Gov. Charlie Crist.
EDITORIAL: Reviving gaming compact one must-have revenue-generating option
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Facing a budgetary abyss, the Florida House of Representatives this week convened a legislative panel to resolve the stalled gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.
Broward School Board members seek change in No Child Left Behind law
Congress should put the federal No Child Left Behind law’s requirements and penalties on hold until it is improved and while school district budgets are tight, Broward School Board members said Tuesday.
Inflation Continues to Outpace Teacher Salaries Growth: Florida Ranks 29th
Educators across the nation are continuing to lose spending power for themselves and their families as inflation continued to outpace teacher salaries last year, according to NEA’s update to the annual report Rankings and Estimates: Rankings of the States 2008 and Estimates of School Statistics 2009.
- To view the updated report, click here.
Palm Beach County School District: Go green to save money
In a series of letters, Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson is asking employees to identify ways the district can conserve energy that also will help balance the district budget. Selected proposals can earn employees cash rewards of $100 to more than $2,000, based on anticipated cost savings.
Teachers union rips Broward schools over rehiring of retired administrators
Union says money wasted on retirees
The cash-strapped Broward County School District spent more than $3 million to rehire retired administrators for managerial or teaching jobs, the Broward Teachers Union said Thursday.
Fewer newcomers flocking to Florida
Economic slowdown hampers population growth
The economy is affecting Florida’s population numbers, which are rising at a slower pace that most other states, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Monday.
Obama’s aid plan may pave road to Florida jobs
Proposal would let FDOT roll out $14M in Big Bend road projects
When candidate Barack Obama promised voters on the campaign trail that “help is on the way,” he could have been talking to the millions of frustrated motorists sweltering in traffic jams across Florida.
Everglades plan meets resistance in Tallahassee
Powerful Florida lawmakers are lining up against Gov. Charlie Crist’s historic plan to restore big parts of the Everglades, creating the possibility that the $1.34 billion land deal could fall apart.
State says Manatee school funds too low; district assails state cuts
The state has pegged the Manatee County School District as one of eight in Florida that could run into major financial trouble in 2009 because of dwindling funds and low reserves.
Pasco School District And Union Reach Tentative Contract Deal
The moment was “kind of bittersweet” for Lynne Webb, president of United School Employees of Pasco.
Leon County Schools to see $4.4M in new cuts
Board begins review of possible areas to target
Tension circulated among Leon County School Board members, along with some parents, as they took the first steps in examining which areas of the school system could weaken as a result of new budget cuts.
District can’t afford to keep these schools – or sell them
LOW-BALL Offers to buy three area schools are coming in far below appraisals. VOTE DELAYED The school board will decide in January if it will proceed with sales.
The downturn in the Northeast Florida real estate market is probably part of the reason the Duval County school system received bids much lower than appraisals for three former schools it wants to sell.
COLUMN: Florida education–Principals know what works best
There’s some great news about Florida public education. Two high schools zoomed to The Top 10 of The Top 100 Gold Medal High Schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
County revokes bond amendment
The proposed Central Florida commuter rail system got a renewed go-ahead from the Volusia County Council on Thursday, when the council revoked a month-old protective amendment opposed by state transportation officials.
Taken for a ride: How Miami-Dade transit tax went off track
It was Nov. 1, 2002, four days before a historic election aimed at reshaping the transit landscape in Miami-Dade County, and a backroom deal was quietly being cemented at County Hall.
Search: Air quality reports for Lee County schools
Lee officials say there are no health problems
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection says air quality around local schools is fine, despite a report indicating high levels of formaldehyde in the air compared with other schools across the nation.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com