Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–February 10
Feb 10, 2009
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$1 billion deficit in schools budget could force tax increase
One year after Gov. Charlie Crist led the campaign to carve a property tax cut into the state constitution, Florida property owners could face a tax hike as lawmakers stare down a $1 billion hole in the public school budget.
Despite Amendment 1, Floridians are still trapped in their homes
Gov. Charlie Crist and a throng of supporters packed the lawn of Keith and Elizabeth Markowitz’s Orlando home to launch the Amendment 1 property tax campaign last year with a promise: If the referendum passed, they would no longer be “trapped in their homes.”
State lawmakers unlikely to make big changes to Florida’s property tax structure
Some property owners could see a break on their property taxes next year, but they may not have lawmakers to thank.
EDITORIAL: Lawmakers’ chance to get tax reform right
The Florida Supreme Court’s decision to block an ill-conceived, simplistic property tax cut from the ballot is good news for Florida and an unexpected gift for state lawmakers.
Senate budget leader sees more Fla. spending cuts
Florida won’t get enough federal stimulus money to avoid more budget cuts, the state Senate’s budget leader said Monday.
In Fort Myers, Obama vows to create jobs, provide foreclosure aid
Speaking to Florida residents who have seen their area’s unemployment rate triple in recent years, President Barack Obama on Tuesday promised the No. 1 priority of his economic stimulus plan is job creation.
Florida among State budgets being delayed by stimulus debate
Several governors have decided to hold up budgets until the stimulus bill is completed, while others have proposed budgets based on what they expect to receive and are keeping a watchful eye on House-Senate negotiations.
In crunching budgets, they seek input, which is gladly given.
As Florida school districts struggle to dig out of a deepening financial hole, the people who run them are embracing a new philosophy:
Business leaders, experts say road to recovery starts with local government
The road out of recession starts at the school house, bypasses red tape at city hall and the state house and ends in Washington, D.C. with help from the federal government.
State Teachers union seeks sales tax hike
One bill calls for an extra penny for 3 years, generating $3.5 billion
The state’s teachers union is betting that parents and educators are so fed up with budget cuts that they’ll help pass a penny sales tax increase to raise money for schools – a move that likely would fail miserably in normal economic times.
Broward School Board to discuss shrinking construction budget
The drop will likely force School Board members to once again reprioritize its list of which new schools to build and which existing ones to improve.
EDITORIAL: Florida shouldn’t turn away estate-tax revenue
In 2003, Florida collected $558 million in inheritance taxes. Last year, it didn’t collect a cent.
NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Voucher program may expand under new legislation
A school-choice advocacy group said low-income Florida students receiving corporate scholarships to private schools could lose their funding in a souring economy if the Legislature does not step in.
Legislators plan to revisit class size
Facing more budget cuts, Florida Senate education leaders said Thursday they will consider asking voters to change a 2002 constitutional amendment that placed limits on school class sizes.
State charter schools get a reprieve from class size reduction rules
Florida’s class size reduction amendment has caused much gnashing of teeth in public school districts since it was passed in 2002.
EDITORIAL: Survey of the state
This week the Florida Legislature heard your collective thoughts on a number of key issues — the economy, growth and taxes, just to name a few.
Bay area agencies, schools get $1.5M
Floridas attorney general Bill McCollum and Alex Sink, chief financial officer, gave checks totaling nearly $1.5 million to six Tampa area public entities, including Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools.
Port St. Lucie may run $10 million deficit; tax hikes, cuts studied
With property tax values expected to hit the 2005 level and increasing costs, Port St. Lucie’s general fund for the 2009-10 budget year may run a deficit of $10 million, officials said Friday.
EDITORIAL: Miami-Dade School budget plan faces big challenges
OUR OPINION: Superintendent’s proposal buys time, breathing room
The $56 million plan rolled out last week by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to balance the Miami-Dade County Schools budget is both smart and creative.
Palm Beach School Board to spend up to $100,000 for an expert on student behavior issues
A year ago, a committee of parents and school district staff recommended many of the changes the district now will have to make to settle a complaint filed by three civil rights groups on behalf of special education students and the NAACP.
As students’ reading scores rise, coaches are cut
At the height of the state’s push to improve reading, more than 2,500 reading coaches worked in Florida schools.
Fla. officials release textbook pricing guidelines
The governing boards for the state university and community college systems want to ensure that textbooks assigned by professors are going to be used in class.
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