Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners – Friday, January 21
Jan 21, 2011
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Blog: Florida House Democratic leader open to sales tax increase to pay for property tax cut
Florida House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said he could support a sales tax increase to help pay for a property tax cut that Republican Governor Rick Scott is pushing.
Florida Governor Scott plans tax cuts
Despite skepticism by top legislative leaders, Governor Rick Scott said Wednesday he will rally public support and convince lawmakers to dig out of a $3.5-billion revenue hole and cut taxes at the same time.
As Florida Legislature cuts school budgets, it may revive local option tax
Some local school officials accuse state lawmakers of ‘passing the buck’
As public schools in Florida brace for big budget cuts next school year, key state lawmakers will consider allowing local districts to keep charging an optional property tax introduced two years ago.
Blog: Class-size penalties total $32 million statewide
Florida’s school districts and some of its charter schools will together lose nearly $32 million in education funding this year because they failed to meet the state’s strict class-size rules.
Libraries make plea to preserve crucial state funding
Outside library branches in Levy County, crowds often gather after hours.
Pembroke Pines takes school board tax fight to appeals court
Lawyers will argue in a Tallahassee courtroom Wednesday about whether the Broward County School Board has cheated the Pembroke Pines charter system out of millions of dollars a year since 2006.
Column: Time bomb of rising bills awaits Floridians
Through these tough economic times, we’ve kept some hefty bills artificially low. The day to pay up is coming soon.
Bet you didn’t know Florida already is the fourth-biggest gaming state in the nation.
Hollywood approves lease for Margaritaville resort on beach
The pact includes no tax incentives, but the city will back the developer’s bonds to build a new $30 million parking garage
After more than 50 years in the making, Hollywood signed a century-long deal Wednesday that will transform one of the last undeveloped beaches in South Florida.
Homestead is considering proposals to lease the city-owned baseball stadium.
Homestead may have found tenants for its costly and long-empty baseball stadium.
Florida lawmaker pushes bill to end Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test
A new state legislator has filed a bill to rid Florida’s schools of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test, saying they cause too much stress in students
Saying the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test creates more harm than good, a freshman state legislator said Tuesday she is championing a bill in the House that would do away with the annual state exams.
It’s time to grade parents, new bill proposes
Every year, Florida’s students, schools and districts are graded based on their performance. Now, it’s time to start rating parents, a state lawmaker says.
Bill proposes giving undocumented students in-state tuition rates
For years, former state RepresentativeJuan Carlos Zapata tried unsuccessfully to get his fellow Republicans in Tallahassee to pass a bill that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Florida’s public universities.
School superintendents gather in Hillsborough to discuss reforms
Some two dozen Florida school superintendents and union chiefs gathered Wednesday to find common ground in the contentious debate over improving the state’s education system.
On merit pay, an ‘A’ for cooperation between district, teachers
Relations between the Palm Beach County School District and the Classroom Teachers Association have been getting worse.
Broward schools need to market themselves, School Board says
To combat the growing popularity of charter schools and voucher programs, Broward schools need to pump up their marketing efforts, School Board members said Tuesday.
Enrollment, research up at public universities across Florida
Enrollment at Florida’s public universities is growing, the amount spent on research and development is increasing, and online instruction is expanding.
Cardinal Gibbons gets win in fight to use stadium lights
Athletes could soon be playing for the first time ever at night at Cardinal Gibbons High School, to the chagrin of some neighbors.
Blog: Acting principal named at Hallandale High School
Hallandale High School Assistant Principal Anthony Dorsett has been appointed acting principal while his boss, Darren S. Jones, fights a charge of aggravated child abuse.
Fired Morikami school treasurer arrested on fraud, grand theft charges
An elementary school treasurer who lost his job earlier this year after being accused of using school money to buy a car and other personal items is in jail this morning facing charges of grand theft and fraud.
Woman accused in threats from Broward schools lockdown planning insanity defense, documents say
The woman accused of making threats that triggered a November lockdown of all Broward County schools is planning an insanity defense.
New York Governor Christie Calls for More Cuts and Big Changes to Schools
Governor Chris Christie signaled Tuesday that his second year in office will be as full of conflict and wrenching change as his first, calling for more deep cuts in state spending and public employee benefits, and a broad education overhaul that quickly drew scorn from Democrats.
Northridge Ohio schools put 1 percent income tax on ballot
Voters rejected tax in fall; cuts still would be needed
The Northridge school board voted unanimously last night to place a 1 percent income-tax request on the May ballot. The amount could help stabilize district finances but wouldn’t prevent budget cuts, members said.
The 82nd Texas Legislature: Schools shudder at cuts
Massive layoffs, large class sizes, higher property taxes among fears as educators assess budget proposal
Houston-area school leaders warned of layoffs and larger class sizes Wednesday after the Texas House proposed much deeper budget cuts than they had expected.
California cities race to shield funds from state
As Jerry Brown seeks to kill redevelopment agencies, officials move to protect the groups’ money. They see a raid by Sacramento, while the state says the funds are needed to protect vital services
A revolt by city officials against Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to abolish municipal redevelopment agencies is rapidly spreading across the state.
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