Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–January 22
Jan 22, 2009
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State Board of Education will examine funding crisis
Without intending to, South Florida school superintendents invoked the help of the state Board of Education in their quest to rethink how — and how much — the state pays for public schools.
Crist readying for possible Fla. deficit vetoes
Gov. Charlie Crist says he has his veto pen ready for a budget deficit-elimination package but wont use it until next week.
House Speaker: New taxes won’t solve state’s economic problems
Fresh from a painful $2.6 billion budget-balancing exercise, and facing a potential $4 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget year, House Speaker Ray Sansom is more determined than ever to hold the line on taxes.
Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy brain-storms solutions to the state’s economic crisis
Dozens of Palm Beach County citizens lined up to offer advice to state senators today as they met to address Florida’s economic crisis.
Loophole Fix Could Reduce Budget Woes
Although the Florida Legislature slashed budgets for schools, children’s health care and living assistance for the elderly in its recent special session, it ignored a couple of easy fixes – loopholes in corporate tax law – that could have produced revenue to avoid some of the worst cuts.
Survey: Floridians back cigarette tax, gays’ right to adopt
Voters in Florida support a $1 increase to the state’s 34-cents a pack tax on cigarettes by a whopping 72-17 percent margin, according to a new poll.
Florida voters say that it’s time to tax smokers, that gays should be able to adopt children and that the state’s ”Bright Futures” college scholarship program is seen by most as a sacred cow that shouldn’t be sacrificed for budget-cutting expediency, according to a new poll.
State bill seeks to expand funding pool for school voucher program
Florida’s largest voucher program would see its potential funding base and applicant pool expand under a bill filed Tuesday.
Pasco County School Board member Kathryn Starkey may run for state House
Kathryn Starkey has spent the past few days telling people she’s not long for the Pasco County School Board.
Closing schools among ideas thrown around to save money in St. Lucie
Scenarios including closing some public schools and sending their students to other schools reportedly are being discussed by officials as among many ideas to deal with an expected $30 million loss in education funding next school year.
Brevard Schools brace for huge cuts next year
The Brevard County School Board prepared for a $10.06 million cut Tuesday, while bracing for a bigger blow to hit classrooms next school year.
Pasco schools brace for more pain
The Florida Legislature’s special session didn’t take as big a bite out of the Pasco County School District’s budget as originally expected.
New Florida school grading system goes beyond FCAT
A tough new system to evaluate Florida’s high schools could make it harder for them to earn good grades but may provide a more in-depth look at what is happening on their campuses.
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