Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–January 6
Jan 6, 2009
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Budget deficit could grow $700 million by June 30
Florida is even deeper in the red than expected and the state deficit could grow by another $700 million by the end of this budget year, lawmakers learned Monday as they began their special session to balance the budget.
Florida tax collections fall $100 million short
Lawmakers will have to make deeper spending cuts than anticipated because December tax collections fell $100 million below forecast, Senate President Jeff Atwater said as the Legislature convened Monday in special session to confront a growing budget deficit.
Schools, health programs face massive cuts from Legislature
Faced with a $2.3 billion budget hole, Florida lawmakers began a special session Monday and appeared poised to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from education and health programs.
Officials ‘uneasy’ about session’s impact on public schools
Big Bend school superintendents wary of what the Legislature’s emergency session will mean for education say they hope lawmakers will come up with solutions and listen to their recommendations.
Locals step up calls to keep education funds intact
Four education groups have bought airtime to encourage community members to call their representatives and plead for no cuts to education during the current special session.
Learning that state revenue fell by another $100 million last month, Florida lawmakers began their new year on Monday preparing to cut some $1 billion in funding for schools, nursing homes and other government services as they try to resolve a deficit in the state budget.
Education Union Proposes Sales Tax Increase
Lawmakers Addressing Budget Crisis Wednesday
The Florida Education Association (FEA) is pushing for a sales tax increase to help struggling schools.
Florida Legislature to focus on cutting spending first, according to Republican leadership
Florida legislators today began a two-week special session, cutting close to $2.3 billion out of the state’s already-reduced state budget to cope with tough economic times. Democrats tried to get a cigarette tax, or some other revenues, on the table for negotiation at the start of the session. But the Republican leadership signaled that it is intent on cutting first — especially in the House, where the minority party’s tax attempt fizzled in a procedural vote.
EDITORIAL: Special session gives Legislature an opportunity to strategically focus on finances
Here are some specific recommendations for legislators, whose GOP leaders, Rep. Ray Sansom and Sen. Jeff Atwater, seem to have few specific plans designed to deal with a multibillion-dollar budget crunch:
Government partners: State, counties need cooperation
For many, the role of government is like their health it only gets attention when it does not work.
It is even less important which roles belong to federal, state, county or city government. What matters is that the job gets done.
State senator to push for giving schools financial flexibility
In preparation for Monday’s special legislative session, Pasco County schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino has been urging Florida lawmakers to look for ways to ease spending requirements placed on school districts.
End fees for affordable homes, Palm Beach County group urges
A coalition of business and community leaders has proposed a change to state law that would allow cities and counties to waive the fees tacked on to the price of a new home as long as the development is deemed “affordable.”
Orlando area’s tax revenue shrinks as tourists stay away
Orange County’s hotel-tax collections plunged more than 13 percent in November as a widening global recession choked off travel to Orlando.
Palmetto looks at cutting budget
Facing property and sales tax shortfalls, the city commissioners were presented Monday with a list of budget cuts to consider.
New year to bring similar budget challenges for local governments
If 2008 was a year filled with budget cuts, then 2009 isnt shaping up to be much better.
While officials in both Collier and Lee counties said its too early to tell what the economy will do to their dwindling budgets, one thing is for sure: Deficits are a possibility.
Tax exemption letters headed to Florida veterans
About 265,000 of the 1.8 million veterans or their surviving spouses who live in Florida should be receiving letters this week from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that can be used for a property tax exemption.
Cost of Bright Futures makes outlook uncertain
The extreme financial pressures facing Florida are forcing lawmakers to take a hard look at everything the state offers, no matter how popular.
Study Touts Benefits Of School Vouchers
The number of students in Florida receiving private school vouchers backed by corporate taxes has grown by 86 percent since 2003, to nearly 21,500 students, according to the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability, an agency that conducts research for the Legislature.
COMMENTARY: Vouchers can revive budget, but make private schools pass test
The solution to Florida’s budget crisis is in state report No. 08-68.
Prepared by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Governmental Accountability, it says we save $1.50 in education costs for every $1 we spend on school vouchers.
EDITORIAL: Powerball might entice more suckers, but Florida schools shouldn’t expect a big payout
Feeling lucky? The Powerball lottery may be your game, with winning odds of 1 in 198 million. You have an astronomically better chance of being struck by lightning or eaten by a shark.
Miami-Dade schools’ finances draw state scrutiny
The Miami-Dade school district has increased its reserves, but additional budget cuts are likely needed, meaning more layoffs and program cuts.
Eight Florida school districts — including Miami-Dade — are being monitored by the state Department of Education because their reserves are dangerously low.
EDITORIAL: Miami-Dade teachers, district should compromise
OUR OPINION: Both sides must give a little to resolve salary impasse
The budget situation keeps getting grimmer for Florida’s public schools. State lawmakers are saying there will be more cuts to education funding during the special session to meet the $2.3 billion shortfall in the state budget that lasts another six months. There’s no good news on the horizon, either. More than likely the Legislature will trim school spending further during the regular session.
Two Northwest Dade schools make list of Top 500 in U.S.
Two high schools in Northwest Miami Dade were chosen among the top schools in the United States.
Doral Academy Charter High School and Hialeah Gardens’ Mater Academy Charter High School were chosen among America’s Best High Schools for the second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report.
Hillsborough Schools Trim Budgetary Fat
The Hillsborough County School District is taking steps to save money in the food services budget. Here are some of the changes and the savings reaped:
House speaker resigns college job
House Speaker Ray Sansom reluctantly resigned a six-figure job at his hometown college Monday, succumbing to intense public criticism and questions about tens of millions in tax dollars he steered to the school.
Stock market losses take toll on Florida universities’ endowments
The new year could bring some new cuts for the state university system as the financial crisis cuts endowments and dampens prospects for raising money – even as state support also dwindles.
Two community colleges may become state colleges
Two South Florida community colleges soon may convert to “state colleges” as part of an effort to increase the number of Floridians graduating with four-year degrees.
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