Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–July 15
Jul 15, 2008
Â
To read a complete story, click on a headline below:
Â
Since the National Economic Estimating Conference held in February, the housing downturn has deepened and the future economic outlook has darkened.
- To view the revised Florida Estimating Impact Conference Summer, 2008 schedule, click here.
Editorial: Our view: Trash the swap
Voters should turn down risky tax proposal that destabilizes school funding
Floridians voted in 2002 to amend the state Constitution to protect pregnant pigs.
COLUMN:Â Developer fixes the unfixable
Two months after developer Thirrel Altman received a big property tax break on 21 lots along the Indian River, he had solved the problem that justified it, records show.
Retiree benefits drain county dry
Broward’s summer budget woes suddenly got worse: At least $19 million more in cuts are needed to fund an emergency plan to cover looming — and largely hidden — public safety health benefit costs.
Miami-Dade schools to take $31.5M from rainy-day fund
Several members of the Miami-Dade School Board were outraged to learn that the district would have to raid its rainy-day fund to balance the books.
The Miami-Dade school district finished the 2007-2008 fiscal year $66.5 million over-budget, and will need to withdraw $31.5 million out of its rainy-day fund to close its books, district officials said Thursday.
‘Cutting’ adds $4.8 million to budget
The plan was to cut $2.7 million. Instead, they added $4.8 million.
Digging deeper into reserves and reversing earlier decisions to cut, Palm Beach County commissioners on Monday walked out of a daylong meeting intended for cost-cutting having put $7.5 million more than they had planned into next year’s proposed budget.
Palm Beach County health district endorses rise in tax rate
The Health Care District tentatively voted this week to approve a 12.1 percent hike in the property tax rate it imposes countywide. The district’s unelected board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a rate of 99.75 cents for each $1,000 in taxable property value for the budget year that begins Oct. 1. The board can vote before then to reduce the tentative rate, but it cannot increase the rate without taking expensive steps to notify the public.
Socked by state-mandated tax cuts and a tough economy, Orlando’s leaders will likely raise property taxes and make deep cuts in services to close a $30.million city budget shortfall.
Pasco Television Presents Budget Tutorial
The Pasco County government TV series “Profiles on Pasco” will focus on the budget process and proposed spending in the coming fiscal year.
OPINION:Â Is this fee really necessary?
The eight-figure numbers are the city’s property tax revenues in dollars for the years listed. The next column is the percentage increase from year to year. And the last column is the millage (the property tax rate).
District may drive up fees for education
Driver’s ed class could cost $100
Gasoline might not be the only rising cost for teen drivers.
COLUMN:Â Florida taxes bad? Not compared with New York’s
I’ve been on a two-week hiatus — otherwise known as the family summer vacation — but real estate news followed in my wake like so many exhaust fumes.
Broward and Palm Beach schools deserve kudos
ISSUE: Broward and Palm Beach schools earn A’s and B’s.
Instead of singing the blues over low achievement, most public schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties are rejoicing. That’s because many of the schools in both counties aced the state’s student progress report.
Grade search: How did your child’s school fare?
Search our database to find your school’s grades for 2008 and each year since the 1998-1999 school year.
4 Dade schools turn around their FCAT grades
Four Miami-Dade schools made extraordinary three-grade jumps in school grades this year. The trick? Tutoring, teamwork and technology, principals said.
Last year, Principal Johnnie Brown was forced to confront ”the scarlet letter” of public education: F.
Crist Embarks on 11-Day European Trade Mission
To help revive Florida’s economy, Gov. Charlie Crist is going on his third taxpayer-backed trade mission.
At a cost to taxpayers of $255,000, Gov. Charlie Crist embarks with staff and dozens of corporate executives Saturday on an 11-day European trade mission in the hope of striking business deals to spark Florida’s flagging economy.
DFS announces consolidation of state call centers
Florida CFO Alex Sink: Moves will save $5M over five years
Call-center operations in nine offices that take consumer complaints around the state will consolidate into two as the Florida Department of Financial Services moves to save $1 million a year.
Auto dealer protests Marlins deal on first day of trial
Auto dealer Norman Braman took the stand Monday on the first day of the trial in his lawsuit over financing for a Florida Marlins ballpark and other Miami projects, and explained why he thinks the public should vote on those deals.
OPINION:Â Four-day week would help schools
It is time to take national action on fuel prices. We can save millions of gallons of fuel daily without sacrificing anything. To make that happen, we must change the work schedules for a small percentage of our population.
No Child Left Behind Law Dominant Issue at NEA Representative Assembly
The No Child Left Behind Act, and the compliance demands it imposes on schools, was the center of attention at this year’s National Education Association convention, which just concluded in Washington, D.C. Donna DeKraai with the South Dakota Education Association says a major concern for South Dakota schools is simply meeting the requirements of the law.
How the Left Can Avoid a New Education War
A battle is brewing between portions of the civil-rights community and teacher unions over the future of liberal education policy. Â
Just as Democrats have finally settled on a nominee and begun to unite, a major new fight has broken out between competing factions in the liberal education-policy community.
Sorting out the dueling education coalitions
If you’ve had enough pure politics for the week, here’s some recommended reading for the weekend: a fine article by Richard D. Kahlenberg in The American Prospect analyzing the two big education coalitions recently formed to influence progressive politicians.
In recruiting, sunshine is a plus, school systems aren’t
The Sunshine State’s climate is a big plus for recruiting skilled workers. But Florida needs to improve its education system to attract high-tech industry, says a new study.
Union head tells teachers to avoid Miami-Dade schools
Speaking to a national audience Monday, the head of the Miami-Dade teachers union urged prospective teachers to stay away from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
School board member’s e-mail usage under fire
A Miami-Dade School Board member running for reelection in August is facing sharp criticism after sending an e-mail to teachers through a top school administrator.
Miami-Dade School Board member Martin Karp is under fire after a top schools administrator sent an e-mail to all district teachers on his behalf.