Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–July 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above:  As part of this week’s Team Florida Trade and Business Development Mission to the United Kingdom, Florida Governor Charlie Crist met with  His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, who serves as the United Kingdom’s special representative for international trade and investment.   The Mission includes visits  to the United Kingdom, as well as to France, Russia and Spain, during  July 12-22, 2008, to encourage trade and investment in Florida and its international partners with a focus on aerospace, aviation and alternative energy.  This will be the Governor’s third business development mission since taking office in 2007. Most recently, last November the Governor led the largest single-state delegation to Brazil in United States history, which generated more than $300 million in actual and anticipated sales.

Below:  Governor Crist discusses details of the trip with Florida House Speaker Designate Ray Sansom after inaugurating the “Florida Pavillion” at the Farnborough International Air Show, one of the largest aerospace and aviation shows in the world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To view a complete story, click on a headline below:

 

Florida Senate Releases 2008-2009 Interim Work Program

Education projects can be viewed on Page 72 through Page 79.

Amendment 5 debate intensifies

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos on Tuesday scheduled 10 public forums on a plan to abolish property taxes for school support and make legislators find billions of dollars in replacement revenues.

Grassroots organization opposes proposed property tax hike

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is hosting a town hall meeting July 29 at the Winter Park Library to discuss property taxes, gas prices and how to more effectively communicate with elected officials, according to a news release.

Broward budget plan slices property taxes, spending

Broward homeowners should expect their county property taxes to drop an average of $96 this year if the county’s proposed budget is approved this summer.

Property-tax bills likely to rise in Orlando

Property-tax rates are likely heading up in Orlando, city commissioners said Tuesday as they worked to plug a $30 million budget gap.

COLUMN:  Go for it, Orlando: Property tax is a stake in the future

I think of it as an opportunity to once again lampoon Amendment 1, the property-tax amendment pushed by Vice President Charlie Crist.

EDITORIAL:  School Funding: Our kids, our future

The public school students are being shortchanged.

Not just this year, but as a routine part of Jacksonville’s history.

EDITORIAL:  Not what the voters bargained for

When Floridians voted themselves a modest property tax cut last fall – about $240 a year, on average – by passing Amendment 1, just what impact it would have on public services was unknown. We are confident, though, that most who voted yes on the measure did so believing it would not result in measurable cutbacks to something as essential as law enforcement.

After Jabil pact, public may get look at tax break deals

In the wake of a multimillion-dollar deal for Jabil Circuit, Mayor Rick Baker said Tuesday he is now open to more public scrutiny when private companies come asking for tax breaks.

Old Water Lines Spur Interest in Tax Rate

Aging water lines and the potential for costly breaks has at least one City Council member questioning a recommendation to lower property taxes in next year’s budget.

Counting on parking violators puts hole in New Port Richey budget

No doubt shrinking property tax revenues have put the squeeze on the city.

Florida fiscal outlook troubled

The top job-loss state in the nation. Shrinking wages. Collapsing population growth. Record foreclosures.

Dade County manager defends stadium funding

Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess said whether the Florida Marlins secured a good deal on a new ballpark was not his prime concern in trying to keep the franchise in South Florida.

Metrorail projects going far off-track

Miami-Dade County voters who supported a half-cent sales tax in 2002 with the expectation of widespread Metrorail expansion better brace themselves.

Raising tax rate in Hollywood seen as option

Faced with 112 potential job cuts and other service reductions, Hollywood commissioners Wednesday wrestled with increasing the tax rate, raising fire fees and outsourcing city services to soften the blow to the city’s $324.6 million budget.

Port St. Lucie to have fewer police officers

There will be fewer police officers on the streets this fall after a divided city council today agreed to target the biggest single spender of property taxes – the police department.

 
EDITORIAL: Indian River County taxpayers about to be ‘schooled’ on tax bills

‘County taxes may fall 10 percent,’ stated the headline in Saturday’s Press Journal. Don’t take those savings to the bank yet.

Crew’s grim budget forecast: layoffs and cuts to programs

Under the proposed Miami-Dade schools budget, alternative education centers would be cut and the district’s innovative secondary reform program would die.

Money issues took center stage Tuesday as the Miami-Dade School Board took a first glance at the district’s tentative 2008-09 budget. 

EDITORIAL:  Dissecting Miami-Dade County’s budget-juggling act

OUR OPINION: Miami-Dade Slices a Pie with Less Filling for All

Miami-Dade County commissioners meet today to agree on a tentative millage rate to fund next year’s budget. This is a preliminary vote to advertise proposed property tax rates in advance of September hearings when the actual rate and the 2009 county budgets — one countywide, one for the unincorporated area — will be approved. The commission agrees today only on how high it can set new millage rates, not what the actual rates will be.

Dade schools police jobs spared budget ax

In a surprise move, Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew on Tuesday night scrapped a proposal to cut 11 schools police officers and restructure the department.

Tight budget, but no layoffs or school program cuts

Stung by ongoing state revenue cuts and unsure how many more will follow, the Clay County school district is taking a conservative financial approach to 2008-09.

New fee collections are not pouring into Jacksonville’s coffers

Officials say requests for rate adjustments have slowed receipts.

Jacksonville is $7 million behind where it wants to be in proceeds from two new fees, but thousands of requests for rate adjustments have slowed collections.

Collier schools’ finances to be focus of blue ribbon committee

Are Collier County schools in financial trouble?

The answer lies in what a team of seven community members discover as they examine the Collier County School Districts books.

Broward board to decide on fate of ‘F’ charter school

Broward School Board members are scheduled to vote next week on the future of a charter high school that has received failing marks from the state for three years.

13 Florida high schools earn nothing but D’s and F’s since 1999

An Orlando Sentinel analysis shows an unlucky 13 high schools in Florida have gotten nothing but D’s and F’s since Florida started handing out grades in 1999.

State: No errors in school grades

State officials Wednesday disputed suggestions by the Manatee County school district that there were glitches in this year’s school grade calculations.

Broward County: District is collecting supplies for children returning to school

The Broward County School District is asking residents to participate in a national campaign to collect back-to-school supplies for children in need.

FGCU President:  Day 4 – Mission to Europe–Last day of climate change trip

Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson Bradshaw is part of a trade/energy/climate change mission to Europe led by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. This is the fourth and last of his progress reports from London for Daily News readers:

Greetings, all.