Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–July 24

 

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Battle brewing over amendment

Supporters say the proposal would slash property taxes and boost Florida’s economy.

Opponents say it would force other tax increases and hurt public schools.

Social service agencies seek new alcohol, food tax

McK’s Tavern is quiet as three patrons sit at the bar and another couple eat lunch at a booth.

Swap one tax for another? 2 sides making their cases

The ballot debate has begun over the constitutional amendment to replace property taxes with sales taxes and other revenues as opposing groups offer two extreme views.

The debate over swapping property taxes for sales taxes — the core of Amendment 5 — began to ferment on Tuesday.

Florida would suffer under Amendment 5

It takes some guts to oppose a 25”percent tax cut. It helps if that opposition is compelling.

On Wednesday, Florida TaxWatch released its analysis of Amendment 5 on the November ballot. The amendment is tempting; it would eliminate the state-ordered property tax for schools, known as the Required Local Effort. But the amendment is more potentially destructive. ‘Amendment 5’s proposed solution,’ TaxWatch notes, ‘is worse than the problem.’ The problem is that Floridians are mad about their tax bills. Combine that anger with the desire among some members of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to 1) shift taxes from wealth (property) to consumption (sales) and 2) end some sales-tax exemptions. The result is Amendment 5, based on faulty math and assumptions.

Property tax cut supporter sees threat

One of the “greatest challenges” for the property tax cut on the November ballot could be opposition from small businesses, an Amendment 5 supporter said Tuesday.

Florida Association of Realtors campaigns for ‘tax-swap’ amendment

Supporters of the “tax swap” constitutional amendment today began a statewide campaign to win voter approval of the proposal for wiping out county property taxes and forcing the Legislature to come up with replacement revenues for schools by repealing tax exemptions, raising other taxes and cutting spending.

Collier schools oppose amendment to cut taxes

The Collier County School District hopes citizens vote against a proposed amendment that could mean a 25 percent reduction in property taxes.

EDITORIAL:  Higher fees eating into property cuts

Thanks to both statewide tax reform and falling home values, the average Manatee County homeowner can expect to pay $260 less in property taxes this year.

Judge to rule on part of stadium lawsuit within two weeks

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jeri Beth Cohen said she will rule on a question in auto dealer Norman Braman’s lawsuit challenging the funding for a new Florida Marlins stadium in the next two weeks.

Max Planck Society deal commits Palm Beach County to decades of debt

When Palm Beach County commissioners inked an $86.9 million deal to bring the celebrated German science outfit Max Planck Society to town, it was something akin to a consumer deep in debt charging another one on the credit card.

Port Richey Repeals Utility Tax

Port Richey City Council members have repealed a utility tax that’s been on the books since the 1960s.

Following a preliminary vote on the ordinance two weeks ago, the measure was approved 3-2 Tuesday night, with Mayor Richard Rober and Councilman Steve O’Neill dissenting. The move eliminates the 10 percent tax tacked onto utility bills.

Board OKs schools tax reduction in county

Alachua County School Board members on Tuesday afternoon approved a property tax millage rate that is slightly less than the current rate.

The board approved a 2008-2009 millage rate of 8.359 mills, just below the current rate of 8.395. The taxes are based on a millage formula where one mill equals $100 in taxes for every $100,000 of the assessed property value. So according to the millage rate approved Tuesday, a taxpayer with a home valued at $200,000 would pay about $1,672 in school taxes in 2008-2009.

EDITORIAL: Orlando’s budget doesn’t reflect struggles of city taxpayers

Save the Date Invitation

What: Public’s chance to comment on a proposed city budget that increases staff and expenses even while more local residents lose jobs and face mounting food and fuel bills.

Decision delayed on closing Broward charter school

Supporters of a struggling charter school packed a Broward School Board meeting to urge members to let the school stay open — a plea that was answered for now.

Despite earning its third F grade in four years, a Lauderdale Lakes charter school will remain open — at least for now — following an outcry from parents and students over the use of FCAT scores in measuring its success.

COLUMN:  School Board rebels against FCAT tyranny

The revolution began at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday. The Broward School Board refused to kill a charter school. The board said no to the ideologues in Tallahassee who confuse FCAT decrees with holy Scripture.

Teachers union backs challengers of 2 Dade Board members

The Miami-Dade teachers’ union is backing two challengers and two incumbents in the upcoming races for School Board.

Hoping to change the School Board status quo, Miami-Dade’s powerful teachers’ union on Tuesday endorsed two newcomers who are challenging incumbents in the August election.

Palm Beach County schools won’t lay off surplus workers

The Palm Beach County School District, the county’s largest employer, is carrying on its payroll 110 custodians, office staff, teacher’s aides and others who should be without a job according to the district’s own staffing formulas.

 
Pasco weighs cost of bus rides vs. student safety

Pasco County’s school bus route specialists hit the road Wednesday to re-evaluate the walking conditions leading to 27 campuses.

Eight schools to benefit from $5 million in grants

School administrators are thrilled Leon County Schools has been awarded$5 million in grants for eight schools, which will now get a boost in after-school tutoring, enrichment activities and more.

State called secretive over graduation rate

The method used by Florida to determine high school graduation rates is too much under wraps, according to a study by a Florida State University think tank.

A new study Tuesday commends — and criticizes — a method Florida has been using to claim it has a better high school graduation rate than shown by national statistics, which rank the state near the bottom.

EDITORIAL: Record numbers of schools receive A’s, but something doesn’t seem quite right

Amid the ever-expanding universe of “A” schools, Fellsmere has one of the brightest stars.

Once rated a “D” campus, the heavily Hispanic, rural school scored a top mark in this year’s state grades.

Higher prices slow down back-to-school shoppers

Back-to-school shopping started earlier and will end later than ever for Jennifer Kapper this year.

Florida eyes overhaul of state higher education

Effect on FCCJ Community college could be a state college, necessitating a name change.

A year from now Florida Community College at Jacksonville might not be a community college.

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