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

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Legislative leaders announce special session on budget cuts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Legislative leaders Tuesday said they will call a special session in September to cut Florida’s new $71.5 billion budget because of declining tax collections blamed on a slowdown in the state’s economy.

 

Groups step up pressure as House begins moving on $100B SCHIP bill 
 
Lobbying, organizing and grassroots efforts to advance federal coverage of children’s healthcare are intensifying this week as the House begins the difficult task of moving a massive bill through a divided chamber.

 

Snyder tells Martin commissioners state is not the enemy

STUART — State Rep. Bill Snyder told Martin County commissioners today that state legislators are not the county’s enemy over property tax reforms.

 

Miami-Dade commissioners cut property tax rate

Forced by state lawmakers to go on a diet after years of growth, Miami-Dade County commissioners Tuesday proposed the lowest property-tax rate since 1983.

 

Dade proposes lowest tax rate since 1983

Forced by state lawmakers to go on a diet after years of growth, Miami-Dade County commissioners today proposed the lowest property-tax rate since 1983.

 

Instant Vacation Bible School: Just Add Kids

Amid a gym full of 300 bubbly children, Astrid Hilson, 8, settles into her row of a dozen second-graders and gets ready to scream out one of her favorite Bible school songs, “Great Adventure.”

 

National survey: Education is top election issue for Latinos

To woo Latino voters, presidential candidates would be wise to focus on education issues, according to a new national survey.

 

Pay gap leaves teachers in lurch

Brevard instructors will go month without check

Starting this week, Brevard Public Schools teachers must cope with a four-week gap in paychecks instead of the usual two, causing a cash-flow problem for thousands of district staff members.

 

Pinellas’ attorney worked both sides on land deal

She represented the county and its property appraiser in talks.

Property Appraiser Jim Smith claimed he was a victimized private landowner when he approached Pinellas County about purchasing his supposedly “devastated” lot on Brooker Creek.

 

Editorial:  Bright Futures program needs serious review

As a sample of the kind of legislative demagoguery that has paralyzed the Bright Futures scholarship program, just listen to two key lawmakers react to the university Board of Governors’ plan to increase undergraduate tuition next spring by no more than 5 percent.

 

Longevity bonus swells Dade payroll

Longtime employees of Miami-Dade County will be rewarded with an estimated $16 million this year under a program that rewards veterans for sticking around.

 

State’s budget games leave public schools in bind

Florida needs a major overhaul in the overall way it funds public schools. The state ranks near the bottom nationwide in per pupil funding, with troubling results — low high-school graduation rates and deficiencies in helping its lowest-achieving pupils.

 

Martin to spend more on emergency services

STUART — Martin County commissioners on Monday questioned everything emergency officials plan to buy next year, even the chairs their dispatchers will sit on.

  

St. Lucie schools’ operating budget to rise, tax to dip

Rapid growth and a state mandate to reduce class sizes are fueling an increase in the St. Lucie County School District’s operating budget, which is expected to climb to about $314 million for the coming school year.

 

Martin children’s services proposes slightly lower tax rate

STUART — The tax rate will go down but the budget will rise under a preliminary proposal the Children’s Services Council of Martin County approved Monday.

  

Once upon a time, exercise at school was nothing unusual

The middle of summer isn’t exactly the best time to talk about going back to school. But it’s not exactly back to school I want to talk about.

 

Community colleges vow to keep access a priority
 
When the 28 Florida community-college presidents met last week in Tampa, one overriding concern weighed heavy on their minds, Tallahassee Community College President Bill Law said.