Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–July 6
Jul 6, 2010
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Florida gets $170M for education
The U.S. Department of Education will award Florida $170.2 million to turn around its persistently low achieving schools.
Blog: It’s finally over: feds OK Seminole blackjack
It’s finally a done deal: The federal government has signed off on Florida’s blackjack gambling deal with the Seminole Indian tribe, closing the book on a long-running political saga in the state capital.
Column: Claims of money mismanagement balloon with Florida Indian tribe casino funds
I’m not much of a casino gambler. But I’m betting early reports of how some American Indian tribes are mismanaging or misdirecting their enormous sums of casino money, here in Florida and elsewhere, are just the start of unsavory news coverage ahead.
Senator Gaetz Proposes Property Tax Relief for Florida Homeowners Impacted by Oil Spill
Impetus Is Strong For Special Session
As the BP oil blowout saturates Northwest Florida’s already fragile economy with despair, a special legislative session in the coming weeks is becoming increasingly likely.
Pasco school officials dealing with class size, budget shortfall
The quality of education received by Pasco County students will be negatively affected in 2010-11 by a nearly $28 million budget shortfall and the requirements of a class-size amendment approved by voters in 2002.
Blog: Furloughs looking likely for more than 11,000 Pinellas school employees
Furloughs look likely for more than 11,000 Pinellas school employees, school board members said today.
Collier School District freezes salaries for start of 2010-11 school year
Collier County School District employees won’t start the year off with a raise. But they are not getting a pay cut either.
Blog: Pasco delays salary steps while awaiting more budget info
It’s the start of a new fiscal year today, and in good financial times Pasco school employees would be getting their step increases about now.
Miami-Dade, still No. 1. At least when it comes to spending money on lobbying
The Miami Herald reported last September that even as Miami-Dade faced its “most critical budget crisis in decades,” the county was spending more money lobbying the federal government than any other county in the country.
Sarasota County Growth Concept Criticized
County planners say a proposed standard for measuring new commercial development will provide a more accurate picture of how it could fit on a property.
Florida pension agency head blurs line between state, personal business
The man who oversees $134 billion of public money has recommended investing some of it in companies run by friends or business associates, and he doesn’t see any conflict in doing that.
Expect lots of government layoffs at state, local level
Here’s another headwind for a sputtering job market: State and local governments plan many more layoffs to close wide budget gaps.
U.S. Banks Risk ‘Untold Problem’ as Muni Debt Holdings Swell
Citigroup Inc., State Street Corp. and U.S. Bancorp are among U.S. banks whose municipal bond holdings have reached a 25-year high just as state budget deficits swell to $140 billion, the most since the start of the recession.
Newsweek Column: How Congress Keeps Screwing Up Education
President Obama’s school-reform programs are falling victim to the teachers’ unions
Schools across the country are struggling with deep budget cuts. For more than 40 years, Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the third-ranking member of the House, has been a fiery and highly effective legislator.
New Jersey tax cap called unworkable without local curbs
A new agreement to cap New Jersey property tax increases at 2 percent a year is unworkable unless lawmakers pass other measures giving towns and cities more power over local spending, pensions and benefits, municipal leaders said on Tuesday.
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