Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–June 10
Jun 10, 2008
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Florida businesses oppose plan to end property taxes for schools
Interest groups and politicians are choosing sides for a multimillion-dollar campaign over a November ballot issue that will put billions of dollars in taxes up for grabs.
Interest groups and politicians are choosing up sides for a multimillion-dollar campaign over a November ballot issue that’ll put billions of dollars in taxes up for grabs.
Tax-cut vote blamed for boomerang
A week after Florida voters decided in late January to give themselves a tax break, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits warned Gov. Charlie Crist they weren’t going to get one.
Back in January, we urged that voters say no to Amendment 1 because it made Florida’s outdated tax system even less fair and had the potential to do more economic harm than good.
OPINION: Tax and school changes up to you, Florida voters
The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission last month approved seven constitutional amendments for the voters to consider at the ballot box this November.
EDITORIAL: Unpaid property tax bills are on the rise
Another sign of the weakening economy and sluggish housing market: Overdue property taxes are at the highest level in years.
A FLORIDA TODAY analysis of Brevard County records shows that the number of unpaid tax bills is up a third from two years ago, and the amount of overdue taxes has more than doubled to about $28 million.
Cities will have hard time raising taxes under new law
Homeowners need not fear local governments will thwart property tax relief this fall by easily hiking tax rates to make up the difference.
Getting your household budget to balance these days is tough. Imagine the situation Florida schools are in. School boards are slashing budgets right and left to overcome multimillion-dollar shortfalls.
Broward schools chief: FPL rate hike will hurt education
State leaders should step in so cash-strapped school districts don’t pay millions in higher rates to Florida Power & Light Co. to offset the power company’s increased fuel costs, Broward Schools Superintendent James Notter said Thursday.
Feds OK $294 million for “green” Florida schools
A bill to make schools more environmentally friendly contains more than $294 million for Florida schools.
U.S. House Approves School Bill
Despite a White House veto threat, the House has approved a bill that would authorize $6.4 billion for upgrades to public-school buildings around the country plus $500 million for school repairs in the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast.
Schools cut most optional summer-school programs
Summer-school options are dwindling for South Florida public school students as budget tightening continues for local districts.
Hundreds of thousands of South Florida school children ended another year of school Thursday, and except for those with special academic challenges, school doors won’t reopen again until late August.
Local schools brace for budget cuts
Dreyfoos students held car washes and musical performances while their parents dialed for dollars last week in a quest to avoid cutting teaching positions at the arts high school.
Dade School Board hears suggestions on cutting budget
Change lunch menus. Trim spending on technology. Consolidate principals at underenrolled schools.
Three weeks after rejecting the layoff of more than 500 employees, Miami-Dade School Board members discovered that hundreds of teachers’ positions have been eliminated.
The Miami-Dade school district has eliminated 800 teaching positions over the past two weeks, district officials said Monday.
EDITORIAL: School Board must make hard choices
The Miami-Dade County School Board must set aside politics long enough to balance next year’s district budget — soon.
Majority of West Palm Beach commissioners in favor of keeping tax rate the same
City finance officials today proposed a tax hike of 41 cents for each $1,000 of taxable property value, but at least three city commissioners say they’d like to keep the rate the same for the next budget year starting Oct. 1.
Red-light cameras promise millions for government, installers
When Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously to install red-light cameras at busy intersections last month, they insisted the program was about saving lives, not raising money.
EDITORIAL: District has reasons for fiscal decision
In these trying economic times, with cutbacks and layoffs everywhere you turn, administrators must examine every potential remedy that springs to mind or comes to their attention.
Collier school tax proposal moves to November ballot
The Collier County School Board will wait a little longer to see if the voters approve a referendum that could bring millions of dollars in operating funds to the School District.
Tax-relief measure starting to kick in
Amendment 1 gives small businesses break
The tax-relief package passed in January means 49,000, about two-thirds, of all Lee County businesses will not be taxed on equipment.