Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–June 18

Jun 18, 2010

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McCollum Proposes 2-Year Property Tax-Rate Freeze

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum on Thursday said that if elected, he will seek to impose a two-year freeze on property tax rates for local governments across Florida.

 

State makes new bid for $700M in federal education funds

Florida tries again to tap into Race to the Top

State officials hope increased support from the teachers unions will boost the chance for $700 million over four years in federal funding for education reform efforts.

 

New drywall tax break won’t apply to condos

The Florida Department of Revenue has decided that condominiums and apartments are not covered by a new law that gives homeowners with tainted drywall property tax breaks.

 

Election funding law could end up costing taxpayers plenty

Millions of dollars have already been spent during Florida’s wild election season and tens of millions will likely be spent between now and November.  But who could be footing a big part of the bill?  Florida taxpayers.

 

Blog:  New class size calculations could cost Florida school districts millions

Floridians will vote on whether to scale back the 2002 class size amendment in November. If school districts don’t comply with the more stringent existing rules by October, though, they face millions in fines.

 

Broward school district continues layoffs

Ivonne Boffill, guidance teacher at Park Springs Elementary in Coral Springs and one of the 1,305 Broward County School District employees who were recently laid off, believes the decision will have long-term consequences for the district.

 

Palm Beach County considers tax hike, service cuts…and saving reserves for oil clean-ups

Palm Beach County commissioners began bracing Wednesday for the financial ramifications the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could have on next year’s budget.

 

Hernando School Board rejects proposed tax increase

The Hernando School District’s budget picture is bleak, but not ugly to enough to increase the property tax rate in a county struggling to recover from a recession, School Board members agreed Tuesday.

 

State decides not to renew Department of Community Affairs

Lawmakers passed this year on renewing the state’s growth-management agency, raising fears among environmental groups that the Department of Community Affairs could be weakened in the 2011 session.

 

Arizona high court hearing case over K-12 funding

Education advocates say the state has not fully funded Arizona’s K-12 system for the coming budget year, in violation of the state Constitution.

 

Kansas schools group says it will sue over funding issues in October

A group representing 72 Kansas school districts says it will sue state officials over education funding issues later this year.

 

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