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

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Broward School Board opposes three amendments

The Broward School Board on Tuesday rejected three proposed amendments to Florida’s Constitution that will come before voters in November, calling them detrimental to public schools.

 

School groups attack 2 ballot items

The citizen panel empowered to put amendments before voters overstepped its authority when it approved two amendments currently in line for the Nov. 4 ballot, the statewide teachers union argued in a lawsuit filed Friday.

 

Groups sue to block voucher proposal

Calling the sponsors “foot soldiers” in Jeb Bush’s “war on education,” teacher and civil rights groups on Friday sued to block two ballot proposals by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission that would bring back school vouchers.

 

EDITORIAL:  Misleading ballot proposals

Panel’s voucher plans get deserved legal challenge

The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which wrapped up its work last month, did a shoddy job of carrying out its mission to examine the state’s fiscal structure.

 

EDITORIAL:  Florida can’t cut itself to prosperity

Gov. Charlie Crist is being less than candid with Floridians in handling the state budget crisis. One day he quietly signs a terribly inadequate 2008-09 state budget that is almost $6-billion less than the one lawmakers approved a year ago and claims it meets the needs of the state.

 

Crist orders agencies to trim 4 percent

Gov. Charlie Crist ordered all state agencies Thursday to reduce spending by 4 percent in the coming fiscal year, just a day after signing an already pared down state budget.

 

EDITORIAL:  Florida’s budget falls far short of praise

Gov. Charlie Crist didn’t excise much from the 2008-09 state budget when he quietly signed it Wednesday. And he tried to put a happy face on the spending plan, praising it for being “balanced” and funding the state’s “critical needs.”

 

Property Taxes Will Bring Less Revenue

Local budgets will be hurt by both a new amendment and lower values.

Local governments in the midst of writing annual budgets face lower property tax revenues because of a new state constitutional amendment and falling real estate values.

 

Fla. governments facing 2 property tax cuts

Local governments in the midst of writing annual budgets face lower property tax revenues because of a new state constitutional amendment and falling real estate values.

 

Unpaid realty taxes skyrocket

More Tampa Bay property owners than ever before failed to pay their real estate taxes this year.

The surge is unprecedented, officials say, and the reasons are clear: a slumping real estate market, stagnant wages, growing unemployment and the rising cost of energy, goods and services.

 

Property appraisers brace for outcry over assessments

It’s only 3 percent, but it’s 3 percent that’s likely to come as an unwelcome surprise to tens of thousands of Volusia and Flagler counties’ homeowners.

 

A $220 million question: What will tax cuts do?

As local governments fret over a season of budget slashing to everything from fire protection to library hours, the flip side of property-tax reform is that homeowners and businesses are in for a big tax cut.

 

A reading of the state budget, according to DOE

School districts across Florida are chopping their budgets for the coming school year in light of spending cuts from the state.

Chop Job Could Have Been Worse

For the past few months we have heard plenty of griping, moaning, doom saying and weeping about our state’s finances. Much of that was justified because when elected leaders in Tallahassee looked to chop the budget by $6 billion from last year – nearly 10 percent – they decided it was best to take it from the poor, the elderly, the infirm and schoolchildren.

 

Ask Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio your burning questions at June 20 luncheon

Let’s put some real “inter” into interactivity!

Are you fed up with what our Legislature has done to Florida? Or do you praise our elected leaders? Do you grouse, but do nothing? Have you ever sent an e-mail, without getting an answer?

 

4-day school weeks coming?

Some districts in state discussing the change for 2009-2010 school year to save on fuel costs and ease budget cuts

While rising gas prices are driving school districts across the nation and state to consider a four-day school week, Treasure Coast school officials said they don’t have plans to drop a day.

 

Jeb Bush campaigns for education, not office

Jeb Bush is back.  This week, in the center of the state he governed for eight years, Bush ends his 18-month hiatus from Florida public life.

 

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