Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–June 26

 

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Broward County: School Board opposes proposed amendments

The Broward County School Board is taking a stand against several proposed constitutional amendments that they say could drain more money from the cash-strapped school district.

Thousands file fraudulent homestead exemptions

Through the years, tens of thousands of property owners in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have made fraudulent homestead exemption claims.

Broward County Property Appraiser Professional Standards & Compliance investigator Rhonda J. Bryant looks over paper work after checking out a Fort Lauderdale house.

 
U.S. Sugar purchase to cost Palm Beach County $5.4 million in taxes

For Palm Beach County, the blockbuster purchase of 187,000 acres on the fringes of the Everglades comes with a cost: a hit of more than $5 million to the county budget.

Alvarez’s plan for ‘leaner’ Dade cuts jobs, buses

The Miami-Dade mayor’s $7.4 billion spending plan would cut 1,600 jobs, bus routes and some services, raise some fees and keep the county’s overall tax rate flat.

To balance Miami-Dade’s budget next year, Mayor Carlos Alvarez wants to cut 1,600 county jobs, 4.6 million miles of bus service and a range of programs from playground inspections to domestic-violence counseling.

How tax proposal would affect homeowners

Larger homestead exemptions in 2008 will lower property taxes for most homeowners.

Here is how Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s tax proposal would affect two homes in unincorporated Miami-Dade. The examples assume the homes’ taxable value increases 3 percent per year, the most allowed under Florida law. Results would be different for non-homestead property and property inside municipalities.

EDITORIAL:  Property Taxes: A really bad idea

A South Florida legislator is taking to the roads to fight a wrongheaded constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall.

Amendment 5 would wipe out local property tax funding for schools and rely on the Legislature to come up with replacement revenue.

COLUMN:  State Takes Little Risk With Lottery

Nevermore, the pet raven and mascot of the Coffee Guzzlers Club, was sitting on a large stack of $10 bills. He’d collected it from the club members who had given them to him to pay off a wager.

Dade schools attorney’s vow to move questioned

Two-and-a-half years after Miami-Dade School Board Attorney JulieAnn Rico accepted $15,000 from the district to move to Miami-Dade County, she still claims a homestead exemption in Palm Beach County, public records show.

School Board vote may delay teacher raises

The Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday took the first procedural step toward postponing contractual raises due to teachers and other employees next year — a move that would save the district up to $72 million. 

Dade schools’ tech upgrade is pushed back

The Miami-Dade School Board voted to delay implementation of a problem-plagued system meant to streamline payroll and finance.

The Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday voted to scale back a problem-plagued information-technology upgrade that has already cost the district more than $32 million. 

Push to oust Rudy Crew stepped up

A Miami-Dade School Board member wants to build support for his call to fire Superintendent Rudy Crew by soliciting community input.

Under state law, the School Board can terminate Rudy Crew’s employment for any reason. But the superintendent’s contract requires the board to pay him about $700,000 if it fires him without cause.

Broward schools’ construction plan gets initial OK

Broward School Board gave initial approval to the district’s five-year construction plan, cutting some projects and adding others.

Taking an ax to several planned new schools and building projects, Broward School Board members on Wednesday tentatively approved a pared-down construction plan for the next five years.

Schools Told to Be Ready for New Cuts

State tells districts throughout Fla. another funding reduction possible.

Less than three months after the state cut Polk County Schools’ funding, the district has been told to prepare for another $13 million cut, which would bring the schools’ total losses to $22 million.

Schools must cut budget — again

Staff may be let go in this round

Brevard Public Schools will lose an additional $10 million from its operating budget, after already cutting $27.4 million that left district officials with no fat left to trim.

State Board of Education member resigns

Donna Callaway has resigned from the State Board of Education to return to her old job as a middle school principal in Tallahassee.

U.S. Housing rescue plan passes key Senate test

A massive foreclosure rescue bill cleared a key Senate test Tuesday by an overwhelming margin, with Democrats and Republicans both eager to claim election-year credit for helping hard-pressed homeowners.