Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–June 5

 

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Plans for new schools face budget ax

Some Broward school construction projects will be postponed or dropped due to the prevailing budget crunch.

Five proposed schools may be cut from the Broward School District’s building plans as district staffers look for ways to trim millions of dollars in school construction projects.

Broward budget cuts not as severe as expected

Cuts to law enforcement, libraries, parks and social services will not be as severe as Broward County officials thought when they started planning how to pay for property tax relief voters demanded this year.

Palm Beach County delays school building projects

The feverish pace of local school construction since 2002 will tail off considerably in the next five years, officials said Wednesday.

Talks between Broward Sheriff’s Office and union deadlock

Pay increases and benefits are at issue

The Broward Sheriff’s Office and the union representing its deputies are at an impasse in figuring out a three-year contract.

Tax watchdog group questions $110 million in Broward projects

A tax watchdog group has identified $110 million in spending projects that it says should be vetoed because they weren’t properly vetted by the full Legislature.

EDITORIAL: Time to repeal tax rule

With local government tax revenues squeezed by declining property values, you’re going to hear some special pleading that we don’t need more tax relief or reform in Florida, and that even the limited relief won in January with the passage of Amendment 1 was a mistake.

EDITORIAL: Commissioners’ discretionary accounts better used elsewhere, like on Tri-Rail

ISSUE: County administrator recommends commissioners give up discretionary funds.

Call them what you like — “discretionary funds,” “slush money,” a “lifeline” for community services. Whatever their moniker of the moment, this year, once and for all, county commissioners should have one overriding description for the controversial accounts: “gone.”

Divided Dade School Board fights deficit

Split by internal squabbling and pressured by the appeals of various interest groups, the Miami-Dade School Board has made scant progress closing a daunting budget deficit as legal and operational deadlines approach.

With less than a month to go before the start of the new fiscal year, a virtually paralyzed Miami-Dade School Board has made few firm decisions about how to close a quarter-billion dollar budget gap.

Recapture rule to cost 95,797 homeowners in Lee

It may be unexpected and unpleasant for many homeowners, but here’s something new to add to the list of Florida tax law oddities.

Voters voice opinions on amendments, Crist

Florida voters don’t like the idea of sending public dollars to religious schools, but another measure on the November ballot for school vouchers has more traction, according to a poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University.

Word change ups chances for school vouchers

A new poll shows voters are willing to overcome their dislike of spending tax money on religious-school vouchers because it’s tied to a popular classroom-spending plan.

A majority of Florida voters don’t want to spend public money on private and religious schools — but they’ll probably vote by large margins to do it in November, anyway, according to a new poll.

Property value decline concerns? Join the club

Realtors, property owners and independent property appraisers might be turning blue over recent news that Collier County’s property base has decreased by an average of 4 percent.

Mayor proposes creating a separate school district for Weston

If the Broward School Board won’t build a new high school to relieve crowding at Cypress Bay High School, Weston may try to create its own school district to get the job done.

City raises battle in tight budget

Employees unions negotiate new contracts in face of falling tax revenue

At a time when property tax revenues are expected to shrink, Jacksonville’s $345.5 million payroll could be expanding.

Teachers union declares ‘Black Thursday’

The last day of school might look a bit darker.

School Board sends tax option to voters

Voters will decide in November whether Alachua County schools will have magnet programs, middle school band programs and up-to-date classroom technology.

County dipping into reserve funds

The rainy days have arrived.

Manatee County will slay its $44-million beast of a budget cut by eliminating 88 positions, scaling back services and tapping into its significant reserves, once called the rainy-day funds.

Crist may expand Florida’s online education

Thousands of public-school children across the state may soon be able to go to class without leaving their homes under a far-reaching measure that is now sitting on the desk of Gov. Charlie Crist.

COMMENTARY: Let me count the ways Florida could help its public schools excel

It has been another good year for Florida schools.

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