Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–March 12
Mar 12, 2009
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Property tax relief bills zip through committee
Four different measures that would provide various forms of property tax relief zipped through a Florida House committee Wednesday.
Florida first-time homebuyers may get break
The Florida House is moving forward with a 50 percent property-value exemption for first-time homebuyers that would offer thousands in up-front savings to lure reluctant buyers into Florida’s ailing real estate market.
Move to repeal sales tax exemptions finds little traction in Tallahassee
For the first time in more than two decades, the Florida Legislature is taking a serious look at eliminating some sales tax exemptions that have been embedded in the state tax code at the request of special interests.
EDITORIAL: We need tax reform, not tax pandering
A short list of property-tax relief bills is on the table this session along — uncomfortably enough — with a $5 billion shortfall and some serious arguments in favor of raising some fees to pay for absolutely essential responsibilities of government
Bills push to show state spending online
Leaders of the Senate want to put all Floridians to work as auditors of spending, putting every state expenditure online.
Lawmakers unveil program, ask citizens to be budget watchdogs
Leaders of the Senate want to put all Floridians to work as auditors of spending, putting every state expenditure online.
State gears up to distribute money
With some critics charging Florida should be moving quicker to spend federal stimulus funds, state officials appear to be picking up the pace to begin distributing the state’s $13 billion share of the initiative aimed at helping revive the economy.
Letter to the Editor: Maintain education funding
School districts across the state suffered $1.1 billion in budget cuts during the current school year, and the economic picture for the year ahead is even bleaker.
South Florida gets $140 million for public transportation
South Florida public transportation is getting a $140 million boost from the federal stimulus plan, officials learned Tuesday.
Legislator stripped of post after defying House speaker
A Miami state representative was stripped of a powerful House leadership position Wednesday after he bucked House Speaker Larry Cretul over a bill to limit lawyer fees.
Florida lawmakers to deal with public financing of campaigns
With state tax collections dwindling, should taxpayers help politicians finance their campaigns?
CFO Sink urges House and Senate to oppose TABOR
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink sent a letter to Senate President Atwater and House Speaker Cretul Wednesday voicing her strong objection to the “Taypayer’s Bill of Rights” or TABOR (SJR 1906 and HJR 1263). In the letter, CFO Sink outlined the negative impact TABOR would have on Florida’s bond ratings, an issue critically important as the state has already been put on negative watch.
Bennett bill aims to block crash fee
Florida Sen. Mike Bennett has introduced a bill that would prevent local governments from seeking reimbursement for the expense of public safety departments responding to accidents, saying that local governments shouldn’t charge for services he believes should be paid with property tax.
Class size caps get a proposal for change
Sen. Stephen Wise is pushing to loosen the rules and save money
Efforts to loosen statewide class-size reductions gained further steam Wednesday when the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee voted 6-1 to back the proposal.
Florida legislators defend earmarks as Obama signs bill chock-full of them
When it comes to the age-old practice of Congress sending millions of dollars back home, not even President Obama is likely to bring much change.
Palm Beach County schools freeze pay of non-instructional employees
Palm Beach County school bus drivers, mechanics and custodians will go without raises this year because of a bleak financial outlook for the school system.
Save Duval Schools joins effort to aid school funds
State spending rules along with funding cuts hurt twice, backers say
A new grass-roots organization, Save Duval Schools, is trying to rally parents and concerned citizens to send a loud and clear message to state legislators: Don’t cut education funding.
Florida Prepaid investors soon may have more places to go
When Florida lawmakers created the state’s prepaid college tuition program, the goal was to lock in affordable rates for Floridians to get an advanced education.
Lee, Collier teachers’ unions lukewarm with Obama’s support of merit pay for teachers
President Barack Obama called for tying teachers’ pay to students’ performance and expanding innovative charter schools Tuesday, embracing ideas that have provoked hostility from members of teachers unions. He also suggested longer school days – and years – to help America’s kids compete in the world.
Florida ranked eighth worst state in child homelessness
On one hand, Tallahassee Mayor John Marks was thrilled Wednesday to hear a chunk of the federal stimulus plan will trickle down to the city’s homeless population. But another federal pot of money has shrunk significantly.
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