Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — March 18
Mar 18, 2011
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Lawmakers seek to limit cuts in funding for education
Even as state lawmakers work to lessen the cuts proposed by Governor Rick Scott in the education budget, they said the numbers they are facing don’t look good.
Florida Senator: Education cuts may not be as bad as earlier predictions
The news may be getting better for those worried about massive cuts in education spending in Florida.
New York Times: Florida House Approves Ending Tenure for New Teachers
A bill to end tenure for new teachers and link their job security and pay to how well students perform on assessment tests cleared the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday and now goes to the new governor, Rick Scott, a Republican who strongly supports the measure.
Senate votes to put tax, revenue cap on the 2012 ballot
The Florida Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday that would place new limits on the power of future legislators to tax and spend.
Bill to loosen Florida’s school class size cap advances
A new proposal to loosen Florida’s class size caps sailed through a Senate committee on a unanimous vote without debate or objection today, although the statewide teachers union later said it opposes the legislation.
Governor Scott posts state employees’ salaries
Governor Rick Scott’s office launched a new website Thursday that provides access to frequently requested public records and other information, including a state employee salary database and a list of state pensions benefits that exceed $100,000.
Scott imposes new fee on public-records requests
In the first two months of Governor Rick Scott’s administration, his staff was faced with an unexpected challenge — a deluge of public records requests from both the media and the public who wanted to know more about Scott, a newcomer to state government who has tightly controlled the flow of information coming from his office.
Faced with $1.6 billion schools deficit, Florida Senate ponders public broadcasting cuts
Florida lawmakers have $1.6 billion less to spend on education this year than last, according to a preliminary glimpse of the Senate’s education spending plan, so public broadcasting may be on the chopping block.
Funding for School Resource Officers still up in the air
Port St. Lucie Councilwoman Michelle Berger may have summed up the dilemma over funding for school resource officers last week.
Senate Committee Proposal Suspends Pre-Paid College Tuition Program
End the Florida Prepaid College program? That’s the proposal released Thursday by the Senate higher education budget committee.
Florida grows by 2.8 million people in past ten years, new census figures show
Despite a weak economy, and a sharp slow-down in housing construction, the number of people living in South Florida has continued to grow over the past 10 years, to 5.55 million in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Florida House passes growth management bill – again
The Florida House has twice more passed an existing law loosening urban sprawl controls to thwart a court challenge.
To Tax or Not To Tax Is Not The Question, But How?
Like many local governments struggling to overcome their fiscal woes, New Orleans has begun to ask if it still can afford to exempt private schools and universities, churches, charities and other nonprofit organizations from property taxes.
New York Times: Affluent Suburb Wrestles With School Costs
Your article on the tax burden in Bronxville, New York, reinforced the seemingly common belief that overcompensated teachers are the cause of the problem, while ignoring the fundamental economic issue inherent in the American model of suburban development.
Column: More money won’t help Seattle Public Schools
As a parent with children in Seattle Public Schools, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply teachers care about their students. And as foster parents, my wife and I have spent countless hours working with concerned teachers to get troubled kids the services they need.
Wall Street Journal: Michigan Boosts Power to Intervene in Cities
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law a measure that broadens state powers to intervene in the finances and governance of struggling municipalities and school districts, giving these local bodies a stronger hand in renegotiating labor contracts.
Editorial: Restore states tax rates of pre-Taft era
Governor Bob Taft’s June 2005 budget included tax reforms that took effect gradually, greatly reducing the revenues on which Ohio depended to fulfill its responsibilities. These reforms included tax reductions for businesses.
Florida House bill would raise retirement age for state workers
A House committee rewrote Governor Rick Scott’s pension reform plan Thursday by raising the retirement age of all workers, including police officers and firefighters, and rejecting his call for ending defined pensions for new workers.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wants control over school lunch/breakfast programs
Call it a food fight. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wants control over school lunch and breakfast programs currently managed by the state Department of Education.
Florida Legislature poised to battle over teaching evolution in schools
Forget the decade-long debate that has swirled around the FCAT. Think no more of the weeklong fracas over the future of high school sports in Duval County.
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