Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 20
May 19, 2009
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Cash-poor school boards might raise property taxes
Though raising taxes is always politically unpopular and risky, school boards across Florida may have no choice as they watch their budgets slowly dissolving.
Florida‘s new gambling landscape
Florida politicians have haggled over how much gambling to allow for nearly 20 years.
State Board of Education Selects Top School-Related Employee
Broward County records manager honored for going above and beyond to help students
The State Board of Education and Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith today announced Jannette Thompson-Irwin as the 2009 Florida School-Related Employee of the Year.
South Florida Schools: Pay cuts coming at Imagine Charter School at Weston
Floridas economy is a mess, and some drastic financial changes are afoot at Imagine Charter School at Weston, to keep the school open next year.
Editorial: To sell tax hikes, more cuts needed
With their revenues slumping, should local governments increase their tax rates in order to squeeze more money from a property tax base that loses value as housing prices fall?
Property-tax tweaks won’t bring equity
The Legislature is offering a constitutional amendment for voter approval in 2010 that would give a tax incentive to people who haven’t owned a home in eight years. Don’t ask where the eight years comes from; it’s arbitrary.
Florida Association of Counties: Local governments work for voters
The Orlando Sentinel’s editorial, “End the campaigning,” on Thursday missed the mark and only fuels unfounded and unfair accusations against local governments.
Palm Beach County to allow boarding up foreclosed homes
Property owners facing foreclosure will be allowed to board up their windows to prevent vandalism, Palm Beach County commissioners agreed this morning.
Manatee Superintendent recommends $14M in cuts
Manatee schools Superintendent Tim McGonegal proposed cutting more than $14 million from the districts operating budget for next school year and that includes slashing positions.
Each Clay elementary school may get back one teacher
Because of improved education funding levels, Clay County elementary schools may get back one of the three 2009-10 teaching positions each of them lost to budget cuts.
Towns find obstacles to saying ‘I do’ to mergers
It’s a response to the recession and dwindling state aid that seems deceptively logical: Neighboring towns can merge into one to streamline services and save money.
Senator Alexander: Monitor Fla.’s Spending Better
Senate budget chief says unified system would have helped curb costs.
The Legislature cut enough out of the state budget to make up for the $6.1 billion shortfall in revenue predicted for this year, but it could have cut more if the state had a system to monitor the spending of its departments and agencies, Sen. J.D. Alexander said.
With the party chairman, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders joining him, Attorney General Bill McCollum opened his gubernatorial campaign on Monday, promising to have an administration that will highlight “access and inclusion.”
U.S. Senate underdog Marco Rubio not shying from tough fight
What goes through Marco Rubio’s mind in the dark of night?
Race for governor seen as a toss-up
Democrats are giddy over the coming race between Alex Sink and Republican Bill McCollum, their best shot in a decade at winning the governorship and ceasing to be an irrelevant minority in Florida government.
Florida Senate President Atwater to run for CFO
Senate President Jeff Atwater will run for Chief Financial Officer, and a political source close to Atwater said the announcement will be made on Tuesday.
Tom Gallagher, former rival of Gov. Charlie Crist, may run for Florida CFO
Republican Tom Gallagher, one of Florida’s most durable politicians, said Friday that he is weighing a comeback, eyeing the chief financial officer post being vacated next year by Democrat Alex Sink.
South Florida legislators may be in running for state’s chief financial officer, attorney general
When the four-member state Cabinet meets to set state policy, one geographic area is noticeably absent: South Florida.
Would-be U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek brings petitions to Fort Myers
Florida has never had a U.S. Senate candidate make the ballot by petition.
First Haitian-American may clinch seat of Florida’s 17th district in U.S. House
Haitian-American political activists believe they are on the verge of electing the first Haitian-American to Congress in Florida’s Miami-based 17th District, which is home to the highest concentration of Haitians in the nation.
GOP vice chair, 24, vies for House
Tyler Sirois, a former legislative aide to state Rep. Bob Allen and Brevard County Commissioner Chuck Nelson, is the first candidate to file paperwork in the 2010 race for the District 29 House seat.
Political races get hot and crowded
Florida’s 2010 political campaigns are shaping up as the most fiercely competitive races in four decades.
Florida‘s FCAT guru to run Nation’s Report Card
When Florida had problems with its FCAT results, Department of Education leaders turned to Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Assessment Cornelia Orr. Now, the National Assessment Governing Board — the group that sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress — has named her its new executive director.
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has scheduled hearings this week related to credit rating agencies and municipal bond financing, the latter being accomplished specifically through a federal reinsurance proposal.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin: Voucher program flops
When the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program was created in 2003, it was designed to be a five-year pilot project to give students federally paid vouchers to attend private schools.
Pew Report Examines How Cities Are Balancing Budgets
Many Face Significant Budget Gaps and are Cutting Services and Personnel
A new study from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative looks at how 13 major cities are coping with the recession and finds that most are facing significant budget gaps and are cutting services and personnel in response.
1,000 Global Leaders to Attend the First Ever World Innovation Summit for Education
1,000 leading opinion leaders, decision-makers and academics from diverse sectors in over 120 countries will participate in the first ever global summit dedicated to monitoring the 21st century’s challenges on education.
Abuse in Schools Widespread, Report Finds
GAO Says Misuse Of Restraints, Seclusion, Other Tactics Has Even Proven Fatal
A new federal study, released exclusively to CBS News, reveals hundreds of cases of abuse of students at the hands of school officials — and even deaths.
Obama Budget Choices Scrutinized
Programs’ Funding Is Debated in Light of Stimulus Package
Following an unprecedented increase for education aid in the federal economic-stimulus package, President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education is being met with a tepid response from some school advocates.
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