Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 26
May 26, 2009
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Reading, writing, recession. South Florida schools struggle to cope.
Staff cuts. Supply shortages. Less money. More anxiety.
Broward school district’s central office to cut 59 positions
In an era of whittled-down school budgets and declining student enrollment, Broward Schools Superintendent Jim Notter has pared down his central office administration by slightly more than 10 percent.
Cities offer services – to other cities
Outsourcing is a way to make cash for some, cut expenses for others
As governments in Palm Beach and Broward counties grapple with sinking revenues and ballooning budget deficits, outsourcing is gaining steam. It could translate into dollars saved and some relief for taxpayers.
Brevard property tax vote coming
The Brevard County School Board faces a key decision tonight: whether to raise taxes.
A stripped-down state budget means meager rations for the state and the Big Bend.
Millions slated for Pensacola area
Budget plan awaits Gov. Crist’s approval
But, without more than $5 billion in federal-stimulus dollars, a $1 billion from increased tobacco taxes and $800 million in jumped-up court fees and driver charges, Florida’s $66.5 billion spending plan would have been even more constrained.
Editorial: To prosper, Hillsborough County must change habits
An economic slowdown is a perfect time to accelerate preparations for a future sure to be more expensive than Florida’s present and recent past.
Letter to the Editor: Property owners can’t bear another tax hike for Pinellas schools
Here we go again. We are being informed that the Pinellas County School Board will have lengthy discussions as to whether to raise property taxes for the next two years, as our useless Florida Legislature gave them the right to do so.
Commentary: Service fees? Come on – a tax is a tax
Let’s say you have a 16-year-old who has a part-time job. The family cars are tied up between Mom and Dad working and running the rest of the crew to ballgames and dance lessons.
Schools superintendent: Martin County schools budget can be balanced without widespread layoffs
Schools Superintendent Nancy Kline said she has a way to balance next year’s budget without widespread layoffs.
Charlie Crist’s big week ahead
Coming out of the Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Charlie Crist has a desk full of legislation that he must act upon by May 30, or this coming Saturday.
Larry Cretul: Lawmakers ‘a long way from frolicsome’ in this era, too
“Not in recent years has a Florida Legislature begun its task with such seriousness. The members are a long way from the frolicsome attitude of a few years ago when a bill was proposed to require tail lights for cows. Florida’s economic future is at stake.”
Amid tough economy, fewer bills are passed
Fewer bills passed through the Florida Legislature this spring session than in any other legislative session over the last 11 years.
Governor Has Bill That Would Give Legislators Contract Power
Lawmakers say the state is making wasteful deals, but proposal’s critics hope for veto.
Reeling from a string of questionable and multimillion-dollar deals, legislators this year decided to crack down on future contracts with the state of Florida.
Editorial: Veto flawed growth bill
Measure would use economy as an excuse for sprawl
Last week Gov. Charlie Crist told The News-Journal editorial board he’s inclined to follow the advice of his top growth management expert, Tom Pelham, in deciding the fate of the so called “smart growth” Senate Bill 360.
Virtual School hit by cost cut
Research at the University of Florida last week concluded what many advocates of online education have long maintained: Virtual schools save state governments money.
Commentary: Home-schoolers, don’t quit system
Budget cuts seem to be pushing more Orange County parents toward home schooling.
Florida’s wildly popular Bright Futures merit scholarship is facing a dimmer future because of its ballooning costs, sparking worries that some students could be frozen out at a time when college costs are skyrocketing.
Rethinking corporate tax-credit scholarships
A remarkable coalition of lawmakers — including nearly half the Democrats, all but two Republicans, a majority of the Black Caucus and all the Hispanic Caucus — stepped forward this spring to support scholarships for Florida’s neediest schoolchildren.
Letter to the Editor: Shortchanging schools is nothing new in Florida
Back in the ’60s, during a particularly harsh winter, I decided I’d had enough snow and cold.
Hundreds of teachers face job losses
School districts still hurting, despite federal stimulus money
Gov. Charlie Crist apparently spoke too soon when he told school districts last month that “there’s no need to talk about firing teachers.”
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