Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 28
May 28, 2010
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Supreme Court Justices Again Reject Florida Property Tax Break Challenge
For a second time this week, the justices Wednesday refused to hear an appeal of lower court rulings upholding the constitutional provision limiting increases in annual property tax assessments to 3 percent for primary homeowners.
Blog: Crist will veto ‘inexcusable’ highway fund raid
Lawmakers tried to shield the raid from a veto by steering the money into public schools
This will be interesting. Thursday shapes up as a very difficult day for a lot of people in the Florida Legislature. Gov. Charlie Crist will sign the budget and issue vetoes and he sounds like he’ll ax projects and bills left and right, as he continues to distance himself from the Republicans who are in charge.
Blog: Race to the Top final tally: 65 districts in, Palm Beach County Opts Out
Sixty five of Florida’s 67 school districts sent the required Race to the Top paperwork to the Florida Department of Education by yesterday’s deadline. The only two that opted out were Baker (a tiny district) and Palm Beach (a large one), DOE’s list shows.
Crist reinstates Florida back-to-school tax holiday
Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed four new laws that focus heavily on children including one that will reinstate Florida’s back-to-school sales tax “holiday.”
Brevard County School Board trims $17.5 million from budget
59 media aides keep jobs; millage rate lowest in 10 years
In an unanimous decision, the Brevard County School Board cut $17.5 million from its $533 million operating budget Tuesday night and tentatively approved the lowest millage rate in 10 years.
Seminole school board will poll voters about half-penny sales tax for schools
Tax for school maintenance, other needs, could go on November ballot
The Seminole County School Board moved ahead Tuesday night with plans for a half-cent sales tax, deciding to poll voters about whether they would support the tax for school maintenance and other urgent needs.
Blog: Orange is set to knock down 44 school buildings to save $19 million
Orange’s vote tonight to knock down 44 buildings on campuses across the district is a hail Mary pass before the June 30 deadline that would stop the effort in its tracks.
State program targeting drugs at risk due to cuts
Fueled by federal funding through the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grants, the Sunshine State has served as a model for the country, promoting strong drug prevention efforts through a robust system of prevention coalitions across the state.
South Florida counties among the top 10 coastal counties in population growth since 1960
Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties were among the 10 coastal counties nationwide with the largest increases in population, according to a U.S. Census report released Wednesday.
Blog: Education, Child Advocate William ‘Doc’ Myers dies at 79
From Mike Peltier at the News Service of Florida: Sen. William “Doc” Myers, a former Republican state legislator and Hobe Sound physician who became an influential leader on children’s and human service issues during his 22-year legislative career died Tuesday. He was 79.
Southern states – including Florida – lead the nation in having the highest percentage of people who wind up paying no annual income taxes to the federal government.
Vote on Taxes Committee Chairman: Require voter approval before raising taxes
History has demonstrated that requiring voter approval of new taxes/spending ensures that future generations will enjoy significantly higher standards of living than if government continues to tax, spend and borrow at will.
Column: Legitimate tax break? Bull. Politicians won’t tap this money source
In these tough times, politicians are doing everything they can to find new sources of money: red-light cameras, expanded gambling, increased user fees. But there’s one vast revenue source that politicians won’t tap. In fact, state legislators prefer to make it easier, not harder, to get away with this tax dodge.
A few months after a 10-year-old child was placed with eight other children in a Tampa foster home overseen by a single mom, a 13-year-old boy sneaked into his room and raped him in 2005.
Editorial: Use veto pen with care
Crist should spare worthy building projects at universities
Gov. Charlie Crist has been warning that he might take an ax to millions of dollars worth of projects in the $70.4 billion budget that legislators passed last month.
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