Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–November 20

 

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Sale of PECO bonds approved by Cabinet

During today’s Cabinet meeting, the sale of $150 million in State of Florida, full faith and credit, State Board of Education Public Education Capital Outlay (“PECO”) Bonds to the low bidder was approved.

 

Legislators sink hopes for local project funds

In a sign of the bad budget times, Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Ray Sansom announced Wednesday that legislators can forget about seeking money for local projects in 2009.

 

At posh retreat, Florida GOP leaders wield budget ax

Washington has pork. Tallahassee has turkey. Or did.

The annual ritual of bringing money home for local projects is coming to an uncharitable halt just before the holidays. On Wednesday, legislative leaders declared that no local budget requests — ridiculed by some as “turkeys” — will be honored in the upcoming session.

 

EDITORIAL:  Crist, lawmakers need to work now to balance the budget

How low can they go? That seems to be the only suspense surrounding the official forecast of Florida tax revenues due Friday.

 

Williams: Fla. investments will stay conservative

Ash Williams is back at his old job overseeing the investment of billions of state dollars, including Florida’s public employee pension plan, after a stint with a Wall Street hedge fund.

 

EDITORIAL:   Property tax relief

Link home appraisals to foreclosure sales

Foreclosure news comes fast and furious these days. The latest, though, holds a shred of hope for both property taxpayers and struggling homeowners.

 

Florida high court ends Escambia tax case

Supreme Court denies rehearing in battle over $135M bond issue

A Pensacola veterinarian’s legal fight against Escambia County’s taxation plan to widen a road has ended.

 

Rehearing denied in Fla. redevelopment bond case

There’ll be no triple flip-flop on the question of whether voter approval is needed for local redevelopment bond sales.

 

Corrections department wants $287M more

Restoring money cut last year to prison education programs and increasing money to programs that would help prepare inmates to re-enter society are some of the top priorities for the Florida Department of Corrections, the department’s top official said today.

 

COLUMN:   More see the savings in health investor plan

In the grand scheme of state employee insurance enrollment, the numbers are still minuscule.

But the idea of “investing” in your own health care — then banking on not getting too expensively sick — seems to be gaining tiny traction.

 

Broward School Board elects new leaders

Maureen Dinnen, who was reelected to her second term on the Broward School Board without opposition, will be the board’s new chairwoman.

Broward School Board member Maureen Dinnen was elected chairwoman of the board Tuesday, and board member Jennifer Gottlieb will be vice chairwoman.

 

More budget cuts could reverse Dade and Broward graduation gains

While more students graduated across Florida last year, officials worry that the progress might be stalled by widespread budget cuts.

High schools throughout the state and in South Florida saw a higher percentage of the senior class graduate and fewer students drop out last year, according to information released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education.

 

Sugar land price still $400 million too high, consultant says

A ‘fairness opinion’ from a financial consultant undercuts the state’s $1.34 billion bid for sugar lands by nearly 30 percent.

The state already has shaved $400 million off its bid for U.S. Sugar, but an independent financial advisor says another $400 million whack is necessary to reach a fair price for taxpayers.

 

Farming firm announces hostile bid for U.S. Sugar Corp.

A Tennessee-based farming company Thursday announced a hostile bid to buy out U.S. Sugar Corp., potentially throwing an enormous wrench into the state’s plans to purchase the sugar giant’s farming empire to save the Everglades.

 

Three Miami-Dade educators rewarded for leadership, excellence

Singer Gloria Estefan congratulates Ronald Reagan High principal Doug Rodriguez Wednesday in Doral. Rodriguez won the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize.

 

Miami-Dade approves 19 charter schools, closes four

Nineteen new charter schools got the green light to open, while four were told they must close.

The Miami-Dade School Board on Tuesday voted to close four charter schools — and approved contracts for 19 new ones.

 

Cuts on way, Lee County schools superintendent says

Lee County public schools are getting an estimated $100 million less than the district had anticipated between 2007 and 2010 because of state budget cuts and declining enrollment.

 

Three Southwest Florida superintendents talk about school challenges

Whether it is a rural school district, a big city school district or a combination of both, the education remains the same.

 

Pinellas School Board hunts for $40M

The Pinellas School Board decided Tuesday to quickly address a projected $40-million budget shortfall for next year by closing schools, reorganizing the district’s fundamental middle schools and possibly revoking bus service for scores of students.

 

School board slashes budget $6.3 million

Discussion begins on $21 million more cuts that may be needed for 2009-10 school year

The decision to replace some outgoing teachers with long-term substitutes and the elimination of field trip funding for elementary and middle schools came swiftly Tuesday night.

 

Substitutes to fill Manatee school vacancies

To be a full-time teacher in Manatee County, a person must have a bachelor’s degree and be certified as a teacher by the state.

 

FBI investigates Polk County school district

The FBI launched an investigation of the Polk County school system after it received allegations of public corruption in the facilities division. Four employees were put on paid leave, including an assistant superintendent.

 

Earn diploma online?  Hernando board considers idea to help dropouts

It was only two weeks ago that the Hernando School Board vetoed one for-profit company’s pitch to teach its high school dropouts. But the district is far from done with the idea.

 

Florida‘s graduation rate rising; dropouts falling

Florida’s high school graduation rate climbed again last year, boosted by continuing strides from minority students and a decline in the percentage of students dropping out, according to new state Department of Education statistics.

 

Governor Crist Proposes New State University Reforms

Proposal would enhance governance, balance affordability and access with tuition flexibility

Governor Charlie Crist today, as part of his ongoing commitment to higher education, proposed a set of university system reforms aimed at strengthening Florida’s 11 institutions while maintaining access and affordability for students and their families. The proposal also would provide stability to the state university system by clarifying university governance at the local and state level, giving university boards of trustees authority over day-to-day operations and personnel while giving the Board of Governors power over longer-range planning.

 

Crist:  Strengthen Florida’s universities

Access to a world-class higher education is the key to economic opportunity for every Floridian and to our state’s future economic development. I am proposing a set of reforms that will strengthen state universities and colleges now and for decades to come.

 

Sansom newest NWF State College VP

Rep. Ray Sansom, was named Vice President of Planning and Development for Northwest Florida State College by the Board of Trustees Tuesday rounding out a big week for the Congressman who was sworn in as Florida’s 84th Speaker of the House one day earlier.

 

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