Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Oct. 16

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Fla. tax-cut panel adopts protection plan

TALLAHASSEE – The property tax debate took a dramatic and sudden turn today when a House panel adopted a measure that would give businesses and non-homestead property owners the same protections as ‘Save Our Homes,’ the constitutional safeguard that limits assessments to 3 percent per year.

 

Final vote on budget looms

Lawmakers huddle furiously in committee meetings today, preparing for a final vote possibly as early as tomorrow on an $11 billion property tax cutting plan. 

 

House panel approves ballot question on property tax cut

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Voters would be asked to approve a wide-ranging plan to lower property taxes under a proposed ballot measure approved Monday by a House committee.

 

Revised tax plan would cost schools $2.1 billion

A new property tax proposal would take $2.1 billion away from public schools over four years, figures released by the legislature Monday revealed, with about two-thirds of that coming from the elimination of all property taxes for low-income seniors.

 

Lawmakers worry about rush to write property tax measure

A bipartisan group of lawmakers Monday questioned whether the legislature’s new property tax proposal was being rushed, if it would give cuts to wealthy seniors and whether it would contribute to a higher divorce rate in the state.

 

Many lawmakers call proposed tax plan flawed but will vote for it anyway

TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers from both parties agreed Monday that a proposed property tax cut plan is flawed and may deepen disparities, hurt businesses and even endanger marriages. And they also agreed they will vote ‘yes’ on it as early as Wednesday.

 

Housing crisis complicates property-tax reform picture

Tax reform is colliding with a sinking housing market, but experts say fixing the property-tax system is still essential.

 

Deep school cuts in offing

TALLAHASSEE – School officials were relieved last week as the Legislature’s property tax proposal took shape: Cuts to education were largely avoided.

 

Officials: Tax plan favors the rich

If lawmakers have their way, the rich will have an easier path to lowering their tax bills, Florida property appraisers say.

 

Cities, counties worry as property tax relief advances

TALLAHASSEE – A property tax relief plan crafted by state legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Crist picked up steam Monday even as city and county government officials warned it would harm local services.

 

Property Tax-Cut Package May Cost Schools $2 Billion

TALLAHASSEE – Schools would lose $2 billion over the next four years from a property tax-cut plan that zoomed ahead on Monday toward a final vote in the state House and Senate later this week.

 

Governor Crist Appoints Roy Rogers To The Commission On Ethics

Governor Charlie Crist announced the following appointment:
Commission On Ethics (Senate confirmation required)
• Roy Rogers, 71, of Lighthouse Point, president and CEO, Roy Rogers & Associates and special consultant, IBI Group, succeeding Mike Carr, appointed for a term beginning October 15, 2007, and ending June 30, 2009.

 

Property tax plan gets snarled in Legislature

The compromise property tax plan pushed by the governor and Republican legislative leaders continued to run into trouble Tuesday, as House and Senate committees tinkered with the plan, and started to unravel the carefully crafted deal.

 

Property tax cut plan for seniors raises fears

A well-intentioned plan to give poor seniors a break has state legislators worried that wealthier people could ”game the system” so they can avoid paying property taxes on their homesteads.

 

Prepaid college plan wider now

Families hoping their children will one day attend the University of Florida or Florida State University are facing a new dilemma this year if they enroll in the Florida Prepaid College Plan.

 

County wants suspended students at community centers

Every day, about 350 middle and high school students are suspended from Palm Beach County schools.