Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Oct. 17

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

Senate barely passes tax plan. House waits

Florida lawmakers tried to end their standoff on property taxes Wednesday as House Republicans and Democrats began hammering a consensus plan together, while the bipartisan Senate fractured along geographic lines and barely passed the plan.

 

Fla. Senate passes part of property tax cut plan 

The Senate decided Wednesday to ask voters to lower property taxes, but still has to work out differences with the House over details of the plan. The measure was approved narrowly. Backers of the proposal needed 24 votes to pass it; the vote was 26-11.

 

Tax fight pits schools against homeowners

Florida lawmakers’ race to approve an $11 billion package of property-tax cuts slowed sharply Tuesday, as critics warned the plan drains needed dollars from schools and local governments, and boosters sought to add even more tax cuts.

 

Tallahassee’s sucker punch

When it comes to Florida’s public schools, the Legislature considers ‘hold harmless’ to mean ‘hold him while I hit him again.’

 

Lawmaker offers tax cutters a deal

Florida Rep. Joe Pickens issued a challenge Tuesday: He’d vote to exempt any city or county from the proposed property tax cuts if officials could prove they reduced their property tax rate more than the state had in the past five years.

 

Democrats in rare position of power in property tax debate

But if nothing gets done during the special session called by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, Democrats risk angering homeowners who have been promised property tax relief.

 

Dems not backing down on property tax

TALLAHASSEE – House Democrats said that they will deny Republican leaders the two-thirds vote needed today to put an ever-growing package of property tax relief on the Jan. 29 ballot.

 

Slow down tax cut train

This is what passes for a thoughtful, reasonable approach in the Florida Legislature: Unveil on Friday a complicated tax-reform bill negotiated in secret.

 

CRA shortcomings

Buying land without getting appraisals. Purchase orders issued after goods or services were received. Failure to use competitive bidding.

 

Businesses among likely tax-relief losers

TALLAHASSEE — As property taxes have soared in Florida, owners of businesses, second homes and rental properties have pleaded for relief.

 

House panel extends ‘Save Our Homes’

The property-tax debate took a dramatic turn Tuesday when a House panel decided to give businesses and non-homestead owners the same protections as ”Save Our Homes,” the constitutional safeguard that limits assessments to 3 percent per year.

 

House panel votes to offer tax relief to snowbirds, too

Members of a key House committee on Tuesday upped the ante for property tax relief by extending a popular assessment cap to commercial property owners and those owning second and vacation homes.

 

Lawmakers Tinker With Proposed Tax Amendment

With confusion and questions surrounding their plan, Florida lawmakers pressed ahead Tuesday with a multi-pronged effort to cut property taxes through a constitutional amendment that will come before voters in January.

 

Crist vetoes tuition hike

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist, ever evolving on the question of raising tuition for higher education, appeared to move closer to approving it today.

 

With new amendment, Legislature prepares to repeat its mistakes

If you’re in a hole, stop digging. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. First, do no harm. The Legislature is on the verge of flunking another test on the Lessons of Classic Quotes and Clichs.

 

In tax plan, many prongs, and questions

TALLAHASSEE — With confusion and questions surrounding their plan, Florida lawmakers pressed ahead Tuesday with a multi-pronged effort to cut property taxes through a constitutional amendment that will be before voters in January.

 

Plan eludes befuddled lawmakers

Florida’s latest property tax cut plan flirted with disaster Tuesday as House and Senate committees raced in different directions and passed bills with mismatched parts.

 

Federal agents raid Florida Career College

Stunned students came to class Tuesday morning only to be locked out of two Florida Career College campuses as federal investigators raided the schools.

 

Longtime Duval educator takes over as interim superintendent

The Duval County School Board turned to Ed Pratt-Dannals to oversee the school system after ousting Superintendent Joseph Wise on Tuesday.

 

School Board weighs watchdog position

Miami-Dade schools could soon have an independent watchdog — that is, if the position is resurrected by the School Board.