Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–October 14
Oct 14, 2008
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A crucial count of students under way this week in public schools across Florida will determine how much money cash-strapped districts will receive from the state.
Counties hoping for some help from federal bailout program
Florida governmental groups including the Florida Association of Counties and state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink are lobbying hard – and fast – to persuade the Federal Reserve and the Bush administration to include municipally backed commercial paper in the massive bailout program.
Leaders of state law-enforcement organizations are urging Gov. Charlie Crist to spare the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from major budget cuts, warning that criminals will go free without FDLE’s technical assistance. What worries the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association most is that legislators will make FDLE start charging fees for laboratory work.
Cabinet looks at rule changes in retirement system
Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida’s independently elected Cabinet are meeting to discuss rule changes to the state’s retirement plan.
Florida Chamber: Florida’s economy in a state of flux
Florida is never going back to being a low-cost state. Our economy is in transition.
What will Florida look like in the year 2030? As our economy changes, our population growth is still on pace to add 10 million residents by the year 2030. Florida needs to plan better and grow smarter.
Constitution may see changes after general election
Voters will decide amendments from a same-sex marriage ban to property rights for immigrants.
Synopses and full text versions of the amendments to be voted on during this year’s election.
Poll: Floridians unsure about new amendments
Floridians in November will decide on six proposed constitutional amendments. Less than a month before the election, most voters don’t know much about them. In a poll conducted Oct. 4-6, more than 40 percent declared themselves undecided on five of the six ballot questions.
EDITORIAL: On state constitutional amendments
The annual ritual of adding amendments to Florida’s Constitution is fraught with danger. It has been used for good and ill, from mandating education standards for schools to requiring pens for pregnant pigs. State lawmakers often resort to amendments as a way to duck politically sensitive issues, passing the buck to the voters instead of using the legislative process. Fewer amendments would be better.
Problems with the property tax system in Florida have placed county property appraisers under intense scrutiny.
Bill Furst intends to do his part to ease what he thinks are the unfair burdens of Florida’s property tax system, but some have questioned whether the proposed methods of Sarasota County’s new property appraiser follow Florida law.
Senate District 35 candidates focus on education
With sky-high property taxes, out-of-sight insurance rates and the economy in the tank, the candidates for Senate District 35 both believe the most important issue is public education.
Broward, Dade schools await word on $1M prize
Two South Florida school districts will learn Tuesday if they are the winners of $1 million in scholarships for their students — through an award that has been called the Nobel Prize of public education.
EDITORIAL: Lesson plan for educators–Reform state priorities
Slammed by staff cuts involving more than 200 teachers, and possibly more to come, Volusia County teachers may be wondering where their bailout is. They’re questioning the spending priorities of the School Board. It’s the wrong target.
Controversial teacher bonus program has some faculty crying foul.
It would seem a simple proposition: a bonus check for a job well done.
The Escambia County School District is one of nine districts in Florida participating in a voluntary state program – Merit Award Program – that gives bonuses of approximately $2,000 each to teachers and administrators based on a complex ranking system.
Lee school district unions head back to negotiation table
Where do you think the $9 million cut to Lee County school employees’ contracts should come from?
Bonita Bay grant program to give $62,000 to schools
The Bonita Bay Group School Grants Program will present more than $62,000 in grants to principals and teachers from nine Collier, Hendry and Lee counties’ public schools to fund specific projects that directly affect student learning.
Governor’s Office On Board In Fight For Universities
If there was any doubt that Florida’s universities are in trouble, Dean Colson, Gov. Charlie Crists’s adviser on higher education, erased it in these remarks to the Florida Board of Governors and university trustees in August: More Cuts On Way
Community colleges rally behind Amendment 8
Facing steep budget cuts and rising enrollment, many of Florida’s community colleges are rallying behind an amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that would allow counties to propose a sales tax increase to help the colleges raise funds.
Florida’s unemployment numbers are at a 13 year high.
But now a local school district is being honored for helping students beat those odds.
Comparing the Presidential Candidates: Education
Florida has spent much of the past decade debating the best way to improve its public schools. Parents, teachers and students have grappled each year with the high-stakes Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and then waited anxiously to find out their school grades. Meanwhile, in Tallahassee, groups have fought in the Legislature and in the Supreme Court about whether taxpayers should help pay for children to attend private schools.
Florida State Board of Administration posts proxy votes
The Florida State Board of Administration has begun posting historical and current records of votes that it casts on proxies issued by public companies in which it owns stock.
Bailout bill carries tax credit to help solar power industry
The $700 billion financial industry bailout bill that Congress passed last week includes a much-anticipated boost to Florida’s solar industry.
Florida Offering Energy Grants
Gov. Charlie Crist is inviting public and private entities to submit renewable energy and energy-efficiency proposals for state grants.