Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–October 2
Oct 2, 2008
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Was it worth it? 2 sides of Central Florida’s property tax situation
Florida voters said yes to property-tax cuts — not everyone got them
Nine months after Floridians voted to put a property-tax cut in the state constitution, Central Florida cities and counties have finished work on their 2009 budgets and tax rates.
Property-tax amendment: The difference it will make
Government General-fund taxes Change from last year
Popular class-size limit may be sidelined by economy
Florida’s popular class-size amendment may be put on ice, thanks to a weakening economy and a statewide budget crisis.
Crist: Local economy has ‘brighter future’
Local business executives told Governer Charlie Crist they are optimistic about the state economy Wednesday, urging him to talk up consumer confidence among Floridians worried about Wall Street.
Crist taps conservative for Florida Supreme Court
Gov. Charlie Crist made his second Supreme Court pick for Florida, choosing an appellate judge from North Florida.
Ricky L. Polston, a conservative appellate judge who hailed from a small North Florida town, became the Florida Supreme Court’s newest member Wednesday after he was selected by Gov. Charlie Crist.
COLUMN: For cash-strapped cities, crash fees could be just the start
Accident response fees? Brilliant. That’s the proposal being kicked around in Davie.
Effort advance though taxpayers won’t fund it
One year after St. Lucie County residents voted not to pay for it, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute plans to start providing trauma care anyway, hospital officials say.
Glades may need water utility to ease $100 million debt crunch
Belle Glade, South Bay and Pahokee will consider creating an independent regional water utility to take over their aging, debt-ridden systems, administrators said this afternoon.
Palm Beach County teachers ratify 2 percent pay hike
It’s more money for Palm Beach County teachers, though not even close to what they wanted.
It has been a tough month for the county’s $1.2 billion investment portfolio.
Lee County schools unlucky with lottery
$6.8 million from sales 14 percent lower than last year
The Lee County School District will receive about $6.8 million in state lottery money this year, which is $1.1 million, or 14 percent, less than last year.
Teachers get a surprise — free school supplies
Dedicated teachers in South Florida and across the country got some unexpected help: $1,000 in school supplies.
Just this weekend, fifth-grade science teacher Nakitta Bryant went shopping for school supplies. Her wish list was long, but money was short.
Report: Universities in trouble
A statewide organization that studies Florida’s higher education system issued a somber report Tuesday calling for reform in universities it says are too big, have crowded classrooms, are academically below schools nationwide, and are losing top researchers as budget cuts continue to threaten programs.
State considers lifting enrollment cap
State universities won’t solve problems with access to higher education simply by admitting more students, according to a report released Tuesday by an advocacy group for minority students.
EDITORIAL: The Power of School Choice
The Florida Supreme Court may have removed two amendments relating to the use of vouchers in the public school system from the November ballot, but the issue of introducing more choice into the schools won’t go away, nor should it.
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