Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 12

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

Court ruling could derail new schools

Leaders fear serious effects from a recent state Supreme Court ruling on financing.

A national credit-rating agency warned investors Tuesday that a Florida school-district financing program faced “negative implications” because of last week’s Florida Supreme Court ruling.

 

Where does all the money go? In S. Florida, it goes for housing

Housing costs in Palm Beach and Broward counties ate up a larger portion of people’s paychecks last year than they did in 2000, according to U.S. census data released today.

 

Broward budget cuts hit parks, libraries

Broward County commissioners tentatively agreed Tuesday to cut $90 million from the $3.6 billion budget, which includes cutting library staff and parks programs.

 

Miami’s budget approved, but more cuts sought

Miami commissioners, although warning the mayor they’d like to see deeper tax cuts, tentatively approved his self-described ”prudent and balanced” $523 million budget late Tuesday.

 

Hialeah mayor, Realtor air tax differences

The scene in Hialeah City Council chambers Wednesday was somewhat rare: an actual debate. At an educational workshop held Wednesday at City Hall for roughly 20 Realtors and mortgage brokers, Mayor Julio Robaina and Florida Association of Realtors Vice President of Public Policy John Sebree voiced their difference of opinions on property tax reform.

 

‘Hometown Democracy’ Divisions Are Wide

TAMPA – The proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution called Hometown Democracy is a few hundred thousand petition signatures short of making it to the 2008 ballot.

 

Property tax-cut plan support wanes

Florida voters are growing so distrustful of government and its promises to lower property taxes and insurance that support for a proposed constitutional amendment to create a supersized homestead exemption is dropping, a new poll shows.

 

Judge to decide if tax-cut plan meant to deceive

A conflict over the real intent of the Legislature’s property tax cut amendment has a judge deciding whether lawmakers meant to lower taxes or phase out the state’s Save Our Homes tax assessment cap.

 

Poll: Florida’s ‘super’ homestead exemption won’t get enough votes

The Legislature’s plan to change Florida’s homestead exemption law is in trouble, according to a new poll.

 

County disbands budget panel

Palm Beach County commissioners formally agreed Tuesday to disband their beleaguered budget advisory committee, but did not rule out the possibility of creating a similar board to weigh next year’s spending plan.

 

West Palm OKs budget as union members stay mum

WEST PALM BEACH — Thirty members of the Service Employees International Union, clad in purple T-shirts, showed up at the city’s first budget hearing on Tuesday, facing city commissioners on the dais and setting the stage, it seemed, for fireworks.

 

School board gives up charter authority

Schools’ option is state oversight

The Brevard County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to surrender its authority over the district’s eight charter schools, a move sparked by more than a year of struggle between the district and some of its charters.

 

Don’t test; teach

Steroid program is misdirected

It’s not too late to save $100,000 earmarked by the Legislature for anabolic-steroid testing among high-school student-athletes.

 

It’s student loan reform that will help students

How badly have private lenders been fleecing college students? It took 60 years for Congress to fully reform what became an $85 billion college loan industry.

 

Blowing Savings Risky Way For Florida To Balance Budget

Gov. Charlie Crist wants to “re-fire” the state’s cooling economy by spending down state reserves and trust funds.

 

Public access TV backers seek reprieve from cuts

County commissioners will make their final budget decisions Sept. 20.

TAMPA – For months, local and state governments have heard the cry of residents wanting cuts in their tax bills.

 

Rubio’s threat is a bad bet

Gov. Charlie Crist should indeed use more restraint in his negotiations with the Seminole Tribe over high-stakes gambling in Florida. But the public rebuke issued Monday by House Speaker Marco Rubio could just as easily play into the tribe’s hand.

 

Schools Give Flabby Excuses On P.E. Law

Florida school districts are coming up with creative ways to dodge the new requirement that elementary school children get 150 minutes of physical education every week.

 

Board squashes idea of appointing a Broward sheriff

Ken Jenne’s demise as Broward sheriff won’t spell an end to public elections for the powerful job as the county’s top cop, at least for now.

 

Broward-Collier legislator Mike Davis dead at 60

State Rep. Mike Davis, a Naples Republican whose House district reached from Collier County into Broward County, died Wednesday morning at a hospice in naples after a months-long battle with cancer. He was 60.