Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 13

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Confusion reigns over tax reform

Backers of a constitutional amendment facing voters Jan. 29 have a tough sales challenge ahead of them, based on the most recent opinion poll.

 

Panelists: Dodge tax cuts with special assessments

City officials took a break Wednesday from finalizing their 2007-08 budgets and looked toward the future during a Volusia League of Cities luncheon dedicated to property tax issues.

 

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.

 

Coral Springs: City finds funds to keep 20 school crossing guards

The crossing guards won’t be cut after all. As part of its sweeping budget cuts, the city planned to save about $75,000 by eliminating 20 school crossing guards not required by the state, in areas with few children.

 

County, Schools’ Talks Stalled

LAND – O’ LAKES – The Pasco County school district and the county commission appear to be stalled in their efforts to negotiate a new interlocal agreement that details guidelines for handling school construction.

 

Cut tax rates? Cities take different paths

Winter Park responded yes to a state mandate for a lower property tax rate; Maitland said no thanks.

Maitland overrode a Tallahassee mandate to reduce its property-tax rate this week, instead voting unanimously to keep the same rate while property values continued to rise.

 

Florida told to keep talented workers

Building homegrown workforce important to state’s economic future

LAKEWOOD RANCH –Fla. told to keep talented workers: Building homegrown workforce important to state’s economic future

 

Our view: Charters dumped

Parents must step up vigilance at schools opting out of district oversight

The Brevard County School Board made a decision that’s fraught with peril for some area students Tuesday when it voted unanimously to surrender its authority over the district’s charter schools.

Pell financial aid boosts private schools

As Florida’s public universities face budget cuts and tightened freshmen enrollment, administrators at the state’s private colleges and universities are relishing the first federal large-scale infusion of financial aid approved by Congress.

 

Kucinich hosts students’ debate

When little-known Democratic and Republican students from Miami’s two largest universities met for a debate on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus Monday, the world watched.

 

State Budget Cuts Could Impact Pasco Roads

DADE CITY – State budget cuts could cost Pasco County millions of dollars in road funds, county officials learned Thursday.

 

Thompson Declines To Take A Stand On Cat Fund, Schiavo, “Fair Tax”

Fred Thompson, on the first day of the three-day bus tour opening his Florida campaign, is continuing his pitch for the party’s social conservative base, including in his stump speech the line, “My record on abortion-related issues is 100 percent pro-life and will continue to be.”

 

School plan is still evolving

A new student assignment system could get costly, Wilcox warns.

Pinellas school superintendent Clayton Wilcox said Wednesday that a proposed system for assigning students to schools could be “the envy” of districts across the nation.

 

Broward charter review panel rejects proposal for appointing sheriff

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