Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 18

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Child at Westview Middle dies

A 12-year-old student at Westview Middle School in Northwest Miami-Dade died after striking her head while playing outside at lunchtime, two witnesses told The Herald.

 

Schools chief: Give Pembroke Pines $855,000

After months of back-and-forth, Broward Schools Superintendent Jim Notter is recommending that the school district give Pembroke Pines nearly $855,000 that the city says it overpaid in charter school administrative fees.

 

Education board weighs changes to state standards

Florida may soon have a new way of teaching math and science if revisions to the Sunshine State Standards are approved today.

 

Rubio tries to salvage tax amendment

TALLAHASSEE — As voter confusion reigns and support slips for the property tax amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot, Republican leaders are on the offensive — to salvage it, and their credibility as tax cutters.

 

Get a clue

Our position: Cities and counties should be doing a lot more to trim their budgets.

The next time a mayor, council member or county commissioner threatens to cut police, fire or other vital services to meet the state’s mandated tax cuts, look them square in the eye and ask them how much they spend on travel.

 

Nine out of 10 homeowners get tax hike

Earlier this year — with great fanfare — the Florida Legislature passed a property tax bill that supposedly would offer immediate relief to every person or company in the state that pays property taxes.

 

Broward schools enrollment drops again

The number of students in Broward public schools dropped by nearly 4,000 students compared to last year, continuing a three-year trend.

 

Challenge to slots too late? State justices must decide

A state Supreme Court case cast doubt on a constitutional amendment that allows slot machines in South Florida with local approval.

A case that pits South Florida’s casinos against a coalition of anti-gambling forces reached the Florida Supreme Court on Monday in a lawsuit that, if successful, could undermine the legal basis for slot machines at casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

 

Everglades’ $1.8 billion looks safe

Water managers say a $1.8 billion Everglades initiative appears secure, despite a state Supreme Court ruling that could throw dozens of government projects statewide into turmoil.

 

Selling State Lottery Bad Risk For Taxpayers, Schools, Gamblers

Gov. Charlie Crist is thinking about selling the state lottery to a private investor who would pay enough to solve the state’s immediate budget problems. He should think again.

 

$95 million referendum is removed from ballot

The Miami Beach City Commission voted unanimously Monday night to remove a $95 million bond referendum from the Nov. 6 ballot.

 

Crist talks up new tax plan

Worries about the amendment cutting into local services are “overblown,” he insists.

TAMPA – With polls showing waning support for the super homestead exemption, Gov. Charlie Crist visited a Tampa woman’s home Monday to trumpet his support for a new campaign to convince Floridians to vote for it.

 

Broward schools struggling to find enough cash for teaching

The Broward School District has money to replace steel studs damaged by Hurricane Wilma but can barely afford to buy wood for wood shop.

 

Seller Opens House For Superexemption Rally

TAMPA – Since Veronica Greco put her North Hyde Park bungalow on the market, she has held three open houses – with barely a peep from potential buyers or agents.

 

Our view: Clearing the air

Space Coast cities need Florida Supreme Court ruling on bond projects

The Florida Supreme Court should waste no time clearing up a Sept. 6 ruling on bond projects that has Brevard officials mystified and concerned.

 

Fort Lauderdale to vote on spending $3.5 million for video in police cars

After spending years as a civil rights activist and police watchdog, Roosevelt Walters knows there are three sides to every story: the officer’s, the citizen’s, and now, the video camera’s.

 

Fighting mortgage fraud may ease taxes

Homeowners in neighborhoods saturated with mortgage fraud could see their property taxes reduced as law enforcement gears up for a countywide crackdown on the pervasive white-collar crime, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Glenn Theobald, chief legal counsel for the county police, said Monday.

 

Crist takes to road for property-tax measure

Gov. Charlie Crist stepped in Monday to kick-start a property-tax ballot measure that a recent poll showed is losing support among voters and dragging down his approval ratings.

 

Teacher housing plan doesn’t get passing grade

ISSUE: Housing plan for teachers not gaining support.

There is a real possibility the Broward School Board’s idea of building affordable apartments exclusively for district workers will not fly.

 

Budget plan cuts veterans parade

LAKE WORTH — Palm Beach County’s largest Veterans Day event, the 90-minute parade down Lake Avenue to Bryant Park, is slated to be another victim of state-required budget cuts.