Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 7

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

AP Newsbreak: Indian gambling deal could net $1 b over 5 years

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state and the Seminole Tribe are closing in on a deal that could mean $50 million immediately and at least $100 million a year for the state as they negotiate on what type of gambling the Indians can offer, a tribe lawyer said Friday.

 

Court: Let voters OK big project

Voters may get a chance to decide on key funding for some of the biggest public construction projects envisioned for South Florida under a stunning decision that the state Supreme Court released Thursday.

 

Gov. Crist slashes budget plan, but protects education and road money

TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist proposed Thursday that state lawmakers dig Florida out of its $1.1 billion budget hole by actually spending more on school construction, highways and housing.

 

Residents ask Palm Beach County for more tax cuts

Speakers at public hearing urge county to slash more

As the owner of a rental home in Wellington, Carlos Iniguez says the value of his investment property has plummeted this year by nearly 30 percent. On Thursday night, he called on Palm Beach County commissioners to reduce county government spending by at least that much.

 

Palm Beach County school district adopts $3.4 billion budget

The Palm Beach County School Board has adopted a $3.4 billion budget for 2007-2008, but it has a less-predictable bottom line than most years.

 

Jenne’s name lives on — at the taxpayers’ expense

All the buildings and benches and signs and rugs emblazoned with the logo of a corrupt sheriff?

 

State school boards worried over expected cuts

As 23 school board members shuffled into the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa to kick off a Florida School Boards Association retreat Thursday, thoughts of looming budget cuts were not far from their minds.

 

McCollum: State not required to talk blackjack with Indians

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The state isn’t required to discuss letting the Seminole Tribe offer games like blackjack, craps and roulette in negotiations over what the tribe can offer at its casinos, state Attorney General Bill McCollum said Thursday.

 

Florida Lottery looks to boost revenue

TALLAHASSEE — Seeking to boost the amount of money for schools that comes from the Florida Lottery, the state-run Lottery Department wants more: More stores selling tickets, more instant ticket vending machines, and maybe more money by leasing or selling off the entire state agency to a private company.

 

In Dismissing Problem Employees, County Opens Your Wallet Wide

When bemoaning the toll of state-mandated budget cuts on Hillsborough government, county administrator Pat Bean urged citizens to “look under the hood” and tell Tallahassee to back off.

 

Poor Seniors’ Tax Cut May Rise

TAMPA – Low-income seniors in Hillsborough County probably will get an additional property tax reduction of about $87 per household starting in 2008.

 

Hillsborough’s Merit-Pay Plan Flunks Test On Intended Results

Merit pay can be a powerful motivator for a job well done, but the new merit-pay program for Hillsborough schools has been a fiasco.

 

Volusia school enrollment drops; teacher layoffs possible

DAYTONA BEACH — Enrollment in Volusia public schools is down about 1,100 students from a year ago, meaning some teachers could lose their jobs and others will have to switch schools.

 

School Board gets an ‘A’ in tantrums

We can only hope that Jennifer Faliero regrets denigrating April Griffin, her colleague on the Hillsborough County School Board – and that Griffin regrets storming out from a meeting aimed at unifying the board.

 

Virtual learning catching on at elementary, high school levels

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — As a seventh-grader, Kelsey-Anne Hizer was getting mostly D’s and F’s and felt the teachers at her Ocala middle school were not giving her the help she needed.

 

Really Leaving No Child Behind

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 set ambitious new goals when it required the states to improve public schooling for all students — and to educate poor children up to the same standards as their affluent counterparts — in exchange for federal aid.