Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Thursday, February 17
Feb 17, 2011
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Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy Issues Budget Gap Presentation
Once again Florida faces a gap – this one estimated at $3.5 billion – between anticipated revenue and the costs of continuing current state services. To view the presentation, click here.
Florida Senator wants school funding formula scrutinized
A South Florida senator wants to revive the battle over the state’s complicated school funding formula.
Senate Rolls Out Pension Revamp, Draws Cops’ Heat
The Senate rolled out its push to revamp city and state pension plans, drawing immediate pushback from the state’s largest law enforcement union.
Scott’s health insurance proposal would hit state workers’ wallets hard
‘No free ride here,’ state workers told
State employees – seven years without a general pay raise, layoffs looming and a separate proposal to require them to pay 5 percent of their salaries into pensions – also face the possibility of a massive change to their health benefits.
Lee County School District institutes hiring freeze
Worries about budget cuts leads superintendent to enact the freeze for positions in the district’s central office
In an early step to head off a budget crisis next year, the Lee County School District has announced a freeze on the hiring of employees at its central office.
Letter: Unequal appraisals costing county money
On Jan. 31 I attended a town hall meeting held by newly elected Rep. Steve Southerland.
Tampa voters to weigh tax exemptions on ballot
In a ballot packed with mayoral and council candidates, Tampa voters will be asked only one question in the March 1 elections: whether they want to give tax breaks to businesses to attract new investment and jump-start the city’s sluggish economy.
Blog: Feds and Dems appalled by Governor Scott’s refusal of rail money
U.S. officials and Democrats in Congress were shocked and appalled on Wednesday by Florida Governor Rick Scott’s decision to decline federal high-speed rail dollars.
- Can high-speed rail backers bypass Governor Rick Scott?
- High-speed rail: What about the long view?
- Governor Scott’s Statement on High-Speed Rail
- New York senators seek rail money rejected by Florida
Scott wants parks open, but tough choices remain
Governor Rick Scott indicated late last week that 53 state parks targeted for closure will remain open.
Red-light cameras prove no financial boon for Fort Lauderdale
Tax hike or layoffs may still be needed to balance budget
Traffic tickets from red-light cameras may be more work than they’re worth for the city – and officials may have to re-balance the budget because of it.
Florida looks at taking school textbooks completely digital by 2015
Get ready to say goodbye to bulky books. There’s a move to go all-digital in Florida classrooms.
Oregon legislators to consider Florida-based education reforms
Eighty-three percent of Oregon third-graders met state reading benchmarks in 2009-10.
Texas conservatives offer plan to wean schools off property tax
Conservative legislators say Texas must move away from funding public schools with local property taxes and instead expand the sales tax, according to a report released on Wednesday.
Washington state schools brace for deeper cuts: ‘No easy choices left’
To see how tight many school budgets have become, consider Beverly Park Elementary in the Highline School District south of Seattle.
Former Minnesota Governor Pawlenty: Florida missed chance to lead in education
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who’s considering a run for the White House, told Republican lawmakers Wednesday they’ll be national leaders in education reform if they finally put into law a teacher merit pay bill former that Governor Charlie Crist vetoed last year.
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