Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Tuesday, February 8
Feb 8, 2011
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Florida Governor Scott unveils Florida budget plan at tea party rally
New Republican Governor Rick Scott received wild applause from about 1,000 tea party activists when he said the $65.9 billion budget proposal he rolled out Monday would cut government waste and lower taxes
- Scott plan would spark ‘massive layoffs’ and other pain, educators say
- THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: End of Stimulus Hits Public Schools in Scott Plan
- Leaders Begin Scrutinizing Scott’s Proposed Budget
- Scott’s $65.9B ‘jobs budget’ cuts corporate income tax
- Scott wants to reduce state planners and eliminate funding for Florida Forever
Florida should pursue sales-tax cheats, grand jury says
Comparing Florida’s tax collection apparatus to an “honor system,” a Miami-Dade grand jury has urged Tallahassee to ease budget woes by going after convenience stores, car dealers and other small businesses holding back sales tax
Florida school districts may get relief on class size fines
State lawmakers are proposing new ways to help school districts handle the class size mandate.
Help may be on the way for the 28 Florida school districts facing hefty fines for not meeting the state class size mandate.
Legislators unlikely to act on Scott’s plan to expand vouchers
A proposal touted by Governor Rick Scott to radically expand school vouchers is unlikely to gain any traction in the state Legislature anytime soon, key lawmakers say.
Battle shaping up over pension proposal
Governor Rick Scott has picked a fight with more than a half million employees with his proposal to make them fund their own pensions.
Hal Krantz says it has been years since he brought home a pay raise. After 16 years of teaching, the married Coral Springs Middle School instructor with a daughter in college is struggling to stretch his salary while meeting the soaring costs of healthcare, food and other necessities.
Top Florida lawmaker wants to limit use of union dues for politics
A leading Senate Republican has filed a bill that could strip unions of some of their political strength, barring payroll deduction for union dues and prohibiting dues from being used for political activity without written consent.
Florida teachers say lawmakers are unfairly targeting them
Lawmakers push for merit-pay, budget cuts and pension contributions seen as unfair by teachers
It’s a tough time to be a public school teacher in Florida.
For Florida firms, is it a reversal of tax fortune?
If Governor Rick Scott succeeds in phasing out Florida’s corporate income tax, it will mark a fundamental shift in the philosophy that has guided the state’s tax policy for the last 40 years.
Whistleblower sues Broward schools, contractors
Claims taxpayers defrauded of millions in cafeteria projects
A Broward Schools employee is suing 25 of his colleagues, an imprisoned School Board member and six major construction firms, alleging they conspired to steer contracts and drive up costs.
Editorial: Scott will learn government is not a business
Barely a month has passed since Governor Rick Scott took office, and it is clear he views his new job as Florida’s chief executive no differently than his old job as chief executive assembling the nation’s largest hospital chain.
Palm Beach County school officials admit teacher pay error
Over the past two years, the Palm Beach County School District mistakenly gave hundreds of newly hired veteran teachers higher salaries than teachers already on the payroll with the same amount of experience.
Broward schools to review lockdown policy
Should students be able to use cell phones during a school lockdown?
Homes and businesses apply for amnesty for liens in Plantation
The city’s lien amnesty program for code violators has kicked off, and interest was high even before the city officially started accepting applications.
Student voted out of kindergarten class receives $350,000 settlement
The case of Alex Barton, who was voted out of his Morningside Elementary kindergarten classroom three years ago, has officially ended with a $350,000 settlement.
Full-Time E-Learning Not Seen as Viable Option for Many
The parents of students attending full-time cyber schools, by necessity, must play a much greater role in their children’s daily educational experiences compared with parents of students in traditional public schools.
State’s top educator visits Duval, defends himself and state law
The state’s top educator on Friday toured one of Duval County’s most struggling schools, met with frustrated community members and responded to recent criticism from the School Board.
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