Broward Schools and Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Tuesday, April 5
Apr 5, 2011
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Education reform dominates Legislature
It’s not over yet.
After overhauling teacher pay, evaluations and contracts, state lawmakers are just getting started on bringing major changes to education.
Senator: Take away salaries of school board members
School board members would work without pay, save for a $100 per-meeting stipend, under a proposal the Legislature is taking up on Tuesday.
Many classrooms in Florida could be getting more crowded again
Class sizes in Florida public schools may be getting much larger again next fall despite voter-mandated restrictions that went into effect just this year.
Pasco school board protests county’s plans to slash impact fees
When it comes to impact fees, Pasco County’s school board and county commission appear poised to agree to disagree
Four-day school week would be cheaper, but unpopular
Would switching to a four-day school week help the Palm Beach County School District eliminate a possible $50 million budget shortfall?
School districts uneasy over digital textbook mandate
Ready or not, Florida school districts may be required to spend half of their textbook budgets on digital materials in just two years. But school districts are reluctant to embrace a mandate they say is too costly and doesn’t take into account students without Internet access.
No Doubt Public Employees Will Pay to Balance Florida Budget
Question now is how much they will contribute to their pensions.
Showing up en masse and in uniform, firefighters, paramedics, police officers and sheriff’s deputies packed the state Capitol for weeks seeking to dissuade Florida lawmakers from changing their pensions.
- School district tries ‘humane’ tack on job cuts
- A midnight ride to Tallahassee to save education funding
- Budget cutting extends to Scott’s security detail
House Republicans unveil ‘Path to Prosperity’ budget cuts
House Republicans rolled out their ambitious vision of the future Tuesday, with a fiscal 2012 budget plan that would cut $6.2 trillion in spending over the next decade, overhaul Medicare and Medicaid, and restructure individual and business taxes.
Poll: School employee fingerprinting costs soaring in Lee, Collier, state
When public schools hire new employees, they collect fingerprints to do background checks in order to keep children safe.
Privatized services expected to grow
Lawmakers hope turning over more government services to the private sector will save the state more money
Thousands of state jobs for key services – ranging from caring for state mental health hospital patients to keeping some of Florida’s most dangerous criminals behind bars – are set to be turned over to private companies this year.
Scott confident he’ll get corporate tax cut, surprised at slow pace of the Legislature
Governor Rick Scott says he’s optimistic lawmakers will deliver his corporate tax cuts over the next month on top of the roughly $4 billion in cuts the Legislature is proposing for classrooms, health-care for the poor and benefit cuts to public workers.
For businesses, Escambia is tax-break heaven
Escambia County doesn’t lead the state in many economic development categories, but there’s one where it’s head and shoulders above the rest.
Officials: Hospital review may bring changes
Governor Rick Scott’s appointment of a statewide panel to scrutinize hospital taxing districts and make sure they’re in the best interest of taxpayers could bring big changes to Volusia County, local officials say.
Does teacher merit pay bill rely on flawed model?
With Florida’s groundbreaking new teacher merit pay bill, the state has proclaimed its intention to hold fast to former Governor Jeb Bush’s education reform legacy.
Column: State may slow money tap for water districts
Lauded and criticized for their fiscal autonomy, water management districts would find their budget determined by the Legislature and their spending approved by the governor under a pair of bills advancing through the Legislature that attempt to clip their wings.
Notter says discord with teachers union was his biggest failure
Broward Schools Superintendent Jim Notter surprised board members last week when he said he will retire at the end of the school year., for his thoughts on his tenure, plans, relationship with the teachers union and the upheaval of the last two years.
Are Bright Future scholarships going to the right students?
The popular Bright Futures program is facing tweaks as Florida legislators deal with flattening Lottery revenues and finding money to help poor students afford college.
Texas School tax breaks at risk
Faced with a looming budget shortfall, the Senate’s most powerful member is carrying legislation that would cap state spending on school property tax breaks that are Texas’ primary tool to attract major business relocation or expansion projects.
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