Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

PBC agrees to override property tax rollback plan

Palm Beach County commissioners unanimously agreed this morning to support overriding a state mandate forcing them to rollback tax rates in two special fire-rescue taxing districts.

 

Values decline but assessments go up

A Save Our Homes wrinkle trims benefits.

KISSIMMEE – For Floridians besieged by soaring home insurance and rising property taxes, this is the cruel twist no one saw coming.

 

Schools told to brace for 4% cut

An Education Department official predicts a loss of state aid not quite as severe as feared.

School superintendents had heard the rumors for weeks: With state revenue estimates down more than $1-billion, school district budgets stood to take a hit of as much as 5 percent.

 

Court sides with charter schools on seizure by Palm Beach School Board

WEST PALM BEACH — The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that the Palm Beach County School Board did not follow proper hearing procedures before shutting down two Survivors charter school campuses in Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach.

 

Lauderhill leaders put hiring plan on hold

City leaders discuss budget proposal for ’08
   
Lauderhill will have to wait to hire five police officers and four community service aides, city officials concluded as they pondered budget figures Tuesday. They also won’t fill five vacant paramedic positions.

 

Tax Rollback’s Toll On Schools Still Unknown

LAND – O’ LAKES – The Pasco County School Board already may have suffered a financial setback as it begins planning today for its 2007-08 budget.

 

Naugle takes jab at gays as library is OK’d

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted Tuesday to let a gay-oriented library occupy city property — but only after Mayor Jim Naugle made comments likely to renew his feud with the city’s large gay population.

 

Cable franchise deals may shut out AT&T for years in South Florida cities

AT&T’s upcoming cable TV service in South Florida could mean more competition in the industry and lower rates for many consumers. But some might not get a chance to see it any time soon.

 

Crist to order energy conservation, lower emissions at summit

Gov. Charlie Crist will cap his two-day climate change summit Friday by signing orders requiring the state be more energy efficient and power companies reduce emissions, while joining California in seeking to regulate auto emissions.

 

Universities board joins lawsuit against legislature

TALLAHASSEE — The board governing state universities joined a lawsuit Tuesday against state lawmakers that claims the board, and not the legislature, has the power to set tuition rates.

 

Proposed County Budget Up; Tax Rate Down

DADE CITY – After months of trimming and freezing positions in preparation for statewide property tax reform, County Administrator John Gallagher on Tuesday presented a $1.2 billion spending plan to the county commission.

 

Iorio Plans To Cut Money To Some Nonprofit Entities

TAMPA – Mayor Pam Iorio plans to slash the city’s funding to some nonprofit agencies by as much as 20 percent.

 

The Board of Governors votes for a 5 percent tuition increase.

ORLANDO – Breaking a time-honored pact with the Legislature, the board that oversees Florida’s universities voted here Tuesday to raise tuition without lawmakers’ approval.

 

Steroid Testing To Include Softball, Flag Football

When high school female athletes are awarded Division I scholarships for flag football or signed to million-dollar contracts to play professional softball, Chamberlain High’s Bob Diez may say steroid testing is understandable.