Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–August 5

Aug 5, 2010

 

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Broward School Board gives tentative OK to $3.4 billion budget

Despite concerns from hundreds of teachers and parents, the Broward School Board on Thursday gave Superintendent Jim Notter’s proposed $3.4 billion budget a unanimous nod of approval.

 

Class-size rule threatens chaos for area schools

The state-mandated class-size limits could bump an estimated 3,000 middle and high school students in Alachua County out of certain classes when school starts in a few weeks.

 

State, McCollum abandon legal defense of taxpayer matching money for candidates

Florida will not appeal a court ruling that struck a key provision of the state’s campaign finance law.

 

Florida owes $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates

The state owes Floridians $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates and has no immediate plan to honor its financial promise.

 

Downsizing planned for Crist’s Everglades land deal with U.S. Sugar

Gov. Charlie Crist’s stalled Everglades land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. would be watered down again under a proposal released Wednesday to buy less sugar cane land for environmental restoration.

 

Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendments keep getting bounced off the ballot

Attempts to use Florida’s Constitution to make political statements and policy continue to prove very challenging, even for the Legislature.

 

Hillsborough voters to decide on tax incentive for some businesses

Hillsborough voters will have another ballot question to consider in November.

 

Miami Beach historic tax exemption under scrutiny

Accusations that a historic property tax exemption has been abused by the wealthy and politically connected on Miami Beach have prompted a review of the city’s policy.

 

Proposal to charge banks for foreclosures fails in Greenacres

A proposal to charge banks to foreclose on homes in the city was short-lived and according to the proposal’s creator “went down in flames” Monday night.

 

Man who turned mansion to church alleges bias after losing tax break

George Michael says he simply wanted to give his ailing and deeply religious wife a place to worship when he transformed the racquetball court in his lakefront mansion into the Armenian Church of Lake Bluff, Ill.

 

Government:  A public service business

Every place we turn, costs are going up.  If only our wages and benefits were doing the same.

 

Feds take over Child Care Association of Brevard’s Head Start provider

US audit spotlights lingering debt

The federal government took control of Child Care Association of Brevard County’s Head Start operations after the nonprofit agency borrowed about $1.3 million against five buildings to try to stay afloat and couldn’t pay it back, its directors said.

 

New York governor still pushing long-shot property tax cap

A day after the Legislature passed one of the latest state budgets in New York history, financial and business analysts said the budget overspends and overtaxes while Gov. David Paterson said the work isn’t done.

 

Los Angeles County’s highest property taxes are in its poorest cities

Struggling to balance their budgets with meager tax bases, some of Los Angeles County’s poorest cities charge their residents the highest property tax rates.

 

 

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