Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–March 11
Mar 11, 2010
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Blog: Economist: Florida auction of casinos licenses could bring up to $2 billion
Legislative economist Amy Baker told the House Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review that if the state were willing to auction off licenses for eight new casinos in Florida, the state could draw between $2.3 billion and $1.5 billion in additional money a year, over and above what it could make from an Indian gaming compact.
State economists predict revenues will increase for first time in 3 years
State economists Tuesday found some good news in the fact that there wasn’t any more bad news on the fiscal horizon.
Blog: Florida Senate K-12 budget conundrum: more students, less money
The Senate committee crafting the budget for K-12 public and charter schools on Thursday received grim data on projected enrollment and tax revenues that, combined, promise to make its job more challenging.
Florida lawmakers hear how other states have cut education
As lawmakers waited Tuesday for the latest state revenue estimates, state Senate budget writers learned that other states are being forced to make widespread cuts in funding for popular school programs.
Florida House, Senate differ on budget plans
Senate President Jeff Atwater has proposed spending a bit less for public schools, health care and criminal and civil justice than House Speaker Larry Cretul.
Schools pinching pennies as Florida hashes out budget
The education budget is typically one of the last things resolved by state lawmakers.
The Alachua County Public School District is facing the unknown when it comes to state educational dollars, and district officials say it has been a challenge working on the budget for the 2010-11 school year.
Burden of entitlement programs only grows
With swelling numbers of seniors on waiting lists, families on food stamps and poor people on Medicaid, economists on Tuesday delivered the news Florida lawmakers have long seen coming.
Florida fails to get its fair share of census aid
The Fort Myers-Cape Coral metropolitan area received the second-least per capita census-guided federal assistance in the country in 2008, according to an academic study released today.
U.S. Senate’s Medicaid funding vote will help Florida balance budget
The U.S. Senate approved emergency funding on Wednesday for state Medicaid programs, but Florida lawmakers may use much of the state’s share to boost spending on other budget areas.
Water managers outline fiscal pain, say U.S. Sugar deal doesn’t help
The massive Everglades land deal was brought into question Wednesday, but the purchase is unlikely to be derailed anytime soon.
Water managers spent two hours Wednesday discussing money troubles that threaten Gov. Charlie Crist’s controversial land deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp.
Florida receiving $61 million for jobs stimulus program
“Back to Work” money will finally be flowing back to Florida.
Florida State Senator John Thrasher: Florida teachers must demand better results
By the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the United States had won a record 37 medals, the most for the United States in any Winter Games.
Teacher merit-pay plan passes key Florida Senate committee
A sweeping and controversial plan to overhaul how teachers are evaluated and paid got a first favorable vote in a key state Senate committee Wednesday.
Crist Reappoints Bush Staffers to State Board of Education
Gov. Charlie Crist reappointed one of his predecessor Jeb Bush’s former chiefs of staff to the State Board of Education on Tuesday, and appointed another one as well as the head of Gulf Power Co., to the panel.
More layoffs likely at Broward schools
School Board trying to spare art, music in grade schools
After receiving scores of e-mails from outraged parents and teachers, the Broward School Board on Tuesday asked for budget cutting options that would spare elementary school electives such as physical education, art, music and library time.
School tax suit highlights political tension
Buzz of a lawsuit aiming to stop the school property tax referendum started more than a month ago, when some of the staunchest critics started exchanging e-mails about potential electioneering violations.
Sarasota area legislators: Class-size limits will pass Senate
A local legislator has predicted a measure calling for easing of the state’s class-size amendment will pass in the state Senate as early as next week, saying, “We’re anxious to get it out.”
Lee School District prepares to cut budget to adhere to class size amendment
Ready or not, here the class size amendment comes.
Hillsborough teachers will soon be rated by their peers
Starting as early as this fall, every Hillsborough County schoolteacher will be subject to ratings by his or her peers.
Brevard school district may lose $30M
Brevard Public Schools Associate Superintendent of Financial Services Judy Preston told school board members Tuesday the district could lose as much as $30 million in the 2010-11 school year.
Blog: Senate to take up bill to break up state agency
The Department of Management Services could be broken up and placed under the control of the Governor and Cabinet under a far-reaching proposal that will be taken up on Wednesday.
Crist: Law delaying unemployment tax increase will help create jobs
Upwards of 474,000 Florida businesses and 6.1 million people were spared an unemployment tax increase by a bill recently signed into law, Gov. Charlie Crist said in Fort Myers on Wednesday.
Virtual school not solution to Florida class size
The unthinkable happened in Tallahassee, and leaders from Manatee and Sarasota counties and across Florida are in favor and sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 2. It is recommended that in order for school districts to maintain and afford class sizes, Florida Virtual School be used in place of the traditional classroom instruction.
Florida Ponders Tax as Tool to Aid Family-Values Films
The movie “Bait Shop” had too much boozing to earn the extra rebate from Florida’s “family friendly” program of incentives for film production. “Confessions of a Shopaholic” was, well, just too violent.
New York Times: School Costs Fuel a Revolt Over Taxes
In a village with a shot glass past and an increasingly white wine present, Vanessa Merton speaks both languages.
National Panel Proposes Single Standard for All Schools
A panel of educators convened by the nation’s governors and state school superintendents proposed a uniform set of academic standards on Wednesday, laying out their vision for what all the nation’s public school children should learn in math and English, year by year, from kindergarten to high school graduation.
Students Help Take a Bite Out of School Funding Cutbacks by … Eating
Participating in the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs can turn food service departments into self-funded profit centers for School Districts.
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