Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–March 17

Mar 17, 2009

 

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Two new property tax cuts in the offing

Property tax cut proposals could help business owners and others while draining money from local governments.

Business owners, snowbirds and first-time home buyers could save $1.2 billion over three years if a pair of property tax cut plans are adopted.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Local governments get tougher impact fee

Local governments would be held to a higher standard when property owners challenge impact fees under a measure that unanimously passed a House committee on Tuesday.

 

New report commissioned by Florida Board of Education offers blueprint for response to fiscal crisis

Despite the current economic crisis, Florida has a unique opportunity to improve its current K-12 education system by protecting policies that provide incentives for higher achievement while cutting back on those that do not contribute to performance, according to a new report co-authored by three scholars at Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford University, and Brown University.

 

Florida Senate analyzes state pay cuts for savings

Florida taxpayers could save upward of $304 million if the Legislature cut every state worker’s salary by about 5 percent, according to an analysis produced by the state Senate.

 

Education, labor and taxes on legislators’ agenda for St. Patrick’s Day

On a day traditionally devoted to wearing green, grass roots advocates across the political spectrum will try their luck on influencing decisions by Florida legislators.

 

BLOG:  Should Florida raise taxes? Crist, Cretul, no; Atwater, Alexander, maybe

The divide over how to handle Florida’s multibillion-dollar budget chasm was on display Monday after the First Amendment Foundation’s annual Sunshine Week luncheon at the private Governor’s Club.

 

South Florida students ‘Rally in Tally’ for school funds

They’re bringing petitions, pickets and poster board — and, of course, pillows, video games and DVDs.


School leaders point out funding problems to state legislators

When Volusia County Superintendent Margaret Smith went before the state Board of Education on Monday, she touted programs and academic achievements in the county’s schools.

 

Urban school chiefs discuss stimulus cash in D.C.

Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto Carvalho and a handful of urban school leaders met with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday to discuss the details of the economic stimulus plan.

 

Class size report draws anger of teachers union

The state’s largest teachers’ union is assailing a report commissioned by the State Board of Education, labeling it a thinly-veiled effort to provide cover for Republican efforts to alter Florida’s class-size requirements.

 

Lake County schools may cut pay as much as 10 percent

Lake County schools might need to make across-the-board pay cuts to balance its budget for the coming school year, the school district’s chief financial officer told the School Board on Monday.


Florida education board focuses on failing schools

The State Board of Education unanimously approved intervention plans Tuesday for closing one and revamping 11 schools with the worst student achievement records in Florida.

 

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