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

Mar 5, 2009

 

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NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: State Could Know By Friday About Stimulus Money For Schools

Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith said that by the end of the week the state should know more about how it can work to get the “state stabilization” money that is part of the massive federal stimulus package.

 

CFO Sink: Florida Not Doing Enough To Get Federal Grants

Florida’s chief financial officer said Wednesday the state isn’t doing enough to get its share of federal grant money.

 

Florida Lawmakers Face Severe Budget Crunch

It is the reality Florida budget-writers face: Despite property tax cuts, insurance rule changes and attempted foreclosure relief, the boom years for Florida’s real estate-reliant economy – and the tidal wave of taxes it created – remain a foggy memory.


People And Their Needs Come First, Crist Tells Legislators

As economic devastation sweeps the state, Gov. Charlie Crist called on lawmakers Tuesday to tap federal bailout money to avoid tax increases and painful public school cuts – in a somber state of the state speech that was light on new policy ideas.

 

Palm Beach County Schools Face Potential $100 Million Cut In State Funds

Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson has told employees he is “distressed” over the latest financial outlook: A potential $100 million cut in state funding for next year. And he notified them that right now his administration plans to produce a budget that doesn’t include an infusion of federal stimulus cash.

 

Florida Group Suggests Cutting High School Games To Save Schools Money

As the economy worsens and athletic budgets are slashed statewide, the state high school sports governing body is trying to help schools save money without making drastic changes, such as cutting sports altogether.

 

BILL PROCTOR: Property tax is A New Frontier In Civil Rights

The Leon County Property Appraiser is appraising county properties well beyond the values appraised by mortgage banks.

 

Hernando County School District Readies For $16 Million In Cuts

Get ready to make do with less.


Parents Offer Ideas On School Budget Cuts

The Manatee County school district gleaned ideas from the community about how to deal with budget cuts in its latest town hall meeting Wednesday.

 

Fitch Affirms Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

In the course of routine surveillance, Fitch Ratings affirmed the outstanding ratings on Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, Florida’s (District) water control and improvement bonds.

 

Two Florida Schools Receive Grants From NAMM Foundation, Disney Channel

The NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel Thursday announced the recipients of ‘Disney’s High School Musical: The Music in You Grant Program’ that encourages middle and high schools across the nation to put on their own school stage production of Disney’s ‘High School Musical.’

 

Jeb Bush Says Obama’s Education Secretary “Has A Reformer’s Heart”

Guess who showed up at the offices of President Barack Obama’s secretary of education Tuesday?

 

Home-Schooling Up 74% In 8 Years

The ranks of America’s home-schooled children have continued a steady climb over the past five years, and new research suggests broader reasons for the appeal.

 

Athletes Lobby Congress For Fitness Funding In Schools

Should soccer cleats and baseball gloves be tax deductible? More than a dozen current and former athletes made that pitch to members of Congress Wednesday, pressing for passage of legislation they say would help stem obesity in this country.

 

Charlie Crist Wants To Stop Free Flow For Bottled Water

In a rural North Florida town where the water tower bears the motto ”Tiny but Proud,” residents have a big secret: They give the cold, clear spring water that bubbles up from the aquifer below their soil to the nation’s largest bottled-water company — for free.

 

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