Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 29
May 29, 2008
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Hearing today on Amendment 1 challenge
Attorneys for state and local officials head to court this afternoon to ask Leon Circuit Judge Charles Francis to dismiss a massive challenge to Amendment 1 and the Save Our Homes constitutional tax caps that save homeowners more than $400 billion a year.
Financial Impact Estimating Conference Meets on 1.35% Property Tax Cap
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference met today to discuss the previous day’s review of SB 1588 and a pending proposal regarding a 1.35% property tax cap.
Broward County may cut $18 million in social services to provide tax relief
Proposed cuts in social services
Mothers soon may not be able to turn to Broward County government for help collecting child support from fathers, and day care centers might no longer be licensed locally.
Broward spends too much on addiction center, auditor says
Broward County taxpayers could be spending too much to run a recovery center for drug addicts.
A scathing report by county auditors last week charged that treatment at the Broward Addiction Recovery Center is about twice as costly as the national average.
As schools suffer, money goes elsewhere
Such is the sorry state of education in Florida that its fortunes ride on the backs of people like Santiago Vera, 67.
Devil in the details of tax-swap amendment
Read the fine print. That’s what Florida Sen. Mike Haridopolos urges voters to do on the proposed “tax swap” constitutional amendment — then reject it.
EDITORIAL: Tax reform a necessity that legislators ignore
On April 14, the Florida Tax and Budget Reform Committee conducted its final public hearing in Tallahassee prior to voting whether to pass the much debated Taxpayer Protection Amendment to be included on the November ballot for a decision by voters.
EDITORIAL: Assessing nonprofits a bad idea
The Gainesville City Commission is considering imposing a property-based fire services fee as a way to adequately fund fire protection.
State senator claims sales tax won’t rescue schools
Tiger Bay Club members give a stuffed tiger to whoever asks the toughest question of speakers at its meetings.
EDITORIAL: Schools can’t avoid painful cuts this year
These are hard times for Florida’s schools, and there is no sign of relief from the budget ax any time soon.
EDITORIAL: Florida’s struggling schools are in crisis
In spite of Florida’s long history of disrespecting public education, a core of committed educators across the state somehow resists the temptation toward mediocrity, delivering a few positive results now and then.
School Voucher Plan Faces Challenge From Teachers
Even as they fretted over billions of dollars in budget cuts, state lawmakers voted this spring to spend $27 million to help more poor children attend private schools.
School Board defeats measure to trim salaries
The Miami-Dade School Board voted not to cut the district’s highest salaries.
In an early-morning vote Thursday, Miami-Dade School Board members narrowly rejected a proposal to cut the salaries of the district’s top administrators.
Start cuts at the top, board says
When she talks about the Pasco school district budget, superintendent Heather Fiorentino likes to note that she runs a lean ship.
Teachers rally against job cuts
Union chief says not all layoffs needed
Plans to cut another 192 jobs from the Volusia school payroll were laid out inside the School Board’s headquarters Tuesday as employees gathered outside to protest looming layoffs.
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart takes tough questions at high school
Students at Mater Academy Charter High posed tough policy questions during a session Friday with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.
COMMENTARY: You asked for cheap schools: Happy now?
Don’t blame the Orange County School Board for swapping middle-school and high-school start times.
Proposed Collier school district referendum hits setback in county board meeting
Collier County School Board members want to make sure voters know what they are agreeing to when they are asked to approve a referendum that could bring millions of dollars in operating funds to the school district.
110,000 Central Florida property owners lag on taxes
Late paying your property taxes? You’ve got more company than ever.
Across Central Florida, the number of delinquent taxpayers has increased 24 percent from last year.
EDITORIAL: Education cuts will test graduates
It’s a great week for high-school graduates throughout the Big Bend, where ceremonies have been conducted in the past few days or are scheduled throughout this week and next.
Three of 10 students who start high school in Florida won’t finish
Something is missing from high-school graduation ceremonies across Florida this spring.
By even the most optimistic count, three of 10 students who started high school to earn a diploma won’t cross the stage.
Pay’s bigger in Texas, Florida teachers told
Along Interstate 95 in Jacksonville, the billboard beckons teachers: “Your future is in our classroom,” it says.
In Texas.
Florida lawmakers reduce bonuses for teachers who coach newer peers
Florida’s financial crunch could mean no extra money to help veteran teachers seeking national certification or bonus cash for those certified teachers who help younger instructors.
The state Legislature has capped at 10 the number of years teachers may receive bonuses for obtaining national certification, and eliminated dollars for individual teachers to apply for the national recognition.
UF made cuts with $131M on hand
Leaders of the University of Florida’s faculty and graduate assistant unions are raising questions about whether university officials could have tapped unspent money to prevent layoffs.
FIU gets record $10M for medical school
FIU’s new medical school has received $10 million, the largest single cash donation in its history, before holding its first class.
Tuition goes up as BCC becomes Broward College
On a day Broward Community College announced big plans for its future, it also approved a hike in its tuition.
When the 2008-09 school year begins, some 55,000 students in the renamed Broward College will pay 6 percent more per credit hour, providing an additional $2.7 million.
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