Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 5
May 5, 2009
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Above: Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho talks about the closing of Doral Academy Charter school as Miami-Dade Health Department administrator Dr. Lillian Rivera looks on. CREDIT: PATRICK FARRELL / MIAMI HERALD
House, Senate reach budget compromises; final vote to come Friday
House and Senate negotiators settled their final differences Monday morning over a $65 billion-plus spending plan only a few hours ahead of an extended deadline.
Budget deficit stands in way of several Florida education proposals
In the shadow of a monstrous budget deficit, lawmakers proposed big ideas for Florida’s schools this session.
Get ready for more taxes, less service from $65B Florida budget deal
A few days late and a little worn out, Florida legislators finally reached an accord Monday on how to balance the proposed $65 billion state budget that touches every life in the nation’s fourth most-populous state.
Property tax breaks headed for 2010 ballot in Florida
Delivering on a priority for Gov. Charlie Crist, the Legislature has voted to put a tax break for first-time home buyers on the 2010 ballot, in the hopes of providing a lift to Florida’s sagging real estate market.
Budget compromise: State workers earning more than $45,000 will get 2 percent cut
State employees earning more than $45,000 a year will have their pay cut 2 percent under a compromise worked out Sunday by House and Senate budget negotiators.
School districts looking to attract stimulus funds
More than a dozen schools in Manatee and Sarasota counties may be classified as low-income to become eligible for millions of dollars in federal stimulus money.
Legislature’s scorecard for 2009: 1 new tax, little reform
Despite plans to push a broad tax review, legislators chose to pass the easiest single tax, and not much more.
Florida lawmakers began the session with bold ambitions to examine Florida’s tax code, repair tax inequities and find new revenue.
Commentary: One word for Tallahassee’s ideas: Taxing
If at first you don’t succeed, then really screw things up: That is the logic in Tallahassee as legislators are throwing two property-tax amendments on the 2010 ballot.
Lawmakers pass anti-sprawl bill, reject revisiting class-size limits
A compromise growth management bill that modifies a sprawl-causing clause in existing law is going to Gov. Charlie Crist.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Some Wins, Some Losses For Florida Schools
A legislative session that public school teachers had feared might leave schools scarred by layoffs and program cuts didn’t turn out quite so bad, education advocates said as they await a final vote on the state budget.
Florida Senate to offer ‘substantial’ gambling compromise
Gambling expansion for the Seminoles and parimutuels is unresolved as a Friday deadline looms.
The Legislature’s focus shifted to South Florida and its blackjack tables Monday as House and Senate leaders finished budget negotiations and started to address the major issue left undone: the gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe.
Education may not be held harmless
As the state Legislature crafts a budget in the worst economic times in recent history, a refrain heard repeatedly has been that they’ve “held education harmless” – avoided cuts to prekindergarten through 12th-grade public schools.
Local school boards get permission to raise taxes
State lawmakers gave school boards the unsavory option of raising taxes if they want to replenish their construction budgets.
The Florida Legislature gave school districts the option Saturday to keep some tax money designated for big-ticket school construction, maintenance and technology projects — but only if school boards agree to a tax increase.
Education bills flunk out in the Florida Legislature
They were introduced with much fanfare and backed by heavyweights, but that did not keep high-profile education bills from dying in the Florida Legislature in a budget-crisis year.
In the shadow of a monstrous budget deficit, lawmakers this session proposed big ideas for Florida’s schools.
Bills that passed in the Florida Legislature
Legislation that passed in the 2009 session of the Florida Legislature, which ended regulation time Friday.
Bills that failed in the Florida Legislature
Legislation that failed to pass during regulation time of the 2009 session of the Florida Legislature.
Crist says he’ll sign bill increasing Citizens property insurance rates
Gov. Charlie Crist says he’ll sign legislation that increases property insurance rates by 10 percent on more than 1 million customers of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Schools consider four-day schedule
Facing deep funding cuts during the economic downturn, increasing numbers of school districts nationwide are contemplating trimming the traditional school week to four days to save money, including Broward County, the nation’s fifth-largest school system.
For three South Florida flu schools, it’s a sudden vacation
More than 3,000 students in Miami-Dade and Broward are being told to stay home and study while their schools are closed due to the swine flu.
Cases of swine flu in two South Florida students are leaving thousands of their classmates without tests to take, homework to turn in or classes to rush to for the first half of this week.
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