Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–October 13
Oct 13, 2009
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Counties endure decline in tax revenue
They may not ‘drop like a rock,’ as Gov. Charlie Crist promised, but local property taxes are projected to fall $730 million, or 6.8 percent, this year, according to the latest projections by the Florida Association of Counties.
Commercial real-estate appraisals show declining trend
Your home’s not worth as much as it used to be, but at least you’re not alone.
Fla. faces $2.6 billion shortfall
Prediction based on projected tax collections
The pain is about to begin again in the state Capitol.
$8,000 tax credit’s hoops frustrate house hunters
This summer, Brian Smith decided he should buy a house.
Suit over law that favors builders
The new state law that critics blasted as a massive assault on Florida’s growth regulations has been blocked by the agency that is supposed to enforce it, and attacked in court by a growing number of cities and counties that want it struck down.
Lesson learned: House is shelter, not a short-term investment
Despite home price collapse, ownership generally pays off in the long run
For all the doom and gloom about the housing market, it still generally pays to own a home.
Education Funding Summary 2009-2010
The Senate Committees on Education PreK-12 Appropriations and Higher Education Appropriations released a report summarizing education funding for fiscal year 2009-2010.
Florida takes gradual approach to spending $15.4 billion in stimulus money
Don Winstead wields the wonkish title of Special Advisor to the Governor for the Implementation of the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Governor Crist: Letters to the Florida Congressional Delegation and Florida Legislative Leaders
Governor Charlie Crist sent the attached letters to the Florida Congressional Delegation and Florida legislative leaders to provide an update on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Florida.
Teachers benefit from job-saving stimulus spending
The national data on the impact of President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan won’t be available until later this month, but based on preliminary information obtained by The Associated Press from a handful of states, the stimulus spared tens of thousands of teachers from losing their jobs.
Broward Teachers Union wins grant for pay plan
The Broward Teachers Union was awarded money to start working on a plan to pay teachers based on student performance.
The Broward Teachers Union received a grant Thursday to develop a new compensation plan that will use student scores on standardized tests, among other things, as one of the factors in determining teacher pay.
Broward school construction: Problems persist despite years of reform attempts
Broward School District officials set out to build a new $4.5 million bus depot in Pembroke Pines in 2001, anticipating it would be complete in just over a year.
Sponsors could buy Manatee County school names
Companies may soon be able to name academies
$25,000, corporate sponsors may soon have their names attached to high school academic programs in the Manatee County School District.
Brevard teachers, staff plan insurance hike protest
Hundreds of Brevard teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, janitors and other support staff will dress in black Tuesday to protest an increase in health insurance costs that they say is akin to a pay cut.
Editorial: Suspending impact fees shouldn’t be Hernando County’s only option
When the Hernando County Commission sits down Tuesday afternoon to ponder its impact fees, it needs a broader discussion beyond consideration of a builder-endorsed moratorium.
Thompson: Class size amendment could force Naples district to rezone
Changing schools could be in the cards for students at several schools that are at capacity across the Collier County School District if the district is forced to implement a class size amendment passed by voters in 2002, Superintendent Dennis Thompson told a group of about 40 community members Monday afternoon.
Whose kids will have to move off the island? That is the question roiling several West Palm Beach neighborhoods whose children attend elementary school across the Intracoastal Waterway in posh Palm Beach.
Gainesville school district to count students to determine funding levels
The local school district will count students this week as part of the statewide report to determine funding levels and district officials say it’s important to have a high attendance rate this week.
Good grades add up for Escambia, Santa Rosa county schools
State awards millions for A’s, improvement
This year, the Escambia County School District will be awarded about $2.1 million for 38 schools that were an A school or moved up at least one letter grade from the previous year.
Highlands County Teacher salaries frozen
The School Board of Highlands County sided with school district officials Tuesday night and unanimously rejected the Highlands County Education Association’s request for a 5 percent raise for teachers, choosing to keep salaries frozen for now.
Florida, Former governor’s son fails children
Although the Okaloosa School District’s budget this year is roughly the same amount as was budgeted in 2005, county residents are paying $21 million more this year in school property taxes.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com.