Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 11

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Poll: Plan to change homestead exemption in trouble

The Legislature’s plan to change Florida’s homestead exemption law is in trouble, according to a new poll.

 

Report: Start now with budget cuts

Florida faces a historic $4.4 billion in budget cuts over the next four years, state analysts warned lawmakers already wrestling with the first $1 billion installment of that plan.

 

Hebrew charter school’s curriculum approved

The Ben Gamla Charter School will start teaching Hebrew again on Monday. For the past few weeks, the Hollywood K-8 school — which was formed to teach Hebrew as a second language — has been focusing on other subjects while its teaching materials were thoroughly vetted to ensure that religion was absent.

 

Before university cuts, change Bright Futures

Gov. Crist announced last week that he wants to cut 3.6 percent overall from the state budget, but 6.2 percent from the university system’s budget.

 

Judge hears property tax-cut suit

TALLAHASSEE –When voters decide part of the Legislature’s property tax-cut package Jan. 29, will they be amending the constitution to:

 

Palm Beach County school enrollment declines less than expected

Palm Beach County schools have 2,036 fewer students this year than last year, the second year in a row of declining enrollment after 35 years of growth.

 

Mortgage crisis: A rush to help but some disagree

As more states and cities struggle to find the money to bail out homeowners caught up in the housing downturn, some Americans are wondering why government should be rewarding people for their greed or irresponsibility.

 

DAVIE: Five remaining home park residents sue over eviction

The five remaining residents of Dell Mobile Home Park in Davie filed a lawsuit Monday in Broward Circuit Court opposing the owner’s efforts to evict them.

 

Miami’s $31 million tax cut is still short

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will present a spending plan to city commissioners this evening that cuts property taxes — but not as much as state lawmakers wanted.

 

State money woes to continue, panel told

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s red ink could run for four more years, a special legislative committee was told Monday, darkening fiscal futures for students, teachers and Medicaid patients.

 

City leaders spending tax dollars like there is no fiscal crisis

Great. Can we please get something right in Jacksonville?

The grand jury is investigating City Council members for possibly violating Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law, not once but routinely.

 

Broward County: Governor names duo to hospital district board

Gov. Charlie Crist named a Fort Lauderdale health-care consultant and a Weston medical device executive to four-year terms as board members of the tax-assisted North Broward Hospital District.

 

County commission disbands budget committee

Palm Beach County commissioners formally agreed today to disband their embattled budget advisory committee, but did not rule out the possibility of creating a similar board to weigh next year’s spending plan.

 

PBC pledges $87 million for Max Planck complex

Despite the lean times, Palm Beach County commissioners committed $87 million on Tuesday toward the vision of turning the county into an international cluster of scientific research.

 

Start national campaign for new primary system

Who were those six people in Miami Sunday night? Oh, right. Democrats, campaigning in the state that their party threatens to write off.

 

Schools offering exercise before class

Children ran to get onto the Littlewood Elementary School campus before dawn Monday and then they spent 20 minutes more running around the campus with their friends.

 

Hooked on Phonics marks 20th anniversary

Being a reading hero isn’t easy, especially when you’re only 10. You have to stand up in front of a bunch of strangers, shake hands with the mayor, get your picture taken, like, a million times, and answer dumb questions, such as why you want to be a brain surgeon when you grow up.

 

Time has come to screen high school athletes for illegal drugs

During the past few weeks, three interesting news stories emerged related to the health and safety of athletes. Two of the stories commanded national media attention. The first focused on Brian DeMarco, old No. 73 of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Titans of Ecology

T.C. Williams Among Rising Number of ‘Green’ Schools

At the brand-new T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, a modern “green” school, students say the environmentally friendly design has led to a serious lifestyle change: They can’t doze in class anymore because sunlight pours in from practically every angle.

 

Teachers in Trouble, Parents Ignored: Readers React

Twenty-one years later, Suzanne Stradling still remembers her third-grade teacher. The woman passed out math worksheets that each student had to complete and bring to her for a personal assessment.