Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 28

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It’s official: Budget-only special session Oct. 3-12

PIP, property tax ballot language not included

TALLAHASSEE — Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio agreed today to a narrow-focused special legislative session set to begin next week.

 

No PIP for Special Session, But Maybe Trouble in Paradise?

The joint proclamation sent out by Senate President Ken Pruitt’s office makes it clear: No-fault insurance will not be discussed during the special legislative session that begins next Wednesday. The only subject, the proclamation says, is the state’s budget.

 

Top Broward schools receive more than $12 million in state funding

All the hard work for Broward County’s A-schools has finally paid off — literally.  The 26 schools received a total of $12,608,296 for their academic achievement and improvement, the Florida Department of Education said Friday.

 

Legislature’s Bad Language On Ballot Seems Indefensible

Some voters and officials are irritated at Circuit Judge Charles A. Francis for standing in the way of lower property taxes. He ruled that the wording of a proposed constitutional amendment is so misleading that it cannot go as written on the January ballot.

 

Republicans in court over property-tax ruling

Gov. Charlie Crist and Republican lawmakers are back in court, but still grappling over how to address a major setback in their property-tax-slashing agenda.

 

State Supreme Court lifts cloud from billions in local borrowing

A cloud was lifted from billions of dollars in local government construction projects Friday when the Florida Supreme Court revised a ruling that required voter approval for two types of borrowing.

 

Anti-slot machine lawsuit kept alive by Supreme Court, sent to circuit judge

The Florida Supreme Court kept alive Thursday a lawsuit seeking to remove slot machines from Broward County’s racetracks.

 

A lot at stake with Supreme Court ruling

The Florida Supreme Court dropped a bombshell on the normally staid world of government construction financing the other day.

 

Committees begin trimming budget

The axe began swinging Thursday, with legislative committees following a script calling for $790 million in cuts to the state’s $71 billion plus budget.

 

State budget cut deep, broadly

The House and Senate agree on ways to trim $1-billion in state spending.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers Thursday dished up an array of spending cuts, cash transfers and the elimination of hundreds of vacant jobs to plug a billion-dollar hole in the current $72-billion state budget.

 

State Fights Ruling On Tax Measure

TALLAHASSEE – The state on Wednesday appealed a court ruling removing a property tax-cutting constitutional amendment from the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot.

 

‘Targeted’ budget cuts should be the approach

ISSUE: Budget cuts loom in Tallahassee.

Lawmakers get sent to Tallahassee to make difficult decisions. And there are plenty of tough choices awaiting them during next week’s special session.

 

Would Lottery Lease Be State’s Winning Ticket?

TALLAHASSEE – The nightly callout of the numbered balls. Tickets for dozens of scratch-off games spooled under convenience-store glass.

 

State universities panel okays higher tuition

But that doesn’t assure the 5 percent hike for college classes will necessarily stick.

TALLAHASSEE — Students enrolled in state universities face a $55 increase in their tuition bill for a full load of classes this spring after the Board of Governors unanimously decided Thursday to raise tuition by 5 percent.

 

Time for local officials to redeem selves

On Monday, a Leon County Circuit judge threw the proposed constitutional amendment to increase Florida’s homestead exemption off the Jan. 29 ballot.

 

Key election cases on court docket

The U.S. Supreme Court digs into political bedrock this year with cases that will shape how candidates are chosen and how voters cast ballots.