Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Sept. 5

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

Legislative leaders delay special session on budget cutting

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Legislative leaders Wednesday indefinitely postponed a special session planned for Sept. 18 because they and Gov. Charlie Crist have not yet agreed on a basic framework for cutting Florida’s budget.

 

School Board member Ingram dies

Robert Ingram, a member of the Miami-Dade School Board and Opa-locka’s first elected mayor, died Wednesday evening. He was 71.

 

New plan: Deep cuts in tax on property

Property owners are not likely to see their tax bills drop “like a rock” as Gov. Charlie Crist promised, but Lake County government officials can say, “Don’t blame us.”

 

Crist open to possible sale of Florida Lottery

The governor says, “It’s important to continue to be innovative” in facing the financial crisis.

TALLAHASSEE – Want to buy a lottery? Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Crist floated the idea of selling a highly profitable state asset, the Florida Lottery, to private investors as a way to ease the state’s financial pinch, estimated at $2.5-billion over two years.

 

Nonresidents enjoy tax break that may cost state millions

Florida may be losing about $60 million in property-tax revenue a year to people who claim a homestead exemption even though they may not live in the state, according to an analysis by the Orlando Sentinel.

 

State’s disabled citizens facing care crisis

System hit with ‘significant deficiencies’

Clifford and Cynthia Clarke are caught in a waiting game. The Deltona residents have spent two years trying to get state-funded services for their 39-year-old son, Garfield, who is diagnosed with mental retardation and epilepsy.

 

Inspectors sweeping Manatee businesses: State team checking up on registrations, consumer protections

A team of state investigators Tuesday launched a county-wide sweep of 355 local businesses to ensure that they are properly registered and that consumer protections are adequate.

 

Martin sales tax troubles deepen

STUART — Martin County’s sales tax revenues are in even worse shape than officials thought less than two weeks ago, County Administrator Duncan Ballantyne said Tuesday, and that means even deeper budget trouble is ahead.

 

States investing more in Pre-K education

HILLSBORO, Ore. — With school starting at Head Start centers in this fast-growing Portland suburb, so many 3-and-4-year-olds are trooping into classrooms that administrators are holding separate morning and afternoon sessions.

 

Fort Lauderdale to enact larger property tax cut than required

Only in this city will taxpayers get a bigger cut than the state ordered. City budget officials went beyond the cuts ordered by legislators in Tallahassee, delivering a budget that slices $10.2 million in property taxes out. The result will be lower tax bills for many owners.

 

Schools delay 30 building projects

The Palm Beach County School Board is set to put its final stamp on the school district’s construction plans for the next five years, and more than 30 projects – including seven new schools – will now be ready at least a year later than scheduled.

 

Teachers To Vote On Bonus Proposal

LAND – O’ LAKES – The Pasco County school district and the teachers union have reached a tentative agreement on a bonus-pay plan that teachers will vote on in two weeks.

 

Solutions sought for textbook costs

College students across the country are experiencing sticker shock at their bookstores. At the University of Maryland, a new “Understanding Business” book sells for $139.

 

Push to Raise Gas Tax for Bridge Repairs

WASHINGTON — House Democrats feuded with Republicans and the Bush administration Wednesday over raising gasoline taxes to pay for safer bridges.

 

West Park: Neighbor Should Reconsider Annexation

Pembroke Park has always kept at arm’s length from neighboring West Park. So it was a welcome surprise when Pembroke Park officials reached out to Broward’s newest municipality last month with an offer to share police and fire-rescue services provided by the Broward Sheriff’s Office in order to lower costs.