Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Tuesday, April 19
Apr 19, 2011
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Florida Governor Scott demands lawmakers cut taxes
Governor Rick Scott laid down the gauntlet to the Republican-led Legislature on Friday, demanding that lawmakers approve significant tax cuts that he says are needed to jumpstart the state’s economy.
Florida Tax-Cap Proposals: Bleak Future in Chains
Most Floridians would probably want to forget the state’s budget struggles of recent years, when the recession dramatically lowered revenue, leading the Legislature and local governments to cut school funding, severely reduce help for the needy, limit access to libraries and parks, and delay critical work on roads and other infrastructure.
Schools weigh sharp budget cuts
Until last week, School Superintendent Nina Marks had not alarmed the school board with budget projections for next year, much less suggest a staggering $2.45 million cut that could mean a four-day school week and up to a 7 percent cut in employee salaries.
How Florida stacks up nationally when it comes to paying taxes
It’s the time of year when taxes weigh heavily on the mind for so many of us. Not only is the federal income tax filing deadline today, it is also traditionally about when Florida’s Tax Freedom Day falls. Last year, the average Floridian worked until April 5 to pay all federal, state and local taxes.
A closer look at how Florida House, Senate budget cuts affect education, health care, other services
Here is a closer look at how competing budget proposals in the state House and Senate would affect Southwest Florida, including education, health care, roads, the environment, and more.
Florida welfare drug testing may get state funding
The Senate Budget Committee’s chairman says he’ll try to find state dollars to reimburse welfare applicants who pass drug tests that would be required by pending legislation.
Subsidies are here to stay; Use them wisely
Because of the Jackson Lab’s interest in locating to first Collier and then Sarasota County, many local taxpayers were alarmed to discover that tax dollars subsidize business.
Los Angeles Times wins Pulitzer for exposing small town big salaries
The Los Angeles Times won a Pulitzer Prize for public service Monday for revealing that politicians in a small, working-class California city were paying themselves exorbitant salaries.
Ohio schools sit on federal job aid until state’s cuts hit
Like most other Ohio school districts, South-Western schools socked away the nearly $4.4 million in federal aid it got last year to save teacher jobs.
A frugal Massachusetts town now seeking tax hike
Residents in this bedroom community of 15,000 just east of Brockton have lived frugally since Proposition 2 ½ went into effect 30 years ago and capped the annual allowable increase in local property taxes across the state at 2.5 percent.
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