Schools and Vegetables

Leon County schools get $50000 each for improvements
Tallahassee Democrat

Throughout Leon County, teachers and students are seeing the impact of the 4 percent cuts each school had to make to their budgets. Teachers like Long wonder when they will be able to buy more books. Other schools need technology upgrades or added hours for teachers to be able to better serve students.

The Legislature passed the added property tax to help districts in Florida offset budget cuts; and that is exactly what Superintendent Jackie Pons intends ...

Vegetable specialist covers a lot of turf
Naples Daily News
By then they hope the state budget will improve, making more money available to the University of Florida. “With the budget crisis, every position that ...

Salaries Incommensurate with Economic Crater

Ernst: Salary reviews should be routine

A police captain in Venice makes $103,750 a year. The deputy finance director makes $96,096. A parks foreman makes $60,623.

Last week, as the Venice City Council prepared for a final vote on next year's budget, a list of 56 nonunion salaries made the rounds among the citizenry. People always love to know what others earn, but Mike Rafferty had another reason for circulating the salary chart obtained by the Venice Taxpayers League.

He did not want the council to raise his property tax rate. He pointed to the salaries as an example of spending that is out of whack with what the public can afford. And he suggested that the council cut salaries before it raises taxes. More...

Regional GDP Plummets and more hot topics

Region's GDP drops severely

Staff Report

Published: Friday, September 25, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.

The Great Recession and housing downturn took a considerable bite out of gross domestic product in Southwest Florida, reversing a course of large growth starting in 2006.

The data released Thursday from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics might be the broadest measure to date of the pain. GDP is the total market values of goods and services produced by workers and capital within a area's borders within a year.

From 2005 to 2006, the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area's GDP rose 7.4 percent, or about $1.7 billion, to $24.66 billion.

But things started sliding in 2007 and by 2008, GDP had slipped $836 million, or about 3.4 percent, to $23.83 billion from its peak.

County passes $400.8M budget Tampa Tribune To save more money, commissioners had already approved reductions in the mosquito control budgetand voted to cancel membership in the Florida Association ...

Orange OKs $3.1 Billion Budget, Jail Critics Sound Off
Orlando Sentinel
No residents complained tonight when Orange County leade

Brantley hires Florida man to be new manager Florida Times-Union Barwick, 45, will face a daunting list of problems that plague the rural county, from a $3 million budget deficit to washboard dirt roads to overflowing ... Miami-Dade County cultural groups await details of budget cuts MiamiHerald.com BY HOWARD COHEN, ALEXANDRA MARTINEZ AND LOLA DUFFORT Hundreds of cultural and arts groups were spared from being axed out of the county's budget. ... South Miami sets lower tax rate MiamiHerald.com According to the county property appraiser's office, taxable values in the city have dropped 9.3 percent. A budget of about $19.2 million -- $433000 less ... No tax break for some despite declining property values Crestview News Bulletin (blog) At issue is the “recapture rule,” a little-known regulation adopted by the Florida Department of Revenue in 1995 that only applies to homesteaded properties ...

Closely contested budget issues

Counties take different roads on employees, budget cuts

While high-ranking government employees in Miami-Dade have scored major pay raises despite the county’s financial woes, Broward and Palm Beach counties are taking a much different tack.

No one earning more than $100,000 a year in Broward government will receive a raise this year and must take a five-day unpaid furlough along with all other county workers. No raises are planned for top administrators in Palm Beach County either, and that county isn’t doing furloughs.

Ultimately, final budget refutes Alvarez MiamiHerald.com When Carlos Alvarez unveiled ``his'' proposed budget in July it was an end-of-civilization-as-we-know-it document. About 1700 county jobs would be cut, ...

County leaders receiving raises amid budget cuts WZVN-TV FORT MYERS: At a time of budget cuts and salary freezes, some of our top leaders in Lee County are actually getting raises. From the sheriff to county ...

Elections boss can't find any more budget cuts Tampa Tribune Commissioner Jeff Stabins said efforts are under way by upper county management to reduce Williams'budget and they will find places to cut by Thursday's ...

Collier County sheriff shoulders tough load shoulders load The News-Press by chris umpierre • cumpierre@news-press.com • September 23, 2009 With each press conference, the bags under Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk's eyes ...

Firefighters plead, but county OKs budget cuts
Gainesville Sun
Alachua County firefighters and supporters hold signs in protest of budget cuts for firefighters outside the County Administration building at the ...

Budget Issues around the State

Palm Beach County commission hikes property tax rate 15 percent Sun-Sentinel.com County budget planners blamed the tax rate increase on a need to compensate for a drop in tax revenue stemming from the struggling economy. ... County budget has $12.5 million in cuts, layoffs Clay Today Even more disturbing is the economic crisis Behring says the county will face for fiscal year 2010-2011. He said Florida's housing industry has been among ... Miami-Dade County Commission approves $7.4B budget Zikkir World (blog) Jack Russell and a handful of others used the funding of the $640 million ballpark for the FloridaMarlins as a touchstone for their anger. The county took ...

County Should Help Fill Clinic's Shortfall, Panel Recommends The Ledger By Robin Williams Adams BARTOW | Central Florida Health Care should get $225000 from countyindigent-care funds to partially offset a shortfall at its ... Ford, Foster outline their plans for spending tax dollars more wisely Tampabay.com Citrus County moved to a form of zero-based budgeting in 2008. A third of the county's budget is closely scrutinized every year. "It helps you prioritize," ... Water wars The News Herald That population growth demanded broader county operations; the county's budget has grown from $89 million in 1989 to $294 million for 2010. ...

Around the state

County Budget Fight a Battle Royale NBC Miami By TODD WRIGHT With more than $444 million in deficits facing the county, everything and everyone will be a target going into tonight's final budget hearing ... Editorial: FYI, Martin County taxpayers; another proposed 'fee ... TCPalm The courts in Martin County, just like the courts in every other Florida county, are essentially state operations. The lion's share of the fines collected ... Collier school board votes to raise tax rates Naples Daily News The issue brought many questions from Collier County residents before the School Board held its finalbudget hearing Thursday evening. ... Miami-Dade County highest spender in lobbying US MiamiHerald.com The county's spending, though, may be cut back. The County Commission Thursday is prepared to pass a budget that caps the county's federal lobbying budget ... Clerk's office abolishing 44 positions Tampa Tribune BY CARL ORTH NEW PORT RICHEY - A budget upheaval continues to reshape the staff at the PascoCounty Office of Clerk and Comptroller, where 44 jobs will end ... Windfall restores county services for 2010 fiscal year Tampa Tribune County officials had already factored a $1.2 million rebate into the fiscal 2010 budget, which takes effect Oct. 1. The last-minute injection of $3 million ...

FGCU cuts - and Philly Library Shut

FGCU cuts spending in order to come in under budget
Naples Daily News
By LESLIE WILLIAMS LEE COUNTY — Budget directors braced for stormy financial seas at FloridaGulf Coast University are reporting smooth sailing so far early ...

In Philadelphia:

All Free Library of Philadelphia Branch, Regional and Central Libraries Closed Effective Close of Business October 2, 2009

All Free Library of Philadelphia Customers,

We deeply regret to inform you that without the necessary budgetary legislation by the State Legislature in Harrisburg, the City of Philadelphia will not have the funds to operate our neighborhood branch libraries, regional libraries, or the Parkway Central Library after October 2, 2009. More...

Taxes and Budges

County tax rate stays nearly put Ocala By Bill Thompson Marion County commissioners tentatively passed a $594 million budget for the new fiscal year on Thursday, but not before getting an earful ...

Miami Shores sets higher preliminary tax rate MiamiHerald.com The tentative tax rate can be decreased during the budget process, which lasts through September, but cannot be increased, according to Florida law. ... Funding Cuts Leave Area Colleges Gasping Washington Post The University of Maryland Baltimore County is cutting positions. And Virginia's state universities are coping with furloughs for the first time in recent ...

Sarasota County Budget Hearing 9.14

September 14, 2009

7:00 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER

1660 RINGLING BOULEVARD

COMMISSION CHAMBER

SARASOTA, FLORIDA

Jon Thaxton, Chair, District 5

Joseph A. Barbetta, Vice Chair, District 2

Carolyn J. Mason, District 1

Shannon Staub, District 3

Nora Patterson, District 4

BUDGET HEARING
1.		FINANCIAL PLANNING:
	Public hearing to consider Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Proposed Millage Rates and Tentative Budgets for Sarasota County, and the final adoption and certification of the FY 2010 Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Rates and Assessment Rolls.

2.	OTHER BUSINESS

3.	OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - (Three-minute time limit per person/per meeting.)

NOTE:
	Individuals with disabilities needing assistance to participate in any of these proceedings should contact County Administration at least three (3) working days in advance of the meeting date and time at (941) 861-5344.

Budget decisions, decisions

School board nixes millage increase
Daily Commercial
Still, the community was divided over whether to compromise the county's learning environment or its residents' ability to survive in one of Florida's ...

Fort Lauderdale's proposed budget Sun-Sentinel.com By Brittany Wallman South Florida Sun-Sentinel Operating budget: $327.5 million, for city services such as police, fire and parks. ...

From boom to reality?

Unfinished projects part of real estate collapse

Unfinished buildings, dead dogs, foreclosures, code violations, skeletons of commercial dreams, condos becoming homeless camps. More...

A new normal for home sales

By ADRIAN SAINZ AP
Real Estate Writer

Published: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 7:54 p.m.

The American dream of home ownership is still attainable. Buyers just have to deal with a new set of realities. More...

Around the State Today

Despite Stimulus, Education Suffers Cuts
CBS News
But that state is still reeling from an anticipated a $26 billion budget deficit, and teachers who had been rehired may face more pink slips. In Florida ...

Budget crunch forcing schools to cut, become creative Jewish Telegraphic Agency ... of Palm Beach County in Florida is closing because of budgetary problems, examples abound of day schools struggling at the start of the academic year. ... See all stories on this topic

Commissioners vote to approve 15 percent tax increase Sun-Sentinel.com County critics say the budget squeeze blamed on the declining economy could have been lessened by better management of revenues during South Florida's ... See all stories on this topic

County may eliminate 199 more jobs Florida Today BY RICK NEALE • FLORIDA TODAY • September 9, 2009 Brevard County's next fiscal budget may include $40 million in spending cuts and elimination of 199 jobs, ... Miami mayor's budget proposal puts the onus on unions MiamiHerald.com Also on the mayor's hit list: Increased parking fees, changing weekly bulk garbage pickup to monthly, and hikes in various fees like Florida Power & Light's ...

City of Sarasota's Proposed Budget

This link will take you to the City of Sarasota's proposed 2009-1010 Capital Improvement Plan. The next budget hearing is Sept. 21, at 6 pm, at City Hall.

Tepid article describes stalemate

Business stimulus stalled in state

TALLAHASSEE - Eight months after vowing to spend $10 million in state money to "plant the seeds" to create new jobs, an economic stimulus program initiated by Gov. Charlie Crist has yet to hand out a dime.