Sheriff Bob White would pare $1.1 million from his current $86 million budget and return an additional $1.5 million of unspent money from this year under the 2008-09 spending proposal he submitted to Pasco County officials Friday. ...more

May 31, 2008

A lawsuit challenging a new constitutional amendment that lets homeowners take property tax breaks with them when they move should be dismissed, state and local government attorneys told a judge Thursday. ...more

May 30, 2008

SEBRING — A Lake Placid veterinarian's push for a new ballot initiative, which would create a new property tax to build a land acquisition fund, may reach the county commissioners next month. Dr. Elton Gissindanner and his supporters convinced the Natural Resources Advisory Commission Wednesday to draft a bill that would create a tax of 0.2 mils, or $10 for a property valued at $100,000 after the $50,000 homestead exemptions are considered. If the county commissioners approve it, it could appear on the ballot in November. Gissindanner said that 29 Florida counties had a conservation fund of some sort. Polk County's program bought more than 12,000 acres so far. ...more

May 29, 2008

HOUSING MARKET, AMENDMENT 1 TO BLAME ...more

May 29, 2008

Hernando County's assessed valuation plummeted 13 percent in 2008, to $9.94 billion, according to good faith estimates released Wednesday by the property appraiser's office. ...more

May 29, 2008

People with disabilities might soon be catching taxis instead of specially equipped vans and buses. ...more

May 27, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The effects of Amendment 1 on property appraisals, as well as other community issues, will be addressed Thursday when the Bay Crest Park Civic Association holds its quarterly general membership meeting. ...more

May 24, 2008

There'll be a whole lotta shakin' goin' on during the annual Hernando County budget hearings that begin in June. ...more

May 7, 2008

The Miami Herald's analysis probably said it best: The big winners in the new state budget are prison builders; the big losers are public schools. ...more

May 6, 2008

Florida voters will decide this fall whether to tack another penny onto the state sales tax and whether to resurrect one of former Gov. Jeb Bush's pet education projects. They will also weigh in on various tax breaks. ...more

May 4, 2008