The Sun State Activist

Regressive v. progressive taxation systems, effects of tax cuts on the provision of social services; allocation of expenditures between various kinds of activity: military, social security, education, health, etc.

HEADLINES

5/21/10

AN ACROSS-THE-B0ARD FLAT TAX ON INCOME FOR SOCIAL SECURITY; NOW THAT WOULD BE A "FAIR TAX!" As Congress and the White House declare a "crisis" in Social Security and threaten to diminish actual income "security" for the aging, Dave Lindorff proposes a simple but effective and fair solution: repeal the law that now exempts Social Security tax withholding from any income over $106,000 per year. This would insure adequate funding for all Americans by having the top 20% of income-earners paying the same rate as the other 80%.

INTERNATIONAL

Websites:

Analysis & views:

3/1/10

Canadian blogger makes the conservative case on why "stimulus spending" does not in fact work to stimulate a national economy.

1/19/10

Greek government looking to rises in cigarette, alcohol and property taxes to bolster the country's deficit-ridden public pension fund.

4/4/09

European Union pressures Greek government to achieve zero budget deficits as the country continues to lay off public sector employees in attempt to balance budget.

http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.prnt_article?e=C&f=13331&t=01&m=A99&aa=9

2/4/09

Ontario hospitals: The unkindest cuts. The Labor government in Canada, voted into office largely on public opposition to Conservative government plans to weaken or eliminate the country's system of public hospitals, now takes up that agenda itself, responding to the financial crisis and a search for directions of budget cuts. A conference convenes in Toronto to try to "save" Ontario's hospitals.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2009/02/the-fight-to-save-ontario-hospitals/

11/17/08

Critics say money set aside in Denmark for foreign aid is being diverted to pay for an international climate conference in Copenhagen.

http://www.cphpost.dk/get/109890.html

8/15/08

Budget cutting in Canada is taking an especially heavy toll on the country's support of programs in culture and the arts.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080814.wcuts15/BNStory/National/home

8/5/08

Canadian province of Ontario continues its rift with Ottawa over alleged shortchanging of the province in government revenue distributions.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080801.coessay02/BNStory/specialComment/home

8/4/08

Peru looking for more equitable distribution of revenues from mining taxes to the country's different provinces, while local leaders resist any loss of revenue.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43414

4/1/08

Most people in England want the Scottish government to pay for services in Scotland from taxes collected within that country.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2160548.0.Scots_must_raise_own_taxes_says_English_poll.php

3/11/07

What would happen to the U.S. if China stopped financing its huge deficit? We may be about to find out, as financial signals from China indicate likelihood that it may put more of its profits from a huge and growing trade balance with the U.S. into other investments than U.S. Treasury bonds.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070310&articleId=5039

Books:

Video/Film:

Other Media:

NATIONAL

Websites

Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org/

Urban Institute: Federal Budgets and Fiscal Policy: (abstracts of published research articles and papers) (http://www.urban.org/economy/fedbudgets.cfm

Analysis & views:

5/21/10

5/12/10

A 25% SOLUTION COULD CLEAN UP THE MESS OF A U.S. JOBS RECESSION. Congressman Barney Frank has proposed a 25% reduction of the $700 billion per year military budget, generating the necessary resources to provide for massive government intervention to create local jobs to put the country back fully to work. A writer for In These Times advocates for this "solution."

5/3/10

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WARNS THAT DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS FOR HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION AND EDUCATION WILL BE.....WELL, NOT VERY ACCOUNTABLE. Although the program was touted as being conducted in a manner of "unprecedented accountability," GAO reports that many states are not prepared to achieve this result, with already inadequate auditing staff being further depleted by the very recession that the program is designed to combat. Administration officials defend the program, Republican critics say, "we told you so!"

4/26/10

WITH A HUGE BUDGET DEFICIT ON THEIR HANDS, NEW YORK LEGISLATORS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST: SITTING ON THEIR HANDS. So asserts an editorial in the New York Times as the state was required to have a balanced budget on April 1 but still is unable to grapple with a $9.2 billion deficit. With both Democrats and Republicans unwilling to touch the lethal rail of tax increases, public services in the state are in limbo as, for example, local school districts must shortly submit annual budgets for voter approval, with little idea of what cuts in school funds will be necessary because of cuts in state spending.

3/16/10

By a quirk in Missouri law, low-income and disabled people will receive a state tax exemption for housing rents they pay only if their landlords pay property taxes on the rented premises. This denies the tax benefit to rents from tax-exempt "public housing" units.

3/10/10

WITH THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK IN POLITICAL TROUBLE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEPS TO THE FORE WITH AN AUSTERITY PLAN TO SOLVE THE STATE'S BUDGET CRISIS. Richard Ravitch, often credited with "saving" New York City from a fiscal crisis in the 1970s, presents at Governor Paterson's request a proposal that would place state government on a spending discipline sharply limiting its ability to borrow money to pay its bills. Assembly leaders and the Governor himself express guarded approval, leery of a "solution" that looks too much like the "shock and awe" of cuts in public services that are imposed as conditions for loans to Third World countries from international bankers.

3/8/10

EVERYTHING'S UP TO DATE IN KANSAS CITY: RECESSION-WISE, THAT IS. The city, long a model for its efforts at desegregation and facilities upgrades for its inner city schools, is now a model of near-bankruptcy as huge budget deficit prompts the Superintendent of Schools to propose that 29 of the city's 61 schools be closed.

3/6/10

Effort underway in Washington legislature to join the 43 other U.S. states that have income taxes, with a 4.5% levy on top incomes and a penny deduction the state sales tax.

3/3/10

Minnesota getting temporary respite in what is expected to be a growing problem in its budget deficit.

3/1/10

IF WE'RE THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT, HOW ABOUT WE CURTAIL HEALTH CARE COSTS BY SINGLE PAYER, MILITARY COSTS BY IMPERIAL RETRENCHMENT? Economist Mark Weisbrot asserts that it's "no time for austerity" when it comes to government expenditures to create jobs in an economy whose unemployment rates hovers around 10%. Health care and military budgets create most of the budget deficits and those could be trimmed without negative effects on the economy of jobs.

2/19/10

MANY U.S. CITIES ARE BROKE AND CONSIDERING FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY. A Wall Street Journal survey describes the budget stresses being felt by cities throughout the country, as cities like Harrisburg PA are considering Chapter 9 bankruptcy filings.

2/19/10

Most U.S. states considering cuts in Medicaid benefits as the number of program enrollees increases.

2/14/10

State audit finds that New Jersey is losing millions of dollars of revenue per year because of lax oversite and confusing rules governing eligibility for tax deductions and rebates.

2/1/10

"I'LL CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF." (IN 2012, JUST IN TIME FOR NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.") An annual deficit for the next two years of around $1.6 trillion per year seems likely as war funding "surges" and the "freeze" on domestic spending will affect only marginally the annual defict which only by 2012 may be "cut in half" to the level of about $800 billion per year. (Obama never promised a rose garden of cutting the deficit in half, only the annual rate of increase in that deficit.)

2/1/10

WILL SARAH PALIN BE SPEAKING TO A HALF-EMPTY ROOM AT TEA PARTY CONVENTION AT OPRYLAND? Some of the momentum seems to have gone out of the tax-revolt and broader anti-government movement embodied in the Tea Party founding. With the meeting to convene in Nashville on February 4, half the tickets, starting at $549, remain unsold as activists complain about a "pricey" event to celebrate a money-saving movement.

1/28/10

HAS OBAMA PUSHED THE PANIC BUTTON THAT WILL CATAPULT THE MIDDLE CLASS INTO FURTHER ECONOMIC STRESS? Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor in Clinton administration, sees this scenario in noting the President's announced plan for a 3-year freeze on "discretionary" spending, in many areas of social services (like mortgage foreclosure relief) that have a special impact on middle class welfare. In so doing, Reich believes, he is reenacting a similar panic of Clinton for his second term run in 1996. The scare of the Newt Gringich's re-capture of Congress in 1994 on a Republican version of the populist revolt against "big government" re-appears in the shock of electoral power of that attitude in the demonstrated power of the "tea-baggers," especially in last week's stunning defeat for Democrats in Massachusetts

1/28/10

REPUBLICANS' RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE UNION SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE....REPUBLICANS. Spokesman for party pulls the usual chestnuts from the bag of party rhetoric, saying the President's plan is one of "tax and spend" and pile up huge deficits while Americans are already suffering under these policies. On two points about which the President spoke only very briefly, an aggressive foreign policy and the promotion of charter schools, the spokesman says the party agrees with him.

1/28/10

Public Policy Forum says Milwaukee County must focus on its pension and health care costs to deal with its troubled finances.

1/26/10

ILLINOIS VOTERS NOT KEEN ABOUT PRIVATIZING ILLINOIS TOLLWAY. While some politicians float idea about selling off the tollway to generate revenue, overwhelming majorities of both Democrats and Republicans oppose any such action, believing it would result in their having to pay higher tolls.

1/23/10

Wealthier school districts in New York state are flexing their political muscles to minimize effects of Governor's planned reduction of state assistance to schools

1/18/10

IT'S EASIER TO TALK ABOUT AXING A SUBSET OF FACELESS WORKERS THAN TO TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT SERVICE CUTS." Faced with budget deficits in California and across the U.S. lawmakers are picking the lowest lying of political fruits by laying a large share of the burden of deficit reduction on state workers who are finding themselves facing pay cuts, layoff and furloughs.

1/9/10

U.S. army posts around the country likely to become less tidy as Pentagon budget cuts for "non-war" expenditures are produce cuts for services like trash collection and lawn mowing.

1/6/10

U.S. GOVERNORS' STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESSES IN 2010 ARE LIKELY TO EXPRESS THAT THEIR STATES ARE IN HELLISH STATE FINANCIALLY. Unemployment which reduces income and sales taxes, and declining home values which reduce property tax revenues are leaving many states hanging by a fiscal thread, often a thread depending on bailouts from a federal government with its own high deficits. Some states will have as much as 20% revenue shortfalls in their budgets and California Governor Schwarzenegger, for one, doubts that his state will be able to pay for "social services" this year.

1/6/10

Higher than expected expenditures and lower than expected revenues are eating away at Obama promise of significant national debt reduction

1/4/10

LOCAL TAX ABATEMENT AND LOCAL JOBS CREATION: A DEAL'S A DEAL. Many U.S. corporations are beginning to experience this public sentiment. Given substantial rebates as incentives to locate or remain in a given community, companies have promised to produce a specified number of jobs for local people. When the job-creation fails (or when an actual migration of jobs to Mexico or elsewhere occurs), municipalities are increasingly demanding "claw-back" recoveries of parts of the tax abatements given on what become perceived as false promises.

12/30/09

WILL 2010 BE THE YEAR OF THE PROPERTY TAX TEA-BAGGER? The possibility of an extended property tax revolt is indicated in a Christian Science Monitor article reporting new data on U.S. housing prices which have fallen by 30% while the property tax bills on those houses have risen by 3.6%. The popular resentment of people paying more taxes on lesser-valued property suggests an increasingly severe problem for municipalities heavily dependent on property taxes for their revenues.

12/4/09

WAR TAX TO PAY FOR AFGHANISTAN MILITARY ESCALATION? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. So says blogger for McClatchy Newspapers, reflecting proposal of David Obey for income tax surcharge to pay for expanded military operations. He cites Nancy Pelosi who acknowledges this reality and who wonders from where the money is coming to pay for the operation.

11/27/09

As legislature remains in stalemate, state of New York expects to be down to its last $36 million by the end of December.

11/14/09

IS ROSS PEROT MAKING A COMEBACK? President Obama and other Democrats are becoming belated "deficit hawks," with moves planned to curb domestic spending for the 2010 fiscal year as agency heads may be directed to freeze or reduce by 5% their expenditures. These moves come as U.S. public opinion becomes increasingly focussed on fears of runaway debts and as Obama personally faces the concerns of the Chinese on his current trip. One analyst says that, not since Ross Perot rode the "horse" of deficit reduction in the 1992 presidential election has the national debt assumed as much prominence in popular concern.

11/12/09

Towns in western New York are leading national trend toward "downsizing" on costs of government by reducing number of seats on town councils.

7/14/09

Mayor of Los Angeles says the city will pay for the $1.4 million in costs to stage the Michael Jackson center, and will not ask for contributions from Jackson family or the Staples Center.

7/11/09

In a budget pinch, take it out on the kids. A South Carolina woman who is a corrections officer at a juvenile justice facility was herself imprisoned under oppressive conditions as a teen-age runaway in the 1970s. She has experienced a radical improvement of programs to address the needs of juvenile offenders in her state; programs now endangered in SC and across the country as states cut the "fat" out of their budgets by cutting out such programs for the benefit of children.

7/11/09

Fabled Franklin Part Zoo in Boston may be closed and its animals euthanized because of budget cuts.

7/11/09

Leading banks in California say they will no longer accept I.O.U.'s being handed out by state government in lieu of money for salaries and services.

7/8/09

GAO investigation finds that many states are not using federal stimulus money for long term improvements as "intended" but to fill existing holes in state budgets.

4/15/09

As rest of the nation rushes to the mailbox to make the annual income tax deadline day, the nation faces major budget deficits. Analysts Chuck Collins and Sam Pizzigati suggest that much of this deficit could be closed if rich people were taxed at the same rate that they were taxed in years past. By their calculation, if people with incomes over $2 million paid the same 49% tax rate they paid in 1955 rather than the 23.2% they pay today, tax revenues would be increased by $202 billion. Meanwhile Donald Trump, whose income tax payments are notoriously low, complains to Fox News about the dire economic effects for New York State if the Governor's proposed 10% "millionaire's tax" were to be imposed.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/136592/tax_day%3A_you_pay_your_taxes_--_why_don%27t_the_rich_pay_their_share/

4/6/09

Rep. Roy Blunt, running for Senate from Missouri, is "reviewing his records" as claim is made that he "mistakenly" took a tax deduction to which he was not entitled.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1125967.html

4/5/09

PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS: WE NEED TO START SAVING SOME MONEY, JUST AS SOON AS THIS EMERGENCY IS OVER, IN (UH) ABOUT 10 YEARS. Washington talks austerity (for the future) and stimulus spending (for now) with no realistic expectation of balanced budgets for the next decade. Austerity is touted in the reduction of "discretionary non-defense spending" (butter) but with little indication of reduction in defense spending (guns) like the F-22 aircraft system to be considered later this year.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/65492.html

4/4/09

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY RAISE TAXES ON WEALTHY PEOPLE; BUT WILL WEALTHY PEOPLE PAY THEM? A litany of cases is recited of Obama administration appointees and would-be appointees who have admitted to having under paid their taxes. These publicized cases may be but the tip of an iceberg of unpaid taxes as the wealthy and their tax lawyers find ways to avoid paying them and, as Leona Helmsley said, "We don't pay taxes. Only little people pay taxes."

http://www.counterpunch.org/macaray04022009.html

3/5/09

Pennsylvania Supreme Court will rule on question whether Allegheny County (Pittsburg) residents can vote on referendum to place a 7% "drink tax" on themselves.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090305_Pa__court_to_decide_tax_issue.html

3/4/09

Governor of New York and Seneca Nation may meet once again to try to resolve the lengthy dispute between the state and the tribe over sale of tax-free cigarets on reservation

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/595701.html

3/4/09

Cost-cutting in Scottsdale AZ school budget may cost 221 teachers their jobs.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/03/03/20090303sr-budgetsusd0305ONL.html

3/3/09

Major cuts in jobs and majors offered to students are expected at Middle Tennessee State University.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090303/NEWS04/903030358

3/1/09

STRUGGLING TO "HOLD THE LINE" ON INCOME AND SALES TAXES, U.S. STATES FINDING MANY INNOVATIVE WAYS TO RAISE REVENUES. These range from taxes on pornography, brothels and marihuana sales to revenue-sharing deals with casino properties, and every thing in between that legislators' imaginations can devise.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/us/01sin.html?_r=1

2/21/09

The stimulus bill is passed, let the fiscal summits begin. President Obama will next week convene the first of a series of high level economic meetings in which financial experts will be assembled to discuss what is expected to be an "honest budget" proposed by the President that will avoid the budget gimmickery of the past, but perhaps not avoid severe political conflict as political actors move to secure their "fair share" of stimulus funding.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/62577.html

2/21/09

Zoos and aquariums are among the public entities that are explicitly barred from funding under recently-passed economic stimulus package.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-zoo-stimulus-web,0,6920611.story

2/20/09

After extended battle, Calfornia legislature approves budget bill that will raise taxes and cut spending to close a $42 billion deficit.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/20/calif_plan_will_close_42b_budget_gap/

2/19/09

Regressive forces line up behind "entitlement reform" as solution to fiscal problems associated with bailouts and stimulus packages.: Entitlement reform is a euphemism for an assault on the benefits available to people under Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. Blue Dog Democrats "reach across the aisle" to Republicans in support of such reforms as does the supposedly "liberal" think tank, the Brookings Institute. President Obama is apparently on their side, as indicated by various public statements and the fact that he is considering for Secretary of HHS the notorious Medicaid-cutting Governor of Tennesee, Phil Bredesen

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1031&Itemid=1

2/16/09

Gentlemen, start your engines! The stimulus cash is out there, now go scramble for it...: Cities and states across the U.S. have "wish lists" ranging from repairing the aging sewer pipes in Pembroke Pines FL to repairing the aging Massachusetts turnpike. Intense local political conflict impends as a Michigan politico says “We have far more in the way of projects that are ready to go than we have money to fund them and it’s naïve to expect that politics will not be part of the process.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/us/politics/16stimulus.html?th&emc=th

2/16/09

A "severely straitened" budget for Washington state is about to turn "horrific" as state revenues continue to decline.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/400245_deficit16.html

2/13/09

Tax increases and spending cuts in California will largely neutralize the "stimulus" being offered by federal tax cuts and appropriations.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/12/MNDJ15T07P.DTL

2/12/09

Maryland governor's shovel is ready to spend all $3 billion which is the state's share of the economic stimulus package.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.delegation12feb12,0,6568757.story

2/8/09

Extended campaign underway to institute a lottery in....Nevada.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/39279322.htmls

2/8/09

Excess in New York Power Authority funds will go toward reducing state's budget deficit, not to rate cuts for customers.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/572142.html

2/2/09

The money's all up for grabs in Senate's votes this week on economic stimulus bill: McClathy Newspapers columnist comments on the "quirky" ways of the Senate, meaning that almost anything is possible in the legislative outcome in terms of tax cuts and stimulus funding, as Senators compete with each other to satisfy their diverse constituencies.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/61248.html

1/30/09

Get those shovel-ready infrastructure projects ready:. A new infusion of funds is coming to fill the trough of those builders who have construction projects already approved by local authorities but which have been put on hold by the current economic downturn. As Glen Ford puts it, the new economic stimulus will allow Mississippi (and every other state) to "do more of what Mississippi always does." (Non) change we can believe in

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=996&Itemid=1

1/30/09

Impending federal stimulus funding a help but not a panacea for Tennesse's budget problems.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jan/30/38-billion-allotted-tenn/

1/30/09

Massachusetts residents threatening to go to other states to buy liquor if state persists in plans to insititute new 5% liquor tax.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/30/battle_lines_drawn_over_alcohol_taxes/

1/29/09

Recreation centers, libraries and police force are among anticipated cuts in St. Paul city services in response to cut back in state aid.

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/38578642.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU

1/24/09

Houston area school districts are drawing up their "wish lists" of projects they hope will be funded by new ecomomic stimulus package

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6227826.html

1/9/09

Obama appears to be ready to lead the assault on "entitlements" as the source of government's fiscal woes: Chris Floyd observes that the President-elect shows with great clarity his "priorities" in dealing with the needs of people in America. While supporting massive bailouts for the nation's investment industry and every bit of "national security"-related federal funding, he turns fiscal conservative when it comes to the funding of social security and other programs of broad social benefit

http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd01082009.html

1/4/09

Democratic president and Congress preparing to go on spending and no-taxing spree: Under the banner of "economic stimulus," the new Congress and presidency may unveil ambitious plans for federal funding of programs ranging from infrastructure repair to extended health coverage for part-time and temporarily unemployed workers. Although the concept of the stimulus was to be a focus on "shovel ready" projects that would immediately create jobs and wages, the Obama economic team and the leaders of Congress are under pressure to make "down payments" on Obama's longer-range campaign promises of a New Deal for American workers. These plans are restrained only by the spectre of opposition by fiscally conservative Republicans and blue dog Democrats, and of any approach to a politically-unpopular figure of a $1 trillion national budget.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/us/politics/04stimulus.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

12/8/08

As stock market-invested endowment funds shrink, U.S. colleges and universities are facing a severe financial problem.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.foxcreek07dec07,0,4078480.story

11/15/08

State and local governments across the U.S. are facing budget shortfalls.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1114/p01s05-usec.html

11/13/08

New York Statye has a $5.2 billion hole in its budget, and how do you think it will be filled?: You guessed it, mainly on the backs of the sick and of children, by reductions in state expenditures for health and for education. Governor Patterson's budget targets funding cuts in those areas, leading to massive protests by health and education activists in the state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/nyregion/13budget.html?th&emc=th

11/11/08

Seattle scuttles its popular in-home health care program which benefits 200 clients.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008375929_solidground11m.html

11/9/08

De Kalb County Georgia loses tens of millions of dollars in revenue when it loses track of unpaid traffic violations.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/11/09/recorders_1109.html

11/7/08

Hawaii may ask its teachers to work some days without pay and close schools for 6 days every year to deal with the state's school budget crisis.

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081107_DOE_pitches_6-day_closure_to_cut_spending.html

11/5/08

With taxes on their minds, Colorado voters just said "No." With the state turning "blue" for Obama, voters retained much of their "red" fiscal conservatism. Faced with 14 state measures on the their ballots, they followed a pattern of rejecting all of them that involved increased taxation, including a "feel good" measure for special funding for the disabled that went down by 2-1 margin. As former Governor Dick Lam said, "In times of economic stress, people vote no on taxes — that's a no-brainer."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/05/voters-just-say-no-state-ballot-measures/

11/5/08

Massachusetts voters reject measure to eliminate state income tax:. Voters respond to appeals of public officials that the measure would devastate public services, roundly defeating a measure that almost passed in 2002.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05measures.html

11/4/08

School budget cuts in DeKalb County GA follow those in Broward FL, with lay-offs, cuts in busing and withholding of teacher pay raises.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/11/03/dekalb_school_board_cuts.html

8/20/08

Oregon voters to decide in November whether to lift limits on income tax deductions which would reduce taxes but result in decline of state revenues.

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1219200915204700.xml&coll=7

8/12/08

Sacramento legislators are more focussed on getting out of town after trying to deal once again with a state "budget crisis" than they are in planning for a state future which will be marked by major demographic changes involving an exploding population of the elderly and of Asian and Latino people. This is the conclusion of a state economic "think tank."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/11/MNO91292SH.DTL

8/11/08

Florida and other states around the country are calling off "back to school" tax holidays:. States cite flagging revenues in a sagging sales economy and the lack of proof of any real savings to hard-pressed consumers as reasons.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080810/NEWS/2517045/1034&title=Lousy_economy_threatens_states__sales_tax_holidays

7/25/08

Proposal to grant tax breaks to movie film companies locating in Massachusetts flounders as legislators look to other ways to spend scarce funds.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/07/25/film_bill_losing_its_luster_in_senate/

7/15/08

East-west conflict ignites in Salt Lake City over issue of distribution of funding to schools in different sections of the city.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9884282

7/12/08

Wisconsin Supreme Court finds for a corporation's claim against the state for illegal sales taxes charged on software purchases; decision to cost state $265 million in revenues to add to its budget deficit.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=771699

4/6/08

Wisconsin taxpayers may be facing call for bailout for several state school districts which have made risky investments of their pension funds in securities that have declined in the current credit crisis.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=735976

4/4/08

Maryland legislature: tax on computer services out, income tax surcharge for millionaires is in.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.computer04apr04,0,4794851.story

4/4/08

Some in Berkeley CA want the city to spend less money on "foreign policy" concerns and more on "filling pot-holes" in city streets.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/02/MNFUVUMVN.DTL

3/2/08

As Massachusetts municipalities prepare to make taxing and funding decisions, citizens groups are engaged in active campaigns to urge people to support public services at levels that will increase their taxes.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/02/moms_for_more_taxes/

3/2/08

City of Vallejo CA faces bankruptcy and critics say Mayor's plan to stave if off is "little more than a band-aid."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/02/BADOVCB8H.DTL

2/26/08

Minnesota legislature over-rides Governor's veto of a transportation bill providing for infrastructure renovation and the first increase in state gas tax in twenty years.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_8363286?nclick_check=1

2/17/08

Governor Schwarzenegger signs budget bill for California with $2 billion in cuts; school funding takes hardest hit at $500 million.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/BAOMV46PR.DTL&tsp=1

2/17/08

Philadelphia columnist wonders how local tax agency "lost" a file on the tax liability of a prominent local man who lives in a mansion with a tax liability less than those of some of the city's more modest homes.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080217_Monica_Yant_Kinney__Why_no_storm_over_Fumos_shelter_.html

2/10/08

"Smartest guys in the room" are doing to the United States what other guys did to Enron: Drive it into bankruptcy:. Chalmers Johnson so describes the neo-conservative "guys" behind the Bush administration's military adventurism as having the same effect on the American economy that the Enron "guys" had in their disastrous investment adventurism. He documents this perspective with an extended analysis of a "military Keynesianism" that falsely equates economic prosperity with a voracious defense industry.

http://www.countercurrents.org/johnson080208.htm

2/8/08

Municipal bonds to finance city budgets are getting harder to sell in wake of mortgage crisis as investors grow leery of defaults from "sub-prime" muncipal borrowers.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0208/p03s01-usec.html

2/7/08

Whoe gets the revenue benefits of Indian gaming? In Massachusetts as in several other states, Governors are opposing applications of tribes to put the locations of their gambling operations in federal trust lands, a maneuver that the states fear will deprive them of the revenue windfalls they anticipated when they approved such operations.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/07/governor_opposes_casino_land_request/?page=1

1/22/08

Raging fire in Lawrence MA raises a political fire storm over plans to trim city budget by cutting back on emergency services.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/22/150_homeless_in_lawrence_fire/

1/21/08

California voters on Feb 5 will decide on proposed massive expansion of Indian casino gambling in the state, a move touted as essential to solve the state's revenue shortfall.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0118/p03s01-uspo.html

1/20/08

The voodoo economics of a $250 taxpayer "stimulus" for the U.S. economy: In an economy stressed out by bad mortgages and over-extended credit, the plan for a "quick fix" to stimulate consumer spending is really, says Mike Whitney, simply another indication of the tendency to "use the credit card" to buy what we can't afford to buy, creating another $100 billion in debt for "our kids" to pay.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/01/bushs-voodoo-stimulus-package-250-rebate-for-every-taxpayer/

1/18/08

Federal Reserve and political leaders of both parties are articulated an "advanced" economic theory that tax rebates to those most likely to spend them with "stimulate" the economy as people spend more money (forget about inflation).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/17/AR2008011700851.html?wpisrc=newsletter

1/12/08

Washington may act to "stimulate" U.S. economy... If Congress and White House can ever agree on how to do it:. With Bush administration hoping to deal with the country's recession or near-recession by additional tax cuts, Democrats in Congress are thinking in terms of increased spending for under-funded public services. Is a "deal" for tax cuts in exchange for spending increases in the works? Can you spell d-e-f-i-c-i-t?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12fiscal.html?th&emc=th

1/9/08

Indiana legislature considering a bill that would eliminate all property taxes

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/LOCAL190102/301090006

12/24/07

Briton's opinion: Mike Huckabee may embrace the flat tax concept with a bear hug while other GOP candidates shake it shand, but it's a form of "tax lunacy" that's anything but "fair": The flat tax, which would abolish progressive income taxes in favor of a single tax on consumption, was rejected even by President Bush's 2005 tax advisory panel. With the U.S. already arrived at a level of income inequality matching that of the 1920s, a flat tax would only widen that inequality and discard the concept that those who can afford to pay more toward providing for the common good should in fact contribute more. "To each according to his need, from each according to his ability." Yes, that's a Marxian definition of pure "communism," but it is as well the formula for assessing taxes in any well-ordered human community, from a family to a nation.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/tim_watkin/2007/12/tax_lunacy.html

12/18/07

Massachusetts Governor Patrick works on a "compromise" with state business community by lowering corporate income tax rate in exchange for fulfilling his campaign promise to close corporate tax "loopholes."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/18/governor_is_open_to_corporate_tax_rate_cut/

12/12/07

Detroit program to help low income people pay their property taxes, criticized in a Detroit News feature, grows in popularity as the News article focussed attention on the program.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/METRO/712120406

12/8/07

Utah Governor expected to do something unusual for him: submit a budget without major tax cuts

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695234235,00.html

11/13/07

Maryland legislature thwarts Governor's plan to shift tax burden from the poor to the well-to-do.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.taxes13nov13,0,5019014.story

10/23/07

U.S. states beginning to get that old recession feeling again:. Bust in the housing market has a domino effect on state government revenues, in sales tax receipts for example. In the Credit Card Nation that the U.S. has become, Americans have used borrowing on equity of their houses as a backup when the Mastercard gets maxed out. With foreclosures and maxing out of their equity lines now occurring, people have fewer funds to make sales tax-generating purchases, whether they be "big ticket" items like a boat to sit in the driveway or a "little ticket" item like a new kitchen skillet.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1023/p03s03-usec.html

10/3/07

3 Democrats in Congress propose a "war surcharge" in taxes to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea is pronounced "dead in the water" as Congress says "nah, let the kids pay for it" and passes forward another "unfunded mandate" to continue an operation for which no money is proved from country's revenue sources. Just call it "No Grandchild's Behind Left"

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQ6MiELLp8fFhwGT9y-Ri-p6o6QwD8S15S7O2

9/7/07

To help cover state's $1.5 billion budget shortfall, Maryland Governor proposes to expand state sales tax to cover personal services as well as manufactured goods.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.omalley07sep07,0,6396240.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout

7/31/07

Property tax relief for New Jersey homeowners is being stymied by the complexity of required paper work

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20070731_Homeowners_find_rebate_forms_taxing.html

7/26/07

Opposition to farm subsidies in a time of booming U.S. agricultural economy ranges from Speaker Pelosi and some liberal Democrats to the White House and some conservative Republican members of Congress. It seems that regional differences trump ideological ones, and now the Democratic leadership is backing off from farm subsidy "reform" to protect re-election chances of Democrats from farm belt states.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/washington/26farm.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1185444103-kuPBZ/ABezAAGydXZV/7YQ

7/24/07

Maryland legislators, facing a budget with severe revenue shortfall, begin looking at closing loopholes in tax laws that allow half the state's corporations to avoid paying any corporate taxes.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.taxes24jul24,0,2509998.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout

7/19/07

Alaska's Rep. Don Young, of "earmarks" notoriety, is fighting to retain earmarked funding for native education programs in his state

http://www.adn.com/front/story/9145013p-9061508c.html

6/29/07

Politically well-connected hotel owner in Buffalo owes Erie County half a million dollars in bed taxes collected and not turned over to the county.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/108971.html

6/16/07

State of Utah gets $20 million from U.S. Interior Department as a payment in lieu of taxes lost for state land being off its tax rolls because it is in federal preserves.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,665194131,00.html

6/3/07

Trans-Alaska pipe line system assessed at $4.6 billion for tax purposes. Oil companies complain too high, revenue-dependent communities say it is too low.

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/pipeline/story/8944749p-8844715c.html

5/13/07

State of Maine betting on larger take from slot machines to help balance its budget.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=149764&zoneid=500

5/11/07

Connecticut Governor backs off from unpopular sales tax proposal after state revenues show unexpected upswing.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctbudgetfolo0511.artmay11,0,2274478.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

5/10/07

Wall Street licking its chops overwoes of state and local governments. If cash is needed, they can sell off to eager investors their "infrastructure" public facilities ranging from highways to schools to prisons to help pay for "tax relief" to make the wealthy even wealthier.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/09/1064/

5/2/07

Governor of Montana vetoes popular spending bills and says his mandate for "fiscal responsibility" doesn't allow approval of spending that exceeds state's revenues.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/05/02/legislative/top_copy/08_01.txt

4/18/07

Its government revenues largely funded by its oil wealth, Alaska has the nation's lowest rates of taxation, including state and local taxes that are only half those of the U.S.at large.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8801477p-8702718c.html

4/10/07

As tax day approaches, writers from responsiblewealth.org note that the wealthy are spared contribution to the costs of current military operations, helping to create massive federal debts and deficits in the ability of government to deal with the needs of the less wealthy who, in many ways, are those who pay for our wars

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/04/09/sharing_the_burden_of_war_and_taxes/

4/9/07

Democrats version of class war: Tax plan will be popular but costly. Proposal to shield all but the very wealthy from alternative minimum tax appeals to upper middle income voters, but will result in heavy reduction of revenues available for social services for the poor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/business/09tax.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

3/25/07

For some Mississippi towns, being flush with oil resources doesn't necessarily equate with an increase in revenues available for public funding.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070325/NEWS01/703250349

3/16/07

Class struggle in Asheville NC about what type of tax---sales or hotel---should be instituted to help fund public services.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770315140

3/2/07

Tax trade-off in Boston: Mayor proposes to lower property taxes and institute tax fees on meals and telecommunications.

http://www.boston.com/business/taxes/articles/2007/03/02/mayor_to_offer_tax_tradeoff/

3/1/07

Budget crunch in Detroit may result in closing of 40 of 232 public school buildings by mid-2008.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/SCHOOLS/703010395/1003/METRO

2/27/07

Florida take notice: Utah is about to pass a revamped tax structure containing progressive taxation features like a lowering of the sales tax and putting more of the burden of taxation on the wealthy than the poor.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5313096

2/23/07

To evade taxes and government regulation, many corporations are "hiding out" in the hills outside Las Vegas.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/regulation/2007-02-23-tax-havens-usat_x.htm

2/23/07

In Montana, a Democratic Governor and a Republican legislature are in a shoot-out conflict over the Governor's budget that the legislature wants to cut.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/02/23/legislative/top_copy/76_01.txt

2/19/07

Suburban St. Louis school district would lose $70,000 a year in revenue if Jefferson County grants Lowe's application for reduction in its property taxes.

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2007/02/18/news/sj2tn20070217-0218ndj_lowes.ii1.txt

2/8/07

German Deutsche Bank settles claims of investors it represented in its tax shelter work, as it still faces federal criminal prosecution for programs costing U.S. Treasury large amounts of revenue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/business/worldbusiness/08shelter.html?th&emc=th

2/6/07

Bush's 08 budget has its domestic wing spending like Medicare severely clipped, while the military wing is overloaded. With tax cuts perpetuated and overall expenses expanding, deficits loom except here's the prayer: that an "expanding" economy can make up the revenue shortfall from lower taxes and that meantime our national credit card with foreign creditors is not maxed out . Democrats forecast a crash landing for this Spruce Goose, calling it "dead on arrival."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020500208.html?referrer=email

2/4/07

Parents and school officials protest plan in Detroit to close 52 public schools within the next year under budgetary constraints.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/SCHOOLS/702040333/1003/METRO

2/3/07

"Revenue sharing" is much less profitable to local governments than taxation, as illustrated in a Maine community presented a revenue-sharing check by the U.S. Wild Life Service which was much less than than the taxes foregone by exemption of refuge lands from local taxation.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/downeast.aspx?articleid=145903&zoneid=177

1/19/07

36 Republicans join 228 Democrats to pass a bill rescinding tax breaks to oil companies and reclaiming some royalties from oil drilling, completing the "100 hour" legislative agenda for the 110th Congress.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/19/business/19royalty.html?ei=5094&en=b3e9973bda265733&hp=&ex=1169269200&adxnnl=1&partner

The vote:

http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2007&rollnumber=40

1/7/07

New York's Governor Spitzer is fighting a very difficult battle to consolidate the state's 4200 different taxation and budgeting units.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lispec0107,0,2369819.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines

12/30/06

Daniel Schorr: U.S. government running mostly on "continuing resolutions" which allow agencies to spend at their current levels of funding---the result of the failure of Congress to approve 9 of the 11 appropriations bills presented in the 109th Congress.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1229/p09s01-cods.html

12/30/06

Paul Krugman: the Republican agenda of "shrinking" government by cutting welfare services was a "failed revolution" that started to fail with its inception in 1994.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1229-26.htm

11/26/06

Shift from Republican to Democratic control of Congress may not affect much the tendency toward pork and earmarks in appropriations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/washington/26earmarks.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&slogin

11/21/06

Democrats expected to work to repeal oil industry tax breaks but not to establish windfall profits taxes.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/19/congress.energy.ap/index.html

11/20/06

Many New Jersey residents are skeptical about a proposed 20% cut in property taxes, asking where from where the money is going to come, and fearing other taxes like the sales tax.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/16056725.htm

11/14/06

Democrats expect in next Congress to pass legislation to require public identification of the sponsors of earmarked expenditures.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-12-dems-pork-sponsors_x.htm

10/23/06

With many U.S.states "flush" with windfall revenues from rising property values and taxes and federal budgets being tightened, contractors are increasingly "circling the statehouses" looking for public project contracts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/22/AR2006102200567.html

10/4/06

Office of Management and Budget's project to increase accountability of special interests receiving government grants ("pork") are aided by (mostly conservative) bloggers who track these appropriations on the internet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/03/AR2006100301313.html?referrer=email

9/20/06

With less publicity than much-criticized congressional "earmarks," lawmakers are quietly inserting into federal tax bills "tariff suspensions" on products to give their constituents, often major campaign contributors, a competitive edge in the U.S. market.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR2006091901759.html?referrer=email

9/10/06

Feeding the pigs: Unlikely coalition of conservative and liberal watchdog groups is promoting public awareness of congressional earmarks which favor the "pet" funding projects of members of Congress.

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_54206552218a91fa000a.html

9/8/06

Huge discrepancy being noted between the national debt as the Bush administration depicts it and the "true" debt.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/105

9/1/06

Senator Robert Byrd, spectacularly successful in bringing "pork" home to West Virginia, put a "hold" on a pork-busting bill introduced just before the current congressional recess, saying his constituents needed time to have a say on the issue. What do you figure they would say?

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001452.php

8/24/06

With income tax collection being farmed out to private debt collectors, IRS warns taxpayers to be wary about scam artists posing as legitimate collectors.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/08/23/D8JMGFVG1.html

8/11/06

President Bush said to be eager to pursue cuts in "entitlement" spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) after midterm elections.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001508.html?referrer=email

8/4/06

Lacking the votes for cloture on debate on the issue, by 56-42 vote, Senate kills effort to tie a minimum wage increase to a reduction in estate taxes. Both sides cry "politics!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/washington/04cong.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

The vote (find Bill and Mel, together again): http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00229

8/2/06

Senate report details "out of control" practice of off-shore banking practices that deprive the Treasury of $70 billion per year in tax revenues:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/business/01tax.html?_r=1&hp&ex=115449oref=slogin

7/29/06

U.S. House of "Representatives" does the deed: attaches permanent repeal of estate tax to a bill raising the minimum wage. 34 Democrats and 196 Republicans vote for estate tax repeal. Senate action uncertain.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072800337.html?referrer=email

Vote:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll425.xml

7/27/06

Republican leaders in Congress are trying a stealth move to sneak repeal of estate tax as an amendment to a pension bill before Congresses recesses for a month on July 28. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aqKKaxKK5Z9g&refer=home

7/26/06

Will tax cuts "pay for themselves" because they stimulate economic growth and increased revenues? Treasury report delicately says "no."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501543.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

7/24/06

Unable to convince Congress to totally repeal estate tax, Bush administration's IRS is making severe cutbacks in agents assigned to audit estate tax returns. If you don't tell, they probably won't ask. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/business/23tax.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

7/5/06

Economist characterizes congressional Republicans' opposition to minimum wage increase and support of tax cuts for the wealthy as "just vicious class warfare."

http://64.226.238.78/PA/bh/bh215.shtml

7/5/06

Can you spell e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n-s? Republican lawmakers hear it from their constituents, who once "clamored" for tax cuts but are now raising questions about fiscal responsibility and (that's right) the justice of wealth-favoring tax cuts.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/07/05/tax_cuts_hill/

7/2/06

Farm subsidies program benefits primarily wealthy people, including many who don't even farm (and we're not talking here about tax exemptions for "ranches" with one cow).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100962.html?referrer=email

6/29/06

Effort in Senate to repeal estate tax attracts support from timber-industry Senators by combining the repeal with additional tax breaks for that industry, which is already the recipient of generous corporate welfare and a major player in campaign financing.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3347

6/26/06

Tax revenues in Louisiana take unexpected post-Katrina upturn as residents use relief funds to purchase things lost in the flood, from socks to SUVs, increasing sales tax revenue. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/us/26louisiana.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

6/25/06

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential aspirant, vetoes $225 million of appropriations passed by the legislature. Saying he is mostly cutting "pork," he vetoes $50 thousand for a Mohawk Theatre in North Boston, allows $50 million requested by Red Sox for transportation improvements near Fenway Park. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/25/romney_vetoes_225m_in_spending/

6/14/06

Sale of Indiana Turnpike to a Spanish/Australian firm highlights tendency across the country for states to privatize infrastructure facilities in response to their fiscal crises.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901775.html?referrer=email

6/11/06

Floridians take note: both your U.S. Senators voted for a debate cloture that, had it succeeded (as it nearly did), the repeal of the estate tax would have been advanced. (Only 4 Democrats, including Nelson, voted for cloture.) http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00164

6/9/06

Senate kills repeal of estate tax.

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=ousiv&storyID=2006-06-08T164624Z_01_WAT005774_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESSPRO-CONGRESS-TAX-VOTE-DC.XML

6/7/06

GOP strategists are divided, as showdown on estate tax repeal nears, on whether to insist on full repeal, unlike to survive a Democratic filibuster, or work for a compromise. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/business/07tax.html?th&emc=th

6/5/06

While repeal of the estate tax would benefit only the very richest families in America, proponents of repeal have aggressively marketed the idea that the "death tax" is detrimental to middle-income people as well. http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=1721763

5/25/06

Readthebill.org places the Iraqi War supplementary appropriations bill on its list of "mystery bills" that legislators should read before they vote on it.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052406S.shtml

5/18/06

GOP conservatives win in Pennsylvania by emphasizing fiscal restraint: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/us/18repubs.html?th&emc=th

5/17/06

In Pennsylvania primaries yesterday, at least 13 members of state legislature who had voted themselves a big pay raise were denied re-election. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/17/ap/politics/mainD8HLH05O0.shtml

5/17/06

A new wrinkle in tax cuts for the wealthy: next tax law will allow holders of tax-deferred retirement accounts to pay deferred taxes pre-retirement and save 3/4 on their tax bills (pay a dollar now, don't have to pay three dollars later). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/business/16tax.html?ex=1147924800&en=9be49bbf99115fa8&ei=5087%0A

5/17/06

Abetted by Bush's military posturing, our national priorities are becoming so twisted that any domestic spending is suspicious as "pork," while much greater spending on the military is presumed to be just the beef we need.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0516-25.htm

5/17/06

Supreme Court decision this week denies the right of taxpayers to challenge state giveaways to corporations in the form of tax credits.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0516-20.htm

5/15/06

Dean Baker's new book, The Conservative Nanny State, is being distributed free on-line. The book details the fallacy of conservatives' supposed belief in "free market" economics, actually depending on a system of corporate welfare.

http://www.conservativenannystate.org/

5/13/06

Opinion: southern progressives should support the estate tax. http://counterpunch.org/kromm05112006.html

5/10/06

"Everyone" benefits from tax cuts just approved in Congress: from average $20 for middle-income households to $42,000 for those over a million; only victims are rising federal deficit and cut in services to the poor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050900651.html?referrer=email

5/8/06

Bush administration proposing a "sunset commission" of unelected officials who would give the ax for funding of an programs not deemed as worthy of continuing past their current period of authorization:

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=3128

4/30/06

Who will benefit from repeal of estate taxes? 18 richest families make massive contributions to the campaign for their repeal.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12868.htm

4/27/06

Political fallout from public's concern for high gasoline prices is causing some in Congress to re-think plans for tax breaks for oil companies: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/business/27oil.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

4/25/06

In a survey of its party faithful, GOP "forgets" to list spending control or budget deficits among its list of items about which participants in the survey might be "interested": Tax cuts are mentioned as an "interest," meaning that the party is implicitly acknowledging its status as a "don't tax and spend" (i.e. borrow) party:

http://www.redstate.com/story/2006/4/24/214145/764

4/22/06

U.S. tells IMF to butt out with its negative comments on health care in the United States and on the U.S. budget deficit: you're just supposed to "monitor international currency." http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0421-11.htm

4/18/06

Opinion: prevalence of IRS auditing of low income tax payers not because of great fraud among the poor but the incredible complexity of the low income tax credit and the frequency of errors in its calculation: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/18/opinion/18brown.1.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

4/18/06

Republican Senator charges that a $750 million grant for a railroad re-location in Mississippi in the wake of hurricane Katrina, to be considered in the Senate as part of the "emergency war bill," is a "giveaway to economic developers"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701551.html

4/18/06

Tax day highlights the reality that we are approaching a de facto "flat tax" situation of the rich and poor paying at the same rates; an immense advantage to the wealthy without producing the touted "economic growth" of flat tax advocates:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0417-06.htm

4/17/06

On income tax day in America, environmental think tank advocates policy which is practiced in other countries around the world: shift from income taxes to taxes on environmentally-destructive consumption practices:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0414-07.htm

4/16/06

Another triumph for regressive taxation: for taxes due in April 2007, alternative minimum tax, designed to help middle income tax payers, will have expired; and many wealthy payers will benefit by reduction in taxes on income from investments:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/us/16tax.html

4/14/06

Reversing the regressive tax policy at the federal level, many states are starting to require the wealthy to shoulder a larger share of the tax burden:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0414-30.htm

4/8/06

Escalating national debt will have many negative consequences for the economic well-being of Americans:

http://www.alternet.org/story/34529/

4/8/06

Responsible Wealth. a group of multi-millionaires, organizes to oppose repeal of estate tax: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0407-21.htm

4/4/06

OMB Watchdog analyst says U.S. headed toward being a "bankrupt nation" and Congress hasn't a clue on what to do about it:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0404-34.htm

4/4/06

Remember the old conservative Republican critique of "tax and spend" Democrats? Now it's "spend and don't tax" (and of course incur debts) as federal spending hits all-time high: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040306E.shtml

3/10/06

Claims that tax cuts will "pay for themselves" in generating higher tax revenues are shown in economic analysis to be false:

http://www.cbpp.org/3-8-06tax.htm

2/18/06

Ben of Ben and Jerry's oreo cookie depiction of the federal budget: http://www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/

2/14/06

Multi-billion dollar windfalls projected for oil and gas companies to be given "royalty relief" for drilling on public lands: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0214-01.htm

2/13/06

Opinion: tax breaks for health savings account represent extremely regressive tax policy: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/12/AR2006021201151.html

2/11/06

Cheney says proof that tax cuts boost federal revenue; some economists disagree: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001855.html?referrer=email

2/7/06

Soaring deficits loom as 07 budget "assumes too much, demands too little": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020601424.html?referrer=email

2/6/06

New Bush budget: less butter, more guns: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13800536.htm

2/2/06

Recent "job growth" comes from federal spending, not tax cuts: http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20060126

2/2/06

PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE TAX CUT PROPOSALS ARE LIKELY TO WEAKEN EMPLOYER-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE, PRIMARILY BENEFIT HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE, AND WORSEN DEFICITS
http://www.cbpp.org/1-31-06health.htm

2/2/06

House passes deficit reduction/budget cut bill (216-214), sends to Bush for approval: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUDGET_CUTS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

1/20/06

Trading tax cuts for lethal cuts in human services: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0119-31.htm

Books:

Video/Film:

Other Media:

FLORIDA:

STATEWIDE

Websites:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Report: weaknesses in Florida's tax structure: http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/povinc.htm

Analysis & views:

4/26/10

FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE WHEELS AND DEALS TO COME UP WITH SUPPORT FOR "INFLUENTIAL" HOSPITALS IN THE STATE. While budget being finalized this week will involve deep cuts in some public services, the legislature will find the money to help hospitals in Miami (Jackson Hospital System), St. Petersburg (All Children's) and Gainesville (Shands, in home district of House Speaker Larry Cretul).

4/25/10

FLORIDA LEGISLATORS REALLY KNOW HOW TO BALANCE A BUDGET. As the legislature struggles to fill a $3.2 billion budget gap before it goes into recess at the end of this week, the Senate has a "bright" idea, passing a bill that would cut $14.6 million in funding for local programs of drug abuse and mental illness assistance. Advocates warn that this "drop in the bucket" of state deficit reduction will put countless people on the streets, as passengers in police cars and hospital emergency rooms.

4/24/10

.00003 OF FLORIDA'S BUDGET TO SUPPORT THE STATE'S PUBLIC LIBRARIES? STATE LEGISLATURE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. With a budget of $68 billion looming as legislature concludes its 2010 session, House first rejects public support of public libraries altogether and then "relents" and restores 55% of the $21.2 million that was being asked for "full funding" of libraries, which face closings, layoffs and reductions in hours of operation.

3/16/10

IN FLORIDA, LAYING OFF TEACHERS IS BAD, LIMITING THE SALARIES OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IS OUTRAGEOUS. That is the view, at least, of two Hernando County school board members, reacting to a proposal of the legislature to limit school board salaries across the state to the same level as that of state legislators, about $30,000.

3/9/10

Florida legislators getting their first hard look at what revenues they may have to balance the state budget

3/6/10

Florida TaxWatch has 88 suggestions for spending and taxation by Florida government that, were they all to be implemented, they say would wipe out the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit.

3/4/10

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION; AND IT GOES RIGHT TO "BUSINESS." On the first day of its 60-day session, both House and Senate pass measure that would delay an increase in unemployment taxes charged to business operators. The proposed increase would help offset the large jump in job loss benefits associated with Florida's rising unemployment rate, but the hardship appeals of businesses prevail over the hardships of unemployment.

3/3/10

Gainesville Sun: Florida legislature suffering from "courage deficit" that disables it from dealing with budget deficit by needed reform of state's regressive tax policies.

2/20/10

Florida legislative session, to open March 2, will be dealing mostly with budgetary and other "leftover" issues from the last session.

2/15/10

NEED TO CUT SOME FAT OUT OF THAT FLORIDA BUDGET? LET'S START WITH SUBSIDY FOR GWEN CHERRY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. Gwen Cherry, a day care facility for infant children of Department of Education workers, charges over $500 per month as "tuition," and still depends on state subsidies, last year $137,000 to help pay for utilities and other "overhead" expenses. As the state must trim its budget, the DOE says it can no longer provide this subsidy and it appears that Gwen Cherry will close on April 30.

2/4/10

CHARLIE CRIST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK IN HIS SENATE RACE. The Florida Governor, once considered the "inevitable" Republican nominee for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez, now trails Mario Rubio by 12-14% in polls. To add to his troubles, his $69 billion dollar budget, just submitted to the legislature, is blasted by lawmakers from both parties as being based on "unrealistic" revenue projections, one Republican lawmaker saying Crist should "start over" on the budget.

1/23/10

Early release of prisoners and elimination of Florida Department of Law Enforcement are among budget cuts being considered by state legislature.

1/22/10

"WE THINK WE'VE HIT BOTTOM. WE'RE GOING TO BE BUMPING ALONG THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME." State economist Amy Baker has this bad news for Florida lawmakers, noting the unemployment rate that has already reached 11% will probably reach 12% by spring, and that the crisis of budget deficits will likely remain for the foreseeable future.

12/28/09

AS FLORIDA HAS BEEN WORKIN' ON THE RAILROADS, HOW ABOUT THE SCHOOLS? Broward County Superintendent raises that question, noting that the state is proposing to devote massive spending to development of commuter rail lines while schools are being asked to absorb major cuts in their budgets. The Superintendent asks plaintively whether it's more important to the state to unclog its roads or educate its children.

12/26/09

Florida small business owners struggling with a likely doubling of rates they will have to pay for unemployment insurance for their employees.

12/19/09

Governor Crist moves to shore up his "conservative credentials" by calling for reduction or elimination of corporate income tax to "attract business" to Florida.

12/8/09

WITH MANY BUCKETS TO BE FILLED, FLORIDA'S WELL OF FUNDS IS RUNNING DRY (CARTOON). Ed Gamble for Florida Times Union describes in a picture the plight of the Florida legislature depending on a sputtering spigot connecting the state's "water well" to federal stimulus funding.

11/20/09

FLORIDA'S NEW CIGARETTE TAX IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION...EXCEPT FOR THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. Increased tax results in 27% decline in cigarette sales, as intended, while tax revenues to support state's Medicaid program are held steady. Florida's smokers are still supporting the state's budget, but fewer of them are involved as "supporters."

11/22/09

New report says Florida has one of the most regressive tax structures in America.

11/20/09

Florida political leaders face two unhappy choices: raise taxes or cut services?

11/13/09

FLORIDA RANKS 7th IN PEW CENTER'S LIST OF "STATES IN FISCAL PERIL." In a list of states headed by California, Florida "earns" a high peril rating with its looming $2.6 billion state budget deficit, its 11% unemployment and high mortage foreclosure rates, a weak housing market and a loss of population.

11/8/09

CHARLIE CRIST AND FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING: FIRST HE WAS FOR IT, NOW HE'S AGAINST IT. Facing a tough Republican primary challenger in his race for the U.S. Senate, the Florida governor backs off from his endorsement of the stimulus as a "fantastic" opportunity to Florida and moves toward a more Republican-popular fiscal conservatism by criticizing the President for "throwing money" after the nation's problems.

7/13/09

Florida's revenue raising by raising fees rather than taxes still makes the legislature an emperor with no clothes (commentary and cartoon).

7/10/09

Director of Florida High School Sports Association, faced with heavy public protests, considers rescinding decision to cut varsity and junior varsity football programs because of budget problems

4/15/09

Tax time in America is budget-crunch time for Florida. Governor Crist and state legislators meeting this week to try to iron out differences in taxes and spending that range from trying to save the Florida Forever land acquisition fund to how to expand and tax gambling for the state's revenue benefit...and much in between.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article991973.ece

4/7/09

Floridians shar the government revenue burdens of a deficit year (Not!): Joe Follick for Sarasota Herald Tribune examines this year's legislative decisions on taxation, which critics say fails to distribute tax liabilities throughout the population, placing the burden of budget-balancing on fees and taxes charged to particular categories of people (like students, gamblers, smokers) and refuses to consider (gasp!) an income tax, which Florida is one of only 7 states that does not have, or to remove property and sales tax "exemptions" which again benefit only a relatively few recipients.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090405/ARTICLE/904051072/2062/NEWS?Title=Florida-s-strategy-on-taxes-assailed

4/7/09

School funding bills likely to pass Florida legislature are said to have provisions that will make just about everybody angry.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-locedchanges04040409apr04,0,6078863.story

4/7/09

Florida's "Revenue Estimating Conference" estimates that Florida could realize far more revenue from expanded gambling in the state than earlier analyses had suggested.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/987774.html

4/6/09

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, AT HALFWAY POINT OF SPRING SESSION, SHOWS "FRAYING NERVES" AS BUDGET DEFICIT PROBLEM EVADES SOLUTION. Nursing homes and "Florida Forever" (conservation trust) are budget victims so far, with many others expected to join them.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/article/20090406/CAPITOLNEWS/904060311&theme=

4/5/09

A legislative panel approves measure to impose a state "landfill disposal surcharge" that municipalities must pay to the state for every ton of trash received. Is this surchange a tax or a fee? It matters not to the lobbyists for the Florida League of Cities, who complain the state will be taxing cities for services that state law requires them to maintain.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/article/20090403/CAPITOLNEWS/904030327

4//509

Florida Republican lawmakers who signed Grover Norquist's "no tax increases" pledge are finding it difficult to keep that pledge with tight state budget.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/985143.html

4/4/09

To avoid raising taxes, Florida legislature is resorting to a huge increase in the number and amount of "fees" charged for various public services.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article989010.ece

3/7/09

GOVERNOR CRIST TELLS FLORIDA LEGISLATURE MORE MONEY THAN EXPECTED COMING TO THE STATE FROM FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE. About a $1.2 billion in additional revenues expected to be realized by "side" increases in programs like unemployment compensation. Legislators continue to express doubts about accepting funds that will obligate the state to maintain programs after the stimulus funds run out.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090305/CAPITOLNEWS/903050319

3/5/09

Florida legislature convenes for 60-day session in atmosphere of a gloomy state economy and facing a heavy state budget deficit. The application of federal stimulus funding to the state's deficit shapes up as a major battle as Governor Crist wants to use such funding to "plug the gap" in the state's budget, while the Republican majority in the legislature is skeptical of adopting a short-term solution that they feel may create a greater long-term problem

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-legislature-florida-economy-030309,0,3067680.story

3/4/09

With Florida legislature open for "business," the Sunrail lobbyist express rumbles into town again...: The plan for a central Florida commuter train route, previously rejected in the legislature, is back for another try with the usual cast of heavy-hitters in its support. Among rail proponents, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer calls the project a quick start job creating stimulus for the state economy, while an opponent, Senator Paula Dockery of Lakeland, calls it an "expensive boondoggle" unaffordable for a state already struggling with a massive budget deficit.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-loc-sunrail-030409,0,4992222.story

3/3/09

As Florida legislators convene today, they have a single thing of their minds: a balanced budget.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-asecsessintro03030309mar03,0,2667586.story

3/1/09

Florida Governor Crist's "austerity" budget maintains generous salaries and benefits for legislators and state workers.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/927080.html

2/27/09

Florida Governor and legislature at odds over proposal to allow state Universities to raise tuition fees by 15%

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090227/ARTICLES/902261012/1002/NEWS01?Title=Things-don-t-look-rosy-for-university-budgets

2/14/09

"You want as much relief as possible.." Laxative commercial? No, Florida Governor Charlie Crist's statement in justification for his proposal for tax cuts that would help redeem his now-forlorn promise that property taxes were going to "drop like a rock." What has really dropped is the Florida economy and tax revenues along with it. Two Miami Herald columnists note that the timing of when these tax cuts would go into effect would coincide with any plan of Crist to seek a second term in 2010. An incumbent can always use some (tax) relief during a re-election campaign

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/904938.html

2/13/09

Florida legislators may be looking to sales taxes on online purchases as a revenue source to help plug holes in state budget.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01021309.htm

2/8/09

Florida's Lieutenant Goverment has billed the state for $425,000 in two years for airplane flights, mostly between his home in Fort Meyers and his office in Tallahassee

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/sfl-flfkottkamp0208sbfeb08,0,7399045.story

2/3/09

Seminole Tribe promises Florida millions in state revenues and thousands of new job creations if it approves the gambling pact negotiated by Governor Crist.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/03/na-tribe-offers-expansion-deal/news-metro/

2/2/09

Florida universities "trust" state eventually to turn over funds due them from promises to match charitable contributions.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-02/story/universities_see_their_matching_funds_held

1/30/09

Florida Republicans complaining that formula for distribution of federal stimulus funds is discriminatory against the state.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/30/na-stimulus-formula-discounts-florida-gop-says/news/

1/25/09

FLORIDA LEGISLATORS HAD BEST GET READY; THE ANGRY MOMS ARE COMING TO TALLAHASSEE. Students, parents and teachers across the state have already launched protests against cuts in school budgets with such theatrics as a mock funeral for the state's school system. As public funding of education promises to become the "defining issue" of the legislative session that begins in March, legislators may have seen hardly anything yet.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/871208.html

1/23/09

Florida Legislature chose to cut school budgets rather than close corporate tax loopholes:. So says a columnist for the Tampa Tribune, noting that the $500 million in school budget cuts could have been avoided by rescinding some special tax privileges of large corporations. They may have to take another look at that loophole in their March legislative session, if Governor Crist follows through on his threat to veto some budget cuts.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/21/legislature-overlooked-loopholes-when-working-budg/

1/4/09

As the legislature re-convenes in emergency session to deal with its budget deficit, deep cuts in educational services are on the chopping block for the budget...and even bigger cuts may be in the offing when the legislature convenes for its regular session in March.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/836787-p2.html

12/12/08

Members of Florida Senate assemble to hear their leaders outline the dimensions of the state's budget crisis which now reaches a projected $2.3 billion deficit with the unexpected addition of 100,000 people to state Medicaid rolls. The Senate President, backstopped by the body's "Ways and Means" chairman, tells the unhappy men and women that the state has few palatable ways or means for balancing its budget, as it is required to do under the state's constitution.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/CAPITOLNEWS/812110337

12/11/08

Florida Senators assembling in Tallahassee today to hear bad news about state's budget deficit.

http://wire.jacksonville.com/pstories/state/fl/20081210/365793653.shtml

12/11/08

Florida Atlantic University: 130 get laid off, others get 10% raises.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/09/1209fausalary.html

11/17/08

South Florida counties are struggling to maintain a constitutionally-required system of public defenders for all needy clients.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdefenders1117sbnov17,0,3660008.story

8/20/08

Opinion (Bill Cottrell): Governor Charlie Crist has turned unexpectedly into a "tax and spend liberal."

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/COLUMNIST03/808180302

8/15/08

Florida's tax swamp plan is taken off the electoral table (for now):. Circuit judge rules Amendment 5 off November ballot on grounds it "misleads" voters by misrepresenting the tax and revenue consequences of its passage. State vows to appeal the ruling, Crist says only the last ruling "counts."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/08/14/0814propertytax.html

8/15/08

Governor Crist urges acceleration of state construction projects to "pump money" into Florida economy ahead of expected announcement of $1 billion "hole" in the state's budget.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080814/NEWS/212729671&tc=email_newsletter

8/14/08

Did Florida's Taxation and Budget Reform Commission drink the conservative kool-aid handed out by Jeb Bush and other Right-Wingers?: A columnist for the Miami Herald believes it did, as he sees Amendment 5 for "tax swap" as an especially egregious effort by the Commission to venture into the waters of "social engineering," hoping to create changes in a tax structure by shifting much of the taxation burden to "taxes for service," helping further to "starve the beast" of government-provided services.

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/639684.html

8/11/08

Very few south Floridians have taken advantage of the "portability" tax-saving provisions enacted 6 months ago, as the "credit crunch" in the housing market has swamped any incentive for people to buy new homes to replace their old ones.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfportability0811sbaug11,0,1959544.story

8/7/08

Proposed Florida "tax swap" is not popular as many Floridians recall that they got far less property tax "relief" than they expected from the last round of tax "reductions."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfproptax0806sbaug06,0,7018423.story

8/6/08

"Florida's vulnerable children cannot live with another year of across-the-board cuts.". This statement by a state children's welfare advocate is joined by similar views of those advocating for the elderly, as they urge the state to find new revenue sources rather than dealing with deficits by further budget cuts.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/CAPITOLNEWS/808050325&theme=

8/5/08

Projected effects of "tax swap" to be voted on by Florida voters in number are little more than "educated guesses," even by tax "experts."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-proptax0208aug02,0,7274710.story

7/25/08

Florida Tax Watch says that Amendment 5 would actually result in higher taxes for Floridians.

http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/072308BriefingUncertaintyMakesAmendment5BadBet.pdf

7/25/08

66,000 Floridians living in Broward and Palm Beach Counties have not yet filed for "stimulus" tax checks.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flptaxhelp0725pnjul25,0,4038339.story

7/23/08

Florida Association of Realtors puts up $1 million to campaign to pass Amendment 5, which would eliminate property taxes to support schools in a "swap" for higher sales taxes. Lakeland Ledger editorialist notes that the problem is that the sales tax hike cannot compensate for the loss of revenue from property taxes, so that funding of schools will be severely diminished.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080722/NEWS/807220361/1036&title=Education_Takes_Back_Seat

7/22/08

Melbourne legislator plans statewide tour and public forums in opposition to "tax swap" proposal: The proposal, from the state's Taxation and Budget Committee, will get a critical airing, and proponents of the measure for reduced property taxes and increased sales taxes promise a rebuttal to begin after Florida homeowners get their fall property tax bills and see that the last round of "cuts" did not help them that much.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080719/NEWS/807190418&title=_Tax_Swap__Opponent_Plans_Tour_Of_Florida

4/15/08

Oout of gas in the middle of Interstate 4? Don;t count on the "road rangers" to ride to your rescue: The state-supported program of emergency road assistance faces prospect of having funding slashed by the legislature. The Rangers are but one of a myriad of Florida programs to feel the pain of budget cuts, programs ranging from Everglades restoration to purchase of conservation land to assistance in education and health care. So enjoy your property tax cut but don't look for a Road Ranger to change your flat tire.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-rangers1508apr15,0,599226.story

4/14/08

Pledge of no new property taxes for Florida homeowners may be violated in that, while tax rates across the state will be stable, tax increases may occur in many individual counties within the state.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/04/13/s1a_xgrproptax_0413.html

4/4/08

Budget cuts of "biblical" dimension are being anticipated for schools, hospitals and transportation facilities in south Florida.

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/482325.html

3/4/08

"Punishing year for public education"may loom for Florida's schools:. As the legislature re-convenes for a budget-cutting session, this "punishment" has begun as committees have recommended $358 million in cuts to occur on July 1, likely only the first installment of such cuts.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/03/04/a14a_sklbudget_0304.html

2/25/08

Funding battle between P.E. and arts is shaping up for Florida Middle Schools.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/02/25/s1b_music_0225.html

2/21/08

Wheels of justice may move more slowly in Florida as budget cuts may force the closing of state's courts for intervals of time this summer.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/21/State/Cost_cutting_may_clos.shtml

2/18/08

Post-hurricane relief money poured into Florida a few years ago is now causing the state to lose millions of dollars per year in federal Medicaid support money, based on Medicaid's allocation formula based on average state income levels.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/02/13/0213medicaid.html

2/8/08

Round two of Florida property tax slashing about to begin. March session of legislature will mark the push by House Speaker Rubio for a more "radical" proposition for November ballot that would cap property taxes on all property, with no exemption for school taxes, on the order of California's famous/notorious Proposition 13. With schools as well as towns and counties expected to experience severe budgetary losses if the measure passes, it may be blocked in the Senate where support is currently lacking.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/411161.html

2/5/08

Proposal in Florida legislature would tax "adult entertainment services" to provide personal funds for residents of nursing homes.

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080205/NEWS/802050324

2/4/08

Legal challenges are making it doubtful now whether Florida homeowners will be able to avail themselves of the "portability" feature of Amendment 1, which would allow them to retain tax breaks when they move

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flbrisky0204sbfeb04,0,1473088.story

2/1/08

Florida governor gambles on gambling to help state budget's ends to meet. New post-election budget relies heavily on anticipated revenues from slots and the Seminole gambling deal, though they are still to be developed or are mired in legal proceedings; also in "scooping up" whatever reserves exist anywhere and on making some deep cuts to expenditures for health and environmental programs. He says the state has to "tighten its belt" as homeowners loosen theirs a notch in anticipation of a property tax reduction

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-teachers0108feb01,0,7704650.story

1/31/08

In aftermath of property tax amendment approval in Florida, word of the day is "uncertain." Some taxpayers may get some relief from this Fall's property tax lists, but these will be very unevenly distributed and may be wiped out by localities' raising of assessments to cover their revenue requirements, and the "taste" for more reductions may face a hard road to fulfillment. The legislature, for example, empowered to propose further tax amendments for the November ballot, may refrain from doing so as they will be too busy trying to fudge the state budget to deal with the $2 billion shortfall anticipated from cuts already made.

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/400518.html

1/30/08

"Better than nothing" seemed to be the dominant Florida voter feeling in approving property tax cuts from which minimal tax savings could be expected, with state leaders promising "more to come."

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/30/State/Voters_flock_to_prope.shtml

1/29/08

Are Floridians so hungry for tax reductions that they will vote to "starve the beast" of government-administered services in today's property tax amendment? It's too close to call. With 60% approval required for passage, a new poll published in Miami Herald shows 55% approving with 14% undecided. (This with a question which lists all the benefits and none of the fiscal problems associated with the measure.) It may come down to turn-out, and the likelihood that more Republicans will likely turn out because they have a "meaningful" primary.

http://www.miamiherald.com/politicalcurrents/story/393856.html

1/22/08

Hopes of proponents of Amendment 1 that bigger turnout of Republicans than Democrats in next week's election would favor passage are dimming as many Republican-leaning members of the business community oppose its passage.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/22/State/Support_wavers_in_Sou.shtml

1/18/08

While he stumps for property tax reductions, Governor Crist is asking for $1 billion for funding of public schools.\

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01011807.htm

1/17/08

Governor Crist on barnstorming tour of Florida to bolster support for property tax amendment.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/382646.html

1/13/08

A relatively "quiet" season of campaigning for and against the property tax amendment on the January 29 Florida ballot leaves outcome in doubt, with one poll showing public support hovering just below required 60% approval.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/sfl-flfproptax0113sbjan13,0,6198634.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

1/12/08

As January 29 day of reckoning for his tax proposal approaches;: Governor Crist is "soldiering on with only lukewarm support from businesses" as public is faced with barrage of attack ads from public service groups, fulfilling the original warning that, to get the required 60% vote for a constitutional amendment, he would have to "fight the teachers, the police, even fight the firefighters."

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080112/NEWS/801120333

1/10/08

Waiting fir the parade: University of Florida gets in line:. UF joins the mass of public agencies in Florida that are lamenting budget shortfalls resulting from revenue losses in the falling housing market, and wince in pain at thoughts of further revenue problems if Florida voters approve additional property tax reductions this month. Already on the chopping block for possible elimination: UF's summer school. They may even finally get down to cutting President Machen's salary

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080110/NEWS/801100310/1007/NEWS

1/10/08

Nothing in Florida law would prevent localities from raising their local property tax rates to make up for falling revenues with new property tax exemptions; the "average" taxpayer might actually experience higher taxes.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/10/property-tax-amendment-could-raise-rates/

12/18/07

5 million Floridians who rent their homes would gain little from property tax reductions...unless their landlords choose to pass along tax savings by reducing their rents.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-proptax1507dec15,0,5374156.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

12/14/07

Coalition of Florida's teachers, firefighters and local government employees joins the battle against property tax reforms on January 29 ballot.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/sfl-flfproptaxoppose1214sbdec14,0,6800000.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

12/9/07

Panic among local communities about the integrity of their investments in a state agency heavily involved in troubled subprime mortgage investments may exaggerate their problem.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/state/epaper/2007/12/09/m1a_FLA_FINANCE_1209.html

12/12/07

Head of Floirda's State Board of Administration resigns in a move to "restore confidence" in the investment of city and county funds: The freeze on withdrawal of funds to support local governmental functions leads to serious questions about those investments by SBA, a state agency, as it is noted that many investments are in the troubled area of sub-prime mortgage lending.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/332421.html

12/1/07

Florida's "investment pool" agency for local governments pleads for patience from funds-strapped towns, counties and schools as it temporarily suspends withdrawals of funds from the depleted agency.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-run0107dec01,0,343819.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

11/15/07

"Recession" economic behavior in Florida is cited in analysis of the latest indication of severe revenue shortfalls for state budget.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-revenue1507nov15,0,7458628.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

11/15/07

The Florida/Seminole tribe gambling contract is a day old; But will it survive court scrutiny? Governor Crist having just concluded an agreement with the tribe concerning its gambling operations, numerous individuals, including House Speaker Marco Rubio, are expecting to challenge in court the legality of the agreement.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/308388.html

11/15/07

Critics are saying Governor Crist didn't get that good a deal for Florida in his compact with Seminole tribe on operation of Hard Rock casino.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbcompactdetails1115nbnov15,0,6866628.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

11/14/07

Governor Crist said to have reached agreement with Seminole Tribe on gambling slots that will yield significant revenue to the state.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/307068.html

11/14/07

Florida's bedroom communities expected to be harder hit than large cities by losses in revenues if property tax reduction referendum passes.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-taxbreak1407nov14,0,3496591.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

11/11/07

Labor groups are beginning to plot their strategy for defeating property tax cuts in January 29 vote.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes1107nov11,0,2966517.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

11/11/07

As sales tax revenues have lagged throughout Florida, those in Miami-Dade County have increased, helping south Florida to "bail out" revenue-stressed state budget.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/303548.html

11/4/07

Marco Rubio wants more:. The Speaker of the Florida House, disappointed in the scale of property tax cuts referred to voters by legislature's action, says in an interview he may spearhead petition drive to obtain broader cuts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/295136.html

10/27/07

Governor Crist moves to try to unblock state legislature's stalemate over property tax reductions.

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/286309.html

10/25/07

Indecision in Tallahassee. What if Florida's Republican legislature were pitching in the world series? (cartoon)

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20071025/OPINION04/71024057/1089/opinion

10/22/07

In Florida, Community Redevelopment Agencies are increasingly allowed to spend tax money collected within their own districts for community improvement, a tendency decried by critics who see the practice as harmful to the state's ability to address broader community needs.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/custom/growth/orl-cra2207oct22,0,7255103.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

9/28/07

Called back into special session to deal with budget cuts, Florida legislators must now deal as well with a property taxes issue that they thought they had referred to voter referendum.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/253042.html

9/27/07

Private companies are seeking a "piece of the action" on state's school lottery and toll roads and bridges.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/27/na-would-lottery-lease-be-states-winning-ticket1/

9/27/07

Florida hunting and fishing licenses will increase on Oct 1, the first fishing license increase in 18 years, the first hunting one in 28 years.

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070927/NEWS/70927011/1002/NEWS

9/26/07

Florida governor and legislature are divided and uncertain about how to proceed in light of a judge's order removing property reform from January 29 ballot

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070926/NEWS/709260330

9/24/07

Florida's plan for property tax measure on January 29th ballot is knocked into a cocked hat, temporarily at least: Leon County judge orders issue removed from the ballot, citing lack of clarity in adequately informing voters of the consequences of the measure if passed. State is expected to appeal or to have legislature re-visit the wording in its October special session.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/249242.html

9/12/07

New poll shows waning support in Florida for property tax exemption measure on January 29 ballot; only 47% now support, far below 60% required for passage.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/234443.html

9/9/07

Florida Democrats are concerned that DNC action in negating the effects of a January 29 presidential primary will "dramatically" effect the outcome of the referendum item on property tax reduction attached to the same ballot, as Democrats, more likely to oppose the referendum, will stay away from the polls while Republicans, who tend to favor it, will vote in an election that its national party will "count."

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070909/NEWS/709090317

9/8/07

State and Seminole Tribe of Florida are nearing a deal allowing the tribe to offer Vegas-style card games at casinos with state to get a cut of the revenue.

http://www.miamiherald.com/464/story/229722.html

9/6/07

Florida legislature abandons its plan to re-assemble for special session on September 18 to deal with issue of tax and budget cuts. Without any apparent consensus, they need time to "think about it." (The longer they think, the more likely are local governments to cut budgets in "anticipation" of tax cuts and budget caps.)

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/227197.html

9/5/07

Governor Crist considers privatization of state lottery and roads system as ways of helping to improve the state's revenues and deal with budget crisis.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-mlottery0507sep05,0,2896496.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

8/30/07

Florida education system may be asked to bear the brunt of state budget cuts: As anticipated deficit reaches $2.5 billion, legislators are considering increased tuition for students and withholding merit pay for teachers: call it less education at a higher cost.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/217095.html

7/31/07

How big a property tax cut will Florida property owners receive? According to Orlando Sentinel analysis, it depends. If you're the average Florida homeowner, you'll get $174 reduction. If you're the Walt Disney Company, make that $6 million.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-saver3007jul30,0,6968804.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

7/26/07

Possible billion dollar shortfall in state budget prompts decision to hold a special session of the Florida legislature on the issue in September.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/07/25/a3a_session_0725.html

7/20/07

Poll shows that close to the 60% of Florida voters required for passage support a Constitutional amendment for a "super" property tax exemption, although most indicate that they know little about the details of the proposal.

http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBD6ZA0C4F.html

7/13/07

Florida Supreme Court remands to a lower court the hearing of Weston Mayor's suit against the constitutionality of legislature putting property tax limits on local governments.

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/CAPITOLNEWS/70713002/1010

7/11/07

Florida legislators finding ways to get around "travel ban." Legislature pushes the limit of the Governors' budget-tightening edict, as many members are being "sent" to conventions this summer to exchance "policy ideas" with their colleagues in other states. Apparently they haven't heard of the internet.

http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/CAPITOLNEWS/707100322

7/10/07

Mayor of Weston in Broward County asks Florida Supreme Court to set aside as unconstitutional the legislature's requiring of property tax reductions for state's local governments.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03POL071007.htm

7/3/07

University of Florida institutes campus-wide hiring freeze to cope with expected budget shortfall of $20-30 million.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070702/MISC/70702015

7/2/07

Neither gasoline taxes nor revenues on toll rolls have kept up with the escalating costs of providing roads for travellers in Florida. With a new law now in effect, this may be remedied in the case of tolls, since toll authorities may now make adjustments in tolls based on changes in cost of living.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/157618.html

6/30/07

Official of Florida DOT tells a transportation advocacy group meeting in Sarasota that the state is facing a shortfall in revenue from gasoline taxes that will force reductions of road construction in Florida; or alternatively, lead to increases in toll road construction and tolls. Part of the blame is based on an asserted drop in gasoline sales as prices have risen. If one lives anywhere around I-75 or travels that congested route, one may wonder how gas sales have fallen as traffic has seemingly increased. There might be a clue if other people are like the editor of the Sun State Activist (mea culpa!) who make a point, on trips to more northerly points, to be sure the gas tank is near-empty when he enters Georgia and near-full when he leaves it.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070630/LOCAL/706300352

6/28/07

Florida's "sputtering" economy is producing an anticipated $1 billion shortfall which may result in budget cuts beyond those provided in budget recently passed by state legislature.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/153744.html

6/24/07

Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission preparing to pick up the pieces after January 29th. The constitutionally mandated committee will continue its efforts at tax reform as a "back up" to a possible failure of voters to approve those reforms proposed by the legislature.

http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/149538.html

For membership of the commission, see:

http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/149541.html

6/24/07

"It's here to stay, let's tax it" seems to be the prevalent attitude of Florida officials toward the expansion of gaming activity in the state.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBHAUCXA3F.html

6/21/07

While property tax rates for Floridians will be cut under new tax legislation, average actual tax bills may rise as taxpayers will be paying on properties of appreciated value.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01062107.htm

6/17/07

"You've got to fight the PTA, you've got to fight the librarians, you've got to fight firefighters" says a Florida legislator of the upcoming campaign to expand property tax exemptions, an issue to be decided by voters in the January 29 presidential primary. With 60% approval required under a constitional amendment appoved last year, and with constituents of various groups jeopardized by revenue cuts lining up in opposition, approval is far from a slam-dunk and even some proponents wouldn't mind if the measure were defeated. What seems unspoken so far is what effect this action might have on the outcomes of the presidential primaries and its possible effect nationally with Florida's new status as a political "bell weather" state with its early primary.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070617/LOCAL/706170312

6/17/07

"Cuts in tax revenue piled atop declining tax base are setting the stage for recession and social unrest" A Miami writer's ominous comment on the implications of the crisis of a high inventory of unsold condominiums, as housing prices tumble and Florida's property tax "relief" will yield revenues based on lower tax rates on lower tax assessments.

http://www.counterpunch.org/farago06152007.html

6/16/07

But sir, what of the poor? The Elderly? The Children? As Florida city and county officials continue to "whine" about property tax cuts that will result in large reductions in support of non-profit welfare agencies in Alachua County and throughout the state, the Florida legislature and Governor do an Ebenezer Scrooge/Marie Antoinette duet and say "Bah, Humbug! Let Them Eat Cake!"

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070616/SUNFRONT/706160354

6/16/07

Having notices that there insurance premium bills continued to rise after a Florida legislative session in January that was supposed to have contained those costs, some Floridians are still wonder if the legislature has delivered another "nothin' muffin" with property taxes that the Governor promised would "drop like a rock."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ftruth16jun16,0,2875917.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

6/16/07

Property tax reform passed by legislature gives a "first dose of excitement" to languishing real estate market in south Florida.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/141722.html

6/14/07

As state legislature struggles to provide property tax "relief" without breaking the budgets of Florida localities, Gainesville SUN weighs in with some "humor" (Jake Fuller cartoon) on the subject.

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=editorials

6/14/07

City and county funding for non-profit groups is being severely threatened by impending property tax reform in Florida legislature.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/06/14/s1b_nomoney_0614.html

6/14/07

Expected passage today of property tax reform in state legislature is likely to set off severe conflict with teachers, firefighters and Democrats, as ultimate decision to be deferred to November 2008 ballot initiative.

http://www.miamiherald.com/932/story/138964.html

6/13/07

Democrats in Florida legislature are challenging property tax reductions said to threaten billions in funds for support of public schools.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/sfl-fproptax13jun13,0,3587470.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

6/12/07

Florida legislature's special session on property tax reform convenes today with many issues yet to be resolved.

http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBFNRHTT2F.html

6/11/07

New York Times article reports that 40 states, including Florida, have unexpectedly found themselves with tax revenues exceeding expectations, with surpluses that can be "handed out" in the form of property and other tax cuts as well as increased spending on social services. With Florida reported to have a 9% surplus in its 2007 budget, can the legislature safely ignore those screams of anguish they hear from throughout the state as localities contemplate that property tax reduction will require drastic cuts in basic government services? Apparently so, if the Times found such information "fit to print."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/us/11legislature.html?pagewanted=1&hp

6/11/07

Big decisions on state tax policy await Florida legislators as they return to Tallahassee tomorrow for a special session on the issue.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/06/09/m1a_proptax_0609.html

6/9/07

A spectre is haunting Florida, a spectre of an impending hefty property tax reduction that will reduce as well the ability of localities to provide services to their citizens, especially to their kids in school.

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/133962.html

6/7/07

Florida voters' attitudes on tax cuts are a tangle of contradictions (A little like those of legislators?) Poll shows that they want big property tax cuts and are willing to attain this by cuts in "government services," but oppose cuts in most areas of specific services like police or parks and recreation

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/APN/706061455

6/6/07

Local leaders in Hillsborough County, as around the state of Florida, urge their legislators to consider the effects of property tax reductions on essential local governmental services.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBTB7X9L2F.html

6/4/07

"Required local effort." It's the Florida legislature's way not of cutting property taxes but of shifting to local governments the burden of property taxes to support a larger share of the cost of local educational services. It might be called having your cake and forcing cities, counties and school boards to eat it.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBNUKJAI2F.html

6/2/07

Panel of Florida legislative leaders agree on a "framework" for property tax reductions when legislature re-convenes on June 12; many details yet to be worked out.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/jun/01/panel_fla_lawmakers_outlines_property_tax_reform_p/?

5/30/07

Concerned about cuts in local services resulting from from Florida Legislature's plan to reduce property taxes? Not to worry, says House Speaker Marco Rubio at a town meeting in south Florida, localities won't have to cut any "essential services." But what is "essential," Mr. R? Aye, there's the rub.

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/122655.html

5/26/07

Spring home-buying "season" in south Florida hits a lull as buyers are waiting for resolution of legislative efforts at property tax reform and also anticipating a continuation of price drops with a glutted market of properties for sale.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/sfl-zbrowhousing26may26,0,7968256.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

5/25/07

Governor Crist's veto of 5% tuition increase for Florida's universities raises legal questions about what tuitions universities can charge and what vetoes can Governors execute.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02052507.htm

5/23/07

TaxWatch calls them "turkeys" that Governor Crist should veto, local legislators calls programs of local benefit "necessities."

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02POL052307.htm

5/18/07

State of Florida can't afford to spend the money to find out what it can afford to spend:. State's Chief Financial Officer suspends a program that has failed so far to come up with a budget-monitoring plan as it is too costly to pursue the long-delayed product of that project.

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/LOCAL/705180334/-1/news

5/17/07

Florida Governor Crist waves his magic wand and says that Floridian's hurricane relief services will not be affected by impending property tax cuts, though they will result in cutbacks for funds for emergency first-responders.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ccrist17may17,0,7149535.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

5/16/07

Final deal on Florida property tax reductions may be at hand, closing following proposal of Democrats in the state legislature that would give reductions to those who "need it the most" but would not spare school districts as well as local governments from severe budget cuts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/108235.html

5/12/07

Florida House speaker Rubio places more of his eggs in the basket of expanded homestead exemptions for the upcoming special session on property tax reform.

http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070511/CAPITOLNEWS/70511015&theme=

5/8/07

Broward County blogger says Florida legislature's plan to make expansion of slot machines the basis of budget-balancing is a truly bad idea.

http://www.miamiherald.com/418/story/99485.html

5/8/07

Local governments budgets saved by the stalemate in Tallahassee. Saved for the moment, that is, according to Gainesville Sun editorialist, noting the legislature's failure to enact property tax reductions that could leave city and county budgets at the mercy of the vagaries of a sales tax, that bounces up and down with fluctuations in the economy. The June 12 special session could send them into another round of potential knockout battering, or the legislature could in its greater wisdom allow Florida's Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to do its constitutionally-mandated work

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/EDITORIALS/705080302/-1/editorials

5/7/07

Everglades restoration project funding leads the way for a large increase in funding of projects for the Treasure Coast, as the power of a Senate president from Stuart is demonstrated.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/local_news/epaper/2007/05/06/m1c_XGR_tcleg_0506.html

5/4/07

Florida legislature will come back for special session on June 12 to complete work on property tax reform. It won't start "from scratch" on the issue as several agreements have been reached that will provide a "framework" with details to be filled in.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ftax04may04,0,4147557.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

5/3/07

Florida legislature will be called back into special session to deal with contentious issue of property tax reform, which will not be settled before legislature adjourns tomorrow.

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/LOCAL/705030335/-1/news

5/3/07

Miami-Dade was a very good boy-girl this year, and Santa rewards: As the Florida legislative session winds down and the lawmakers begin to distribute their appropriations goodies for local projects, south Florida legislators for once flex some political muscle and those projects are well-funded; compared to the lumps of coal that the "bad" children in some parts of Florida find in their post-session stockings (think Jacksonville).

http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/94620.html

4/28/07

Another "tax swap" may be in the offing in Florida legislature. To offset revenue losses from property tax reductions, expansion of taxed pari-mutual betting facilities throughout the state is being considered.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/89476.html

4/26/07

Property insurance crisis hasn't deterred builders from rebuilding on Florida's hurricane-prone coasts, but new building tends to come with additional storm-resistant features.

http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGB85E2PY0F.html

4/26/07

Governor Crist attempts to find a compromise between House and Senate versions of tax reform; both versions would force localities to "roll back" tax collection levels to those of 2003-4.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes2607apr26,0,1852401.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

4/24/07

Negotiations underway between Florida House and Senate on a taxation bill. Almost nothing is accomplished on first day of meeting, as property and sales tax adjustments are stymied by offsetting political pressures.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/84377.html

4/23/07

Daniel Webster, Winter Garden Republican member of Florida legislature, is playing a key role in crafting a property tax reduction for state residents.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-webster2307apr23,0,1905352.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

4/19/07

There apparently be some kind of tax "swap" (lower property taxes for higher sales taxes) passed by Florida legislature, but will it be the drastic one passed by the House or a more modest Senate one?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes1807apr18,0,2311155.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

4/18/07

Democrats in the Florida House are unable to stop the "swap" of higher sales taxes to replaced lowered or eliminated property taxes.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBYOTN7N0F.html

4/17/07

Republican South Florida legislators experience rare bout of bad conscience: One lawmaker, who voted to cut state funding to persons with disabilities, says he has had a "gut check" that makes him wonder if he can vote for a proposal for generous subsidies for a new Florida Marlins stadium and other sports facilities. This, too, will likely pass when he looks again at his campaign contributors list.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/76507.html

4/14/07

State income tax? "Over our dead bodies!" says leader of Republicans in Florida legislature, where lawmakers are battling over decreases in property taxes or increases in sales tax, both of which are essentially regressive in assigning higher tax burdens to the relatively poor, while a progressive sales tax is something "we never even thought about," as even Democrats admit.

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070414/LOCAL/704140362/-1/news

4/13/07

Push comes to shove in Tallahassee on property tax reductions. Competing versions of tax reform plans coming from Governor, House and Senate guarantee a "lively" time in state legislature as the legislative session winds down toward its conclusion.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-mtaxes1307apr13,0,5881170.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

4/3/07

Different standards for property appraisal between Palm Beach and Broward countries lead to large discrepancies in appraisals of waterfront properties.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pappraiser03apr03,0,2389612.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

4/1/07

Florida lawmakers have been able to avoid tax increases by raising the proportion of school funding from "required local effort."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/03/31/a19a_XGR_rle_0331.html

3/30/07

Taxes and budgets in Florida: The voters speak. Most Floridians are in favor of a cut in property taxes but against an increase in the sales tax. With deficits looming from such a combination, most favor budget cuts for the provision of government services. Look for poorer (and/or privatized) schools, roads, prisons and health care to be the casualties of this lethal mix of public attitudes.

http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/57664.html

3/29/07

Advisor to new speaker of Florida House Marco Rubio who is partner in a consulting firm another of whose partners is a "trickle down" economist from the Reagan era, may be be encouraging some of his positions on the supposed economic benefits of tax cuts for the wealthy.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/03/29/m1a_XGR_ARDUIN_0329.html

3/25/07

Proposed reductions in property taxes would entail minimum tax savings for middle-income property owners, huge windfalls for big operations like Disney World.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-winners2507mar25,0,3997914.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

3/24/07

Committee of Florida legislature approves, on party line vote, a GOP plan to cut property taxes that would result in severe revenue shortfalls for Florida local governments.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ftaxes24mar24,0,1705438.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

3/16/07

Study says Florida could reduce or eliminate property taxes without raising its sales tax rate if it eliminated all exemptions from sales taxes.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cexemptmar16,0,7339401.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

3/15/07

Florida legislators at an impasse on how to solve the state's property tax crisis.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fproptax15mar15,0,6211382.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla

3/14/07

Tax protesters rally in Tallahassee to present their "message" about the alleged inequities of Florida's property tax system.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST02POL031407.htm

3/13/07

Budgetary belt-tightening looms for Florida legislature as close to a billion dollar revenue shortfall is predicted, resulting largely from slumping housing market.

http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/CAPITOLNEWS/703130328

3/11/07

Associated Press article shows how much selected Florida lawmakers would have to spend on 2.5 cent increase in state tax to make up for the tax breaks they would get by the proposed reduction of property taxes on their personal properties. (It's a lot).

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/031107/D8NPTRHO1.shtml

3/10/07

City and county leaders in Florida's politically conservative panhandle are sounding off against Republican proposals in the legislature for property tax cuts.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes1007mar10,0,5592537.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

3/9/07

Florida counties are joining in protest against proposed elimination or cut-back of property taxes.

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/35905.html

3/1/07

Florida taxes: Starting to look a lot like a class war:. Gainesville SUN examines the effects of proposed lowering or elimination of property taxes and raising of sales tax on Alachua County, but it might be any county in the state. Lower income people and the governmental entities with programs for their benefit will bear the burden of the changes, with advantages going to the relatively well-to-do. Did we mention the Republican leadership in the legislature is supporting the plan?

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/LOCAL/702280383

2/28/07

Florida's cities and counties would be hard hit by a proposed elimination of the property tax.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/local_news/epaper/2007/02/24/s1a_PB_PROP_TAX_0224.html

2/25/07

"Reality is going to set in" says an official of the Florida Senate, and it will begin to set in on March 6 when the legislature convenes and lawmakers are confronted with a revenue shortfall that will endanger plans for tax cuts and expansions or even maintenance of services.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-bk-budget022407,0,1656541.story?coll=orl-news-headlines

2/23/07

Small business group opposes Florida legislature plan to swap lower property taxes for higher sales taxes.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_XGR_TAXES_FLOL-?SITE=FLDAY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-02-22-19-09-57

2/23/07

Is Neal Boortz running Tallahassee? As state legislature considers proposal to lower property taxes and raise sales taxes, it is paying a $10,000 per month "consulting" fee for a woman associated with a "Fair Tax" movement devoted to a nationwide sales tax and other regressive tax "reforms" as advocated by Boortz in his book of that title.

http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/LOCAL/70222048/-1/news

2/22/07

Mixed reaction in South Florida to lowering property taxes and raising sales tax...from "wonderful" (property owners) to "madness" (poverty advocates and some municipalities).

Broward County:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ftax22feb22,0,6642500.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Palm Beach County:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ptaxes22feb22,0,4916689.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

2/21/07

Swapping lower property taxes for higher sales taxes: This proposal, being considered in the Florida House, would give "tax relief" for homeowners, but further burden the poor who have to pay more for their purchases and the businesses who have to face interstate competition because of the high state sales tax. Prospects for Senate approval don't look good.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16744671.htm

2/20/07

More regressive taxation policy in Florida looms as the legislature has "on the table" a proposal to "swap" lower property taxes for a 3-cent increase in the sales tax.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes2007feb20,0,1922504.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

2/14/07

Florida version of a Boston Tea Party revolt against taxation is threatened at mass turnout of homeowners to protest property taxes in south Florida:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cproptax13feb13,0,5953813.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

2/10/07

Governor Crist's plans for property tax reform are creating concerns for Florida mayors, who see declines in revenues in measures like increases in homestead tax exemptions.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locmayors10021007feb10,0,4558933.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

1/31/07

"Keeping Florida affordable" is the aim of Governor Crist's wide-ranging plan to reduce property taxes in the state, including portable homestead exemptions.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01POL013107.htm

11/16/06

As Florida's housing market cools, decreased revenues and budget cuts may be in the offing for a new Governor pledged to several expensive programs.

http://www.tdo.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/CAPITOLNEWS/611150311

7/26/06

Baked or fried, you decide: Peeved over state legislature's passage of "pork" legislation for state's college and universities, Jeb Bush "punishes" the lawmakers by giving individual institutions the power to ignore allocations and spent their money as they please. Say what? http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/LOCAL/207260314/1078

5/7/06

You thought the legislature's bail-out of Citizens Property was going to stabilize Florida homeowners' property insurance rates? Think again. http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060507/LOCAL/205070329/1078/news

5/6/06

Hickory dickory dock: Tallahassee mice run up the legislative session clock and come down with a last-hour resolution of the property insurance crisis: no rebate to homeowners, instead bail-out of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.:

http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBP71NFVME.html

4/27/06

Florida follows national taxation trend: the wealthy to get wealthier as Senate votes to eliminate state taxes on investments: http://www.tdo.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060427/CAPITOLNEWS/604270344

4/23/06

Legislature nears resolution of the problem of what to do with the state's revenue windfall: tax relief for homeowner, a tax holiday for consumers are out, classroom construction and prop-up of property insurance system are in: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/CAPITOLNEWS/604210352

4/18/06

The verdict is in: state legislators will apparently spend the bulk of a revenue windfall for insurance relief for homeowners rather than other needs like health and education: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060418/LOCAL/204180332/1078/news

4/17/06

Let the tourist pay: State legislature considering a tax on rental cars to help pay for mass transit in South Florida:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-frentalsapr17,0,7318644.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

4/13/06

State of Florida gets unexpected billion dollar windfall of tax revenues. How to spend it? Tax cuts? Reduce class size? Fully fund KidCare? Relief for property insurance holders? Put it in the piggy bank? You name it.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14330116.htm

4/12/06

The government spending problem writ large: Florida Congressman, a proponent of legislation forbidding earmarks that will never be passed, tools about his district Santa-style handing out "checks" for money he's obtained from federal grants. A big check recipient, UF, says, "Pork, who us?" http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060412/LOCAL/204120325/1078 http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060412/LOCAL/204120331/1078/news

4/7/06

Overflowing coffers: Florida will use its large revenue surplus for major boosts in spending, along with some tax reductions:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14283782.htm

3/12/06

Florida Medicaid, strapped for funds, to discontinue nutritional supplements to disasbled children; not to worry, Floridians, you'll still get a rebate from the state's $1.5 billion surplus: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14078219.htm

2/20/06

Florida legislators deal with spending a $3.2 billion surplus: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/BREAKINGNEWS/60220008

2/2/06

Jeb Bush budget proposal: spend more, tax less: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13770946.htm

2/1/06

Orlando columnist says Governor's tax breaks are bogus, to be offset by higher hurricane insurance premiums: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-miket3106jan31,0,2534205.column?coll=orl-news-col

2/1/06

Governor Bush proposes tax cuts by small rebates to homeowners, no tax moratorium; Democratic candidates for Governor say spend budget surplus on roads and schools: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060201/LOCAL/202010332/1078

1/23/06

Why tax breaks when there are underfunded programs in Florida (editorial): http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060121/EDITORIALS/60120023/1096/editorials

Other information sources:

FLORIDA LOCALITIES

Websites:

Analysis and views:

Alachua Co.:

3/14/10

As Alachua County sales tax to support health care for the indigent is about to expire, discussion begins of new sales tax to support construction of a county children's hospital, probably in Gainesville

Volusia Co.:

1/24/10

Group of influential citizens in Volusia County FL band together to fund a study in how country's expenses for fire protection might be reduced by consolidations of service

Daytona Beach:

1/9/10

Lax collection leaves Daytona Beach with $16 million dollars in uncollected fines for code enforcement violations.

Orlado:

12/26/09

Orlando watchdog group questioning the budgetary feasibility of going forward with plan for downtown performing arts center.

Palm Beach Co.:

11/28/09

Palm Beach County puts landfilll construction project on "layaway" as taxpayers are paying $3 million a year interest on bonds for construction not to be begun until much later.

Gainesville:

11/13/09

For 3rd year in a row, city of Gainesville FL cancels plans for a holiday ice rink in downtown plaza because of fiscal restraints.

Orlando:

7/14/09

Orlando city budget, for first time in at least 30 years, declines over previous year budget, as property taxes remain at current level and budget is balanced by city worker layoffs and deep cuts in city services.

Levy Co.:

4/15/09

LEVY COUNTY FL SEEKS TO PENALIZE ITS MOST EXPERIENDED TEACHERS. While other county school systems seek to balance their budgets by laying off their least senior teachers, Levy reverses the trend and pulls the plug on a system that had allowed retiring teachers to return to work at enhanced salaries, offering to re-hire them at $32.400 entry level salaries, less than half what the senior teachers are now earning.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090414/ARTICLES/904149989

Ocala:

4/6/09

While residents of Marion County FL try to estimate what their tax bills will be, the county tries to find a more coherent and equitable way to divide the proceeds from a locally-generted gasoline sales tax.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20090405/ARTICLES/904051008/1402/NEWS?Title=Gas-tax-money-takes-winding-road

Windermere:

2/16/09

WINDERMERE FL, POP 2400, MAY GET IN LINE FOR A FEDERAL STIMULUS GRANT. This town in central Florida has a "shovel ready" project which hopefully will be funded: a long-discussed plan to change the town's wastewater disposal system from a septic to a sewer system. (With the impending severe competition for such funding, one can only wish them luck.)

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-windermere-sewer-project-09feb15,0,6418285.story

Jacksonville:

2/13/09

Sharp debate is heard in Jacksonville on who could provide the most affordable waste management services for the city.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-12/story/club_talk_turns_into_barbed_debate_over_landfill_contract

Seminole Co.:

2/12/09

Seminole County FL parents, teachers and students rally today against anticipated massive cuts in school budget.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-school-budget-cuts-rally-021109,0,1875475.story

Boca Raton:

2/8/09

Boca Raton leads the parade of Palm Beach County municipalities looking for stimlus package funding, $1 billion in requests, including a half million dollar research teaching hospital

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/07/a1a_localstimulus_0208.html

Broward Co.:

2/8/09

DOES THE CITY OF PLANTATION (BROWARD COUNTY FL) NEED A FORTIFIED BUNKER TO STORE ITS COMPUTER FACILITIES? Perhaps about like Las Vegas needs a mob museum. U.S. Mayors are asking for funding of "shovel ready" stimulus projects that are a surprise to the people in many communities for which they are proposed, including the $2.3 million for the Plantation bunker. This article in the Miami Herald features the stimulus-seeking Mayor of Miami/Dade, Manny Diaz, along with other Florida projects being proposed.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/story/892386.html

Tampa:

1/7/09

School lunches in Hillsborough County FL become leaner and meaner as school district struggles with its budget deficit.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/05/hillsborough-county-schools-puts-meal-budget-diet/news-metro/

Broward Co.:

12/8/08

Broward County FL school board members say the board may request federal bailout funds to rescue the county's schools.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/schools/sfl-flbschools1208sbdec08,0,2449279.story

Broward Co.:

11/4/08

Lean times expected to get much leaner for Broward County schools: School Superintedent says the county cannot sustain its budget without major layoffs and possibly program cuts. Previous cuts have involved mostly "support" personnel like cafeteria workers and bus drivers, but the new cuts will likely entail teacher layoffs and inability to meet teachers union demand for modest pay increases.

http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/755129.html

Orange Co.:

11/4/08

Decline in resort-taxes in Orange County "not as bad as feared" as Disney World resorts have done very well.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-resorttax0408nov04,0,2376648.story

Ft. Lauderdale:

11/3/08

Some residents in Ft. Lauderdale say it's "not a good time" for 5% pay raises for many city employees.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbsalaries1103sbnov03,0,3455285.story

Osceola Co.:

11/2/08

Hottest race in Osceola County may be for property appraiser:. Chief of Staff of the current appraiser is challenged by her opponent in the race to replace him for the failure of that office ever to have assessed taxes on a local hunt club. It happens that the President of the club is the father of that office-seeker and that others from the office frequent the club. The current appraiser reluctantly accedes to this pressure and agrees to assess the property, even though he says the revenue of taxing the club will be less than the cost of doing the assessment.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-huntingclubs0208nov02,0,2868942.story

Broward Co.:

8/21/08

Broward County schools are getting ready for "lean times ahead."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbmayocol0821sbaug21,0,2955171.column

Palm Beach Co.:

8/18/08

Palm Beach County to Lake Worth: We'll furnish police service for you but of course you'll have to pay for it: : Having negotiated a city-county "merger" agreement with the county, Lake Worth officials wonder how the city can possibly afford the $13.8 million per year (and rising) they must pay to the county.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/

Jacksonville:

8/8/08

Rising book prices and lowered budgets may lead to fewer new books acquired by Jacksonville libraries.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080808/met_315604377.shtml

Orlando:

8/8/08

Johnson's Diner, popular "soul food" restaurant in downtown Orlando frequented by politicians and Orlando Magic, is hit with $62,000 state tax bill.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/ucf/orl-johnson08x08aug08,0,2089424.story

Broward Co.:

7/22/08

School services are taking a big hit in proposed Broward County budget.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/612991.html

Jacksonville:

7/21/08

Jacksonville City Council members are studying, and generally approving, the Mayor's proposed budget that gives law enforcement priority over expenditures for other needs.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072108/met_307019173.shtml

Orlando:

7/19/08

Orange County expected to maintain basic services without raising taxes despite looming budget deficit by raiding some of its reserve funds.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-countybud1908jul19,0,4169140.story

Jacksonville:

7/17/08

Jacksonville is $7 million behind on collection of new stormwater and solid waste fees, as they must deal with many applications for rate adjustments.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071708/met_304882610.shtml

Orlando:

7/16/08

Orlando is preparing property tax bills for homeowners that will likely see them paying more taxes than they did before the Amendment 1 "relief."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-citybud1608jul16,0,1017563.story

Flagler Co.:

4/9/08

Flagler County school board demands that Florida legislature fully fund the state's schools, saying that anticipated budget cuts could force them to curtain school services.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01040908.htm

Marion Co:

3/3/08

Marion County budget cutting may result in closing of a library in Rainbow Lakes Estates, a large suburban community in an isolated area near Ocala.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20080303/NEWS/803030332/1001/NEWS01&MaxW=270&MaxH=200la.

St. Petersburg:

2/18/08

Docking fees for large yachts are a big revenue source for Florida cities like St. Petersburg.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/18/Southpinellas/Big_boats_lead_to_big.shtml

Palm Beach Co.:

1/31/08

Axe falls quickly in Palm Beach County as officials announce hiring freezes and other adjustments to county budget in light of Tuesday's vote on property tax amendment.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/sfl-flptaxes0131pnjan31,0,6900041.story

Miami:

1/30/08

Miami-Dade voters approve Vegas-style slot machines for the county, after having defeated an identical proposal in 2005.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/sfl-flbgambleelex0130sbjan30,0,1710036.story

Palm Beach Co.:

1/20/08

Amount paid by homebuyers in Palm Beach County may increase even as selling prices fall as substantial impact fees are added to total cost of housing purchases.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/01/20/s1c_IMPACT_0120.html

Gainesville;

1/16/08

Alachua County Commissioners trying to figure out how to campaign against property tax amendment without "formally" opposing it.

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080116/NEWS/801160334/1002/NEWS

Orlando:

1/15/08

Orlando area school officials say their budgets would be "battered" by January 29 passage of property tax reduction amendment.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-taxcuts1508jan15,0,5553476.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

Broward Co.:

11/11/07

County commissioners, faced with a tight budget, grab the Christmas balls from the Tradewind Parks Holiday Lights Festival, among many seasonal belt-tightening measures that will see parks and other public attractions close on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as well as Christmas. To avert this, Ft. Lauderdale Whovillians would have to sing some mighty powerful Christmas carols; might even plan to vote against further property tax cuts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/303552.html

Ft. Lauderdale:

10/29/07

10 new fire stations in Ft. Lauderdale, approved by voters, are $24 million short in their funding and may not be built.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbfire0929sbsep29,0,2668925.story

Orlando:

9/26/07

Orange County school construction projects imperilled by Florida Supreme Court ruling requiring voter action on public funding of major development projects

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-nobuild2607sep26,0,500318.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

Jacksonville:

9/20/07

Jacksonville City Council agrees to cuts in funds for faith-based office, jazz fest and their own salary increases, but can't agree on new fees to furnish revenues to address city's budget deficit.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092007/met_201120283.shtml

Tampa:

9/18/07

Tampa homeowner, unable to find buyers for her home, holds "open house" to rally for superexemption on Jan. 29 ballot, and gets plenty of guests, including Governor Charlie Crist.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/17/seller-opens-house-superexemption-rally/?news-breaking

Broward Co.:

9/9/07

Florida property taxes are not dropping "like a rock," at least not in Broward County.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-909browardtaxes,0,3361193.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

Jacksonville;

9/8/07

City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars are approaching agreement on a deal to increase city share of revenues from "naming rights" and other advertising revenues from Alltel Statium.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090807/met_197876488.shtml

Jacksonville:

9/6/07

Increase in fees for garbage pickup and other services is proposed by Jacksonville's Mayor as a means of balancing the city's budget.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090607/met_197279780.shtml

Miami:

8/29/07

Miami-Dade's successful "boot camp" for troubled children may be eliminated in county's current budget cuts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/217136.html

Tampa;

8/29/07

Tampa's new Byrd Alzheimer's Research Center may be another victim of state budget cuts.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/28/me-alzheimers-research-in-budget-cross-hairs/

Broward Co.

8/27/07

Property tax cuts expected to result in delay or elimination of school building plans in Brevard County.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/NEWS01/708270326/1006

Broward Co.:

8/5/07

Remeber Gov. Crist's promise that no "essential" services would be cut because of property tax reductions? Several cities in Broward County apparently consider school crossing guards as "non-essential," as they plan to trim their budgets by downsizing or eliminating this protection as kids head back to school this month.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/192391.html

Daytona Beach:

7/28/07

Daytona Beach Community College instructors may have to empty their own wastebaskets, as state budget cuts lead to anticipated cutback in college custodial staff.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02072807.htm

Largo:

7/28/07

Largo and other communities in central Florida are considering use of a "super-majority" city council vote to override any cuts in property taxes mandated by state legislative action.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/28/State/Cities_on_tax_cuts__N.shtml

Tampa;

7/25/07

Public television access may be among the victims of budget cutting in Tampa.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBY1AZ5J4F.html

Miami:

7/24/07

Miami-Dade budget cutters are looking at "longevity bonuses" for county workers.

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/180104.html

Tampa:

7/24/07

Remember the warning about Floirda's property tax reform: "You'll be fighting the libraries...You'll even be fighting the firefighters"? Let the fights begin! Hillsborough County (Tampa) unveils new austerity budget that will eliminate building of new fire stations and shorter hours of operation of the county's libraries.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBTECDUH4F.html

Weston:

7/14/07

Mayor of Weston is standing up to the severe criticism he is receiving because of his lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an upcoming referendum vote on changes in Florida's local system of property tax levies.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbhersh0714nbjul14,0,7170143.story

Miami:

7/13/07

Police, bus service, libraries, parks. A few of the "frills" that will be the cut by Miami-Dade County as a result of the state's "property tax reform."

http://www.miamiherald.com/548/story/169183.html

Ft. Lauderdale:

7/12/07

Hiring and travel freezes and cutbacks in student course offerings may be facing Florida Atlantic University resulting from state-mandated property tax cuts.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flpfaubudget0712pnjul12,0,7323178.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Miami:

7/11/07

Miami-Dade voters will again be asked to vote on a tax revenue generating system of pari-mutual slot machines in the county, a proposal defeated in 2005.

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/071007/D8Q9TVC00.shtml

Daytona Beach:

7/3/07

Property assessors in Volusia and Flagler Counties say new construction projects in those counties may help ease the budgetary burden of state-mandated limits on property tax rates.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01070307.htm

Pinellas Co.:

6/18/07

Pinellas County FL to use its "rainy day" (hurricane disaster contingency) funds to weather the storm of property tax reduction on local revenues.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB66NV723F.html

Miami;

6/15/07

"We're waiting for the shoe to drop to see what kind of storm we're looking at " says a Miami-Dade County Commissioner as the state legislature "drops" a budget with severe restrictions on property tax revenues for localities. The dimensions of the storm are still being assessed, but the likelihood is that the County will face about a $376 million short-fall that will necessitate deep cuts in many different public services. But, Florida homeowner, don't fret about it, just enjoy your property tax cut and don't worry there's one less police patrol car in your neighborhood and one more unemployed teenager who may want to rob your house.

http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/140123.html

Palm Beach Co.;

6/7/07

Budget woes, with falling enrollment and property values and impending cut in county's property tax rates, causes Palm Beach County FL school district to delay construction of new schools.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pschools07jun07,0,334987.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Orange Co.:

6/6/07

Orange County FL school district is getting a "deal" by allowing a deep-pockets builder to construct without competitive bidding. Critics question the deal, but some school officials express appreciation for the value of the novel arrangement.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-kahli0607jun06,0,6952719.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Daytona Beach:

6/3/07

Officials of Halifax Hospitals in Volusia County are concerned about impact on their ability to deliver medical services to the poor with impending state property tax cuts

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD04POL060307.htm

Tampa:

5/31/07

Hillsborough County FL institutes hiring freeze and building moratorium and anticipates some service cuts in advance of expected budget cuts.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBURWELC2F.html

Tampa:

5/28/07

Hillsborough County FL commissioners protest the state's projected cuts in property taxes as well as passing down to localities the burden of providing for "unfunded mandates."

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBS9F8B82F.html

West Palm Beach:

5/22/07

Florida Governor and Mayor of W. Palm Beach spar with one another in the Mayor's office over the impact of proposed property tax cuts on the city's budget.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/05/22/m1a_frankel_0522.html

Daytona Beach:

5/18/07

Volusia County Veterans Services no longer will give free flags for placement on veterans' graves and many more service curtailments are expected in anticipation of the state's property tax reduction.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02051807.htm

Gainesville:

5/18/07

Gainesville FL's police and medical emergency services would be major targets of budget cuts under anticipated reduction in property taxes.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/LOCAL/705180349

Jacksonville:

5/18/07

Sheriff's and Mayor's offices in Jacksonville FL are in conflict on how much the Sheriff must cut from his budget.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051807/met_170719818.shtml

Orlando

5/18/07

Some "amenities" of development (like wider roads, bus shelters and nature preserves) are threatened for Orange County FL if currently proposed reductions in property taxes go forward.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-mlegacy1807may18,0,3981820.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Volusia Co.:

5/10/07

Anticipating budget shortfall, Volusia County institutes hiring freeze for public employees.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newWEST01051007.htm

Palm Beach Co.:

5/6/07

Palm Beach FL County officials are looking at a crackdown on homestead exemption frauds as a way of helping to deal with shortfalls in county budget.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/05/06/s1a_SWC_HOMESTEAD_0506.html

Jacksonville:

5/3/07

Jacksonville legislator, sidelined by brain surgery, gets a "tribute" day in Tallahassee but sees his cherished project of tax credits for filmmakers who make films in Florida slashed from $200 million to $25 million.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050307/met_167227954.shtml

Orlando:

5/2/07

Central Florida being well served by budget nearing approval in state legislature, with generous funding for schools and for a new system of warnings about impending weather disasters.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-money0207may02,0,1000428.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Daytona Beach:

4/27/07

Volusia County and Daytona Beach officials use their emergency telephone system in a real current "emergency": the prospects of the state legislature passing tax reform legislation that would drastically reduce their ability to raise revenue for local public needs.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02042707.htm

Miami:

4/1/07

Saving a bunlde in property taxes: "It pays to have a good lawyer" says a county appraisal official after a yacht club has just gotten a $778,000 tax break from a Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board which holds quick and secretive hearings that often result in huge reductions in assessments for large corporations.

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/59628.html

Orlando:

3/23/07

Orange County FL officials are considering pro and con the impact of a proposed increase of the state sales tax on the tourist industry.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-loctaxes23032307mar23,0,2868805.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

St. Petersburg:

3/14/07

"Penny for Pinellas" (one cent sales tax) gets another decade of life after a vote in Pinellas County FL.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB9UWO79ZE.html

Martin Co.:

3/6/07

Martin County FL considers instituting fees to people who are furnished assistance by firefighters and other rescue workers.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/treasurecoast/content/local_news/epaper/2007/03/06/m1a_mcfire_0306.html

Daytona Beach:

2/22/07

Plans for a new $5.4 million facility for Volusia County FL lifeguards seems to have survived the austerity budget cuts of the state.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-vbeachpatrol2207feb22,0,7451828.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Orlando:

11/20/06

Orlando's massive public building boom is raising questions about oversight on how and where the money is being spent, and how funding for these projects (arts center, sports complex, convention center, etc.) is to be guaranteed.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-venues2006nov20,0,4404920.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Mt. Dora:

11/6/06

Church in Mt. Dora is a haven for tax evaders, including Wesley Snipes.

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061105/NEWS/211050381/1002

Brevard County:

11/4/06

Some Brevard County residents, facing a referendum for county spending on public parks in upcoming election, are restive about parks already provided for in earlier budgets but not completed.

http://www.flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061104/NEWS01/611040342/1006

Broward County:

10/22/06

Tax payer revolt in Broward County leads many communities there to scale back on planned increases in property taxes.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ctaxesoct22,0,3399167.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Cedar Key:

10/13/06

Bonfire of the desperates: Cedar Key residents hold a bonfire on a vacant piece of property taxed at $7000 per year, symbolizing their complaint that escalating property taxes are driving out any businesses except corporate ones catering to a tourist trade.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/LOCAL/210130355

Ocala:

10/9/06

From 108 to 626: increase from last year in number of homeowners in Marion County applying for "value adjustments," the bulk of those from people who missed deadlines for homestead exemption application and are now faced with huge increases in property taxes.

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061009/NEWS/210090343/1025/news

Tampa:

9/29/06

Citizens demanding tax relief in the Tampa Bay area are having some success in local governments reining in their spending, but at the price of "raiding" some funds to provide for others and foregoing some public services like the half million dollars that Tampa removed from support of domestic violence programs.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/29/Tampabay/Taxpayers__salvos_lea.shtml

Broward County:

9/20/06

In Broward County as elsewhere across Florida, homeowners are demanding property tax cuts to compensate for soaring appraisals of their properties. County Commission reacts to the pressure by trying to find ways to cut expenditures, in many cases by cutting public services like parks and libraries.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15560024.htm

Daytona Beach:

7/18/06

Upswing in tax revenues will permit Daytona Beach to undertake projects to build two new community centers and complete stormwater drainage projects.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST02071806.htm

Gainesville:

7/16/06

Billy: "Mom, could you give me 10 bucks?" Mom: "I just gave you 10 dollars yesterday." Billy (pout). Mom: "Oh, all right." Provost of University of Florida describes the "budgetary system" of some UF departments. http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060715/LOCAL/207150356/1078

St. Petersburg:

7/2/06

Treasure Island, a small resort city near St. Petersburg, joins a national trend and hires federal lobbyists who are successful in getting their congressman to slip an "earmark" item for the town in an appropriations bill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/washington/02earmarks.html?th&emc=th

Tampa:

2/7/06

Major tax increases in Tampa:

http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBHAAFQDJE.html

Other information sources

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