News & Notes Archives

FAC Releases 2009 Preliminary Property Tax Report

Property taxes reduced by more than $1.5 billion over three years

On October 6, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) presented the 2009 County Property Tax Report to the Florida House Military and Local Affairs Committee. The report summarizes the reductions that counties have made across the state - more than $700 million this year alone - and where counties fall in relationship to the mandated rollback rate - 58 counties at or below the rollback rate.

Sen. Bennett talks of filing new growth management legislation

Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham made a presentation to the Senate Community Affairs Committee during the recent legislative committee week regarding the agency’s implementation of SB 360 (Growth Management).

This was the first time the Secretary spoke to a legislative committee since the bill was signed into law in early July.

Questions regarding water reclassification? FAC has the answers

FAC has developed a fact sheet related to one of the water quality issues discussed during the FAC Policy Conference. As discussed, DEP is currently taking a look at Florida’s system for classifying waterbodies and assigning designated uses to those waters. As this issue has developed, FAC has received questions from some commissioners and staff. Read More

DCA proposes rule development on land use requirements

The Florida Department of Community Affairs is proposing a rule development on land use. In case your county has not yet received the information you can access it here.

First is a Notice of Proposed Rule Development relating to the land use “needs assessment” requirements of Ch. 163. According to DCA, the purpose of the proposed rule amendment is “to provide greater detail and explanation relating to the statutory requirements that the future land use element be based upon the amount of land required to accommodate anticipated growth and the projected population of the area."

FAC Regional Webinar: Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR)

November 5, 2009 * 9:00am-12:00 pm (EST)
UF-IFAS Extension/Research Offices in Alachua, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Okaloosa and St. Lucie

On November 5, FAC will bring together a group of experts from across the country to discuss TABOR.

What is TABOR? Why should I care? Sounds good to me.

TABOR is a tax proposal that would place caps on state and local government revenue. For those that think government spending is ‘out of control’ this type of policy sounds perfect but for others it sounds too good to be true.