COUNTY 

Orlando Sentinel 

Lake board approve school property tax for November ballot 

A proposed property tax increase to help Lake County schools will be on the November ballot after the Lake County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to let voters decide if they want to pay more to boost teacher salaries. 

 

Fox 13 

Polk County launches one-year pilot program to combat illegal dumping  

HAINES CITY, Fla. – Illegal dumping has been on the rise over the past few years in Polk County, and now, the county is testing a customer convenience center to fight the problem. 

 

Orlando Weekly 

Orange County accepting applications for film incentive program  

Qualified TV commercial and filmmakers can now apply to receive a partial rebate on productions filmed in Orange County — home to the so-called “Most Magical Place on Earth” — by applying for a new film incentive program launched by the county on Tuesday. 

 

PROPERTY TAXES 

When In Your State 

Florida’s property tax plans remain all over the map as officials weigh costs, funding, and political pressure 

Florida leaders have spent more than a year discussing major property tax cuts, with proposals evolving across political circles, yet no clear, unified plan has been agreed upon by state officials. 

 

Miami Times Online 

Ron DeSantis expects ‘entrenched interests’ to mobilize against property tax vote  

Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to excuse the ongoing delays in releasing what seemed months ago to be a clean plan to eliminate homestead property taxes via constitutional amendment. 

 

Florida Traffic 

7 states pushing to eliminate property taxes in 2026  

Property taxes have long been one of the most frustrating ongoing costs of homeownership.   

 

GRANTS 

Lake O News 

EPA announces $4.8 million to protect waterways from sewage overflows in Florida 

ATLANTA — This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced, on April 30, the availability of approximately $80 million through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs.  

 

TECHNOLOGY 

Route-Fifty 

With driverless cars a reality, what can cities do to prepare for them?  

Speakers at the Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas last week said the shift from pilot programs to implementation has accelerated in the last year, and will keep doing so. 

 

Route-Fifty 

How libraries can help the public engage with AI and their local government 

With a better understanding of the technology, residents could be more trusting of and engaged with government’s use of AI. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Florida Politics 

Legislature passes Ron DeSantis’ Republican-friendly congressional map 

The map could net Republicans 4 seats in the U.S. House.