COUNTY 

Bradenton Herald 

Manatee County pauses hiring amid budget and tax uncertainty  

A Manatee County Government hiring freeze in effect for the past six months is impacting county services as local officials brace for major budget changes. 

  

Bradenton Herald 

Volusia County sets preliminary tax rates. Higher bills ahead? 

Despite about a 5% drop in the overall Volusia County budget, tax bills are likely to increase for some residents this year. 

  

Bradenton Herald 

Volusia launches first-of-its-kind domestic abuser list in Florida  

DELAND – A public database that will put information about domestic violence offenders online received 6-1 approval from the Volusia County Council on July 21. 

  

PROPERTY TAXES 

Bradenton Herald 

Florida county would be hardest-hit by Amendment 3 property-tax reform  

St. Lucie County government will be the hardest-hit economically in the state if voters approve a statewide property-tax reform measure in November designed to give homeowners a tax break. 

 

Miami Times Online 

Amendment 3 can pass — but only if voters never learn what it does, new UNF poll finds 

New polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows Amendment 3 has a narrow path to passage on Florida’s General Election ballot this November — but this is contingent almost entirely on voters not knowing what the measure would do to local budgets. 

 

Tallahassee Democrat 

Florida firefighters join fight against Amendment 3 tax cut 

They said they cannot support ‘a proposal that could jeopardize the services Floridians depend on every day.’ 

 

TC Palm 

Florida tax reform might mean firefighter layoffs or service cuts 

Martin County Fire Rescue stands to lose $16.5 million over two years. 

 

Florida Politics 

‘You can’t harm them’: Jay Collins wants a grant program for Florida’s fiscally constrained counties 

Without a state backstop, the ‘math is very challenging’ for them. 

 

DATA CENTERS 

Wind FM 

Marion County Commissioners Schedule Data Center Workshop Amid Strong Public Opposition 

OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to schedule a workshop on data centers for Sept.   

 

LEGISLATION 

Click Orlando 

Here are all of the failed amendments in Florida this year 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Over 200 new laws were approved this year in Florida, though many other bills failed to pass the Legislature.