COUNTY  

Pensacola News Journal 

Santa Rosa County new courthouse at Avalon Boulevard opening September  

The courtrooms are full of glossy wooden benches, American flags stand gracefully behind the judges’ seats and a fresh aroma fills each nook and cranny of the new Santa Rosa County courthouse. 

 

My Panhandle  

Southport silo controversy continues  

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — The Bay County Commission heard both sides of the Southport silo controversy at a nearly seven hour meeting on Tuesday. 

 

Miami Today 

Doral incinerator location might get a second look 

The location of a new Miami-Dade waste-to-energy incinerator plant, currently set to be constructed in the City of Doral, may be revised in the future. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Hillsborough expanded its free health care plan — but few are biting 

In December, Hillsborough County commissioners unanimously voted to expand the county’s health care plan, a safety net for the vulnerable set of residents who don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid yet make too little to afford marketplace insurance. 

 

Miami Today 

The lowdown on 17-acre county downtown mega-project 

Miami-Dade County has unveiled features of its much-anticipated downtown redevelopment project, for which the county is offering about 17 acres of county-owned land, branded as MetroCenter, in the heart of the 28 acres that serve as the seat of the local government. 

 

Miami Today 

30% shade cover in county’s urban areas sought by 2032  

Miami-Dade County staff is preparing a plan to create a 30% urban tree canopy in the area by 2032. The plan is to address inequities in urban canopy coverage in low-income communities, strategies to collaborate with non-government entities, and find funding sources. 

 

TC Palm 

Indian River County Commissioners hopeful for Sebastian annexation  

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Talks with Sebastian over the city’s proposed annexation of 1,984 acres of former citrus land are proceeding well enough that the County Commission took a mostly optimistic approach to discussing the effort Tuesday. 

 

Tampa Bay Times  

Term limits for Pinellas commissioners won’t make fall ballot  

A citizen-led effort to get a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot asking whether to impose term limits on the Pinellas County Commission did not obtain the signatures needed in time to get the measure in front of voters this year. 

 

Fox 4 

$1.3M allocated for shade structures throughout county parks  

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Lee County commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract that will result in new shade canopies constructed at 10 area parks and recreational facilities. 

 

PROPERTY TAXES  

Florida Today  

Brevard County Commission won’t block BPS property tax increase vote  

A move by County Commissioner John Tobia to block the Brevard County School Board from placing a proposed tax increase on the November ballot failed at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, but the commission will move forward with a referendum that could allow School Board members to be recalled. 

 

Fox 4  

Commissioners want to lower property taxes in next year’s budget  

LEE COUNTY, Fla.  — Lee County commissioners are planning to lower your property taxes in next year’s budget. The flip side to that — it’ll come out of the County’s reserve fund, which is like a rainy day fund. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Positively Osceola  

Commissioner Cheryl Grieb Presents $500,000 to Hope Partnership for local hotel conversion, affordable housing project  

Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb presented a $500,000 check to Rev. Mary Lee Downey of Hope Partnership on Tuesday, that will be used to assist in the conversion of a local existing hotel into affordable apartments for low-income residents. 

 

Florida Politics 

Realtors sue to have Orange County’s rent control measure tossed from ballot  

Realtors and apartment owners have sued to get Orange County’s rent control measure thrown off the November General Election ballot.