COUNTY  

WMFE
Orange County commissioners to take up proposed $6 billion budget 

Orange County commissioners are beginning deliberations Wednesday on a proposed $6 billion budget.  The budget is about $444 million less than the current year’s budget.  It is based on mostly robust economic projections, including an anticipated $275 million in tourism development tax collections.  That number had shrunk to $167 million during the 2019-2020 fiscal year because of the coronavirus pandemic.  

 

Tampa Bay Times  

Pasco commissioners keep property tax rates the same so expect a bigger bill 

DADE CITY — Pasco County commissioners gave their initial nod Tuesday to keep the same property tax rate for operating expenses next year, which means many homeowners will see their bills rise. The operating property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year would stay at 7.6 mills or $7.60 in property tax for each $1,000 in appraised taxable property value, the same as in the current fiscal year.  

 

WCJB 

Marion County commissioners will meet and hear budget proposals from Sheriff Billy Woods 

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – The Marion County Commission will hear budget proposals from Sheriff Billy Woods and other county officers on Wednesday. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. This will be day three of the 2022-23 budget special workshop series. It will be held at the County Commission Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Ave in Ocala. 

 

Tampa Bay 10 

Hillsborough County to vote on possible increase in property taxes 

The county says the funds will support the local school system. 

 

Charlotte News Sun 

Impact fee changes coming for county residents 

PORT CHARLOTTE — Impact fee changes are on the way for Charlotte County residents, but commissioners agreed not to increase all categories. Impact fees raise millions of dollars for capital projects like roads, libraries, parks and fire stations. A full increase to each of the six categories could almost double the impact fee costs for a single-family home. 

 

CBS 12 News 

Palm Beach County Mayor: Taxpayers need a break 

WEST PALM BEACH, FL/CBS12 — Palm Beach County taxpayers may get some relief from high property taxes. County Mayor Robert Weinroth is concerned that taxable property values are increasing due to soaring home prices in Palm Beach County. The county property appraiser says chances are, homeowners in Palm Beach County will see a hike of 3-percent to 10-percent in their property taxes. 

 

ABC7 

Lee County looking at ways to limit seagrass, algae overloading Cape Coral canals 

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Clumps of seagrass and green algae are popping up in a southeast Cape Coral freshwater canal. Neighbors on SE 6th Ave said over the years, they’ve seen random things floating on the surface of the San Carlos canal. But over the past few months, the clumps have only gotten bigger and smellier. Now, boat rides and kayaking are out of the question. 

 

Tampa Bay 10 

Pasco County firefighters continue to push for cancer payout 

They say the county isn’t honoring legislation that entitles a $25,000 cash payout for firefighters diagnosed with cancer. 

 

Fox4  

Collier County Commissioners want public hearing over beach smoking ban 

NAPLES, Fla. — Collier County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday for a public hearing over a possible smoking ban on public beaches and parks. The meeting is slated for either late October or early November. It comes after a new state law went into effect July 1st – the Florida Clean Air Act – that gives local cities and counties across the state the choice of banning the smoking of any kind on the beaches and parks that they own, except for unfiltered cigars. 

 

MyPanhandle.com  

Panama City commissioners consider public boat ramp ordinance 

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Private boat owners are asking commissioners to regulate activity at city boat ramps and parks. They said charter boats and small watercraft rental businesses are blocking access to the ramps and taking up the parking spaces. City officials are considering a plan to prohibit commercial use on boat ramps and city parks without permits. 

 

Fort Myers Beach Talk 

DEP names Lee County best recycler in state 

Lee County Solid Waste has been named Florida’s top recycling county by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).The amount of material Lee County residents recycled in 2021 would be enough to fill 168 football fields with material 70 feet high – as high as the highest point on the Sanibel Causeway. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Miami Herald 

‘There’s no place to move that’s affordable.’ Parents share rent woes with Miami-Dade mayor  

While children were downstairs playing house and building wooden train tracks, mothers from across Miami-Dade gathered in a conference room and vented about their affordable housing struggles. A childcare worker had to leave her lifelong dream behind to afford her Liberty City rent. A family in Homestead found a place to call home, but gun violence in the neighborhood has them carefully plotting when their three children can step outside.  

 

South Florida Times 

In Miami, ‘Epicenter’ of affordable housing crisis, federal and local officials say relief is imminent 

Miami – A federal housing chief got a closer look at the affordable housing crisis in South Florida and outlined President Biden administration’s plan to bring relief to local areas where thousands of people are struggling to find places to live. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge, who called Miami the “epicenter” of the affordable housing crisis throughout the nation, went on a two-day tour last week accompanied by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and other officials from areas hit hardest by the affordable housing crunch. 

 

SpectrumNews9 

Pinellas homeless shelter converting to affordable housing 

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County’s largest homeless shelter is converting to affordable housing in October. The announcement comes today at Grace House in Clearwater, a property of Hope Villages of America. President and CEO Kirk Ray Smith says the new affordable housing properties will help struggling families afford a place to live, and may help prevent homelessness. 

 

BROADBAND 

Route-Fifty.com 

How State and Local Leaders Can Use Data to Ensure Broadband Access for All 

COMMENTARY | To maximize the $65 billion in federal funds available to expand high-speed internet, governments must first identify the biggest barriers to access in their communities. A lasting image from early in the pandemic is of two students sitting on the curb in a fast-food restaurant parking lot, using the restaurant’s Wi-Fi to complete their schoolwork. The pandemic exposed how much our lives have moved online—from work to education to health care to government services—and the deep divide between those with and without internet access. 

 

CYBERSECURITY 

Governing.com  

How Much Cyber Insurance Governments Need Depends on Risk 

Purchasing cyber defenses, training and insurance are budgeting decisions — and financial officers need number-driven risk models that show them how far each investment may go toward reducing risks of financial losses from cyber incidents. Cybersecurity and cyber insurance aren’t just IT decisions — they’re finance department ones, too, according to a new report from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and Center for Digital Government (CDG)*. 

 

Route-Fifty.com  

A State Turns to Its National Guard to Provide Cybersecurity Training to Local Governments 

Along with the state budget’s passage on Friday came the signing of dozens of bills by Gov. Tom Wolf addressing subjects from energy and the environment to public safety and military affairs.  Among the legislation signed into law was House Bill 2412, a cybersecurity bill introduced by the House’s Cybersecurity Caucus chairs, state Reps. Craig Williams and Valerie Gaydos. The bill authorizes the governor to order the Pennsylvania National Guard to support state and local government entities with cybersecurity support, training, exercises and more. 

 

ACROSS THE COUNT(R)Y 

Bradenton Herald 

Metros with the most people without basic plumbing service, including piped drinking water and a toilet  

More than 2 million people in the United States live in homes without running water or basic plumbing. From New York City to the Navajo Nation, people across the country are facing climate-driven water scarcity, exorbitant utility bills, aging or incomplete infrastructure, community disinvestment, and political inertia, all of which limit or completely cut off access to essential water resources. America’s water gap exacts a significant price on the well-being of individuals and the overall economy.