COUNTY 

News 4 Jax 

St. Johns County submits $1.27 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 

Budget includes $169 million for capital improvement plan, $25 million for emergency response reserves 

 

Florida Politics 

‘That’s some significant savings”: Ron DeSantis promotes back to school sales tax holiday 

Certain school supplies, clothes, shoes and computers will be tax-free in August. 

 

Wink News  

Lee County to host expo to boost hurricane readiness  

Lee County is gearing up for the peak of hurricane season with a focus on preparation and safety. 

 

PROPERTY TAXES 

The Florida-Times Union 

Jacksonville City Council will assess property tax rate cut 

Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico and several council members say it’s time for the city to offer some property tax relief, but City Council has not yet set any specific target for what that might mean for this year’s tax bills. 

 

The Capitolist 

Poll: Nearly Half of Florida Republicans Cite Housing Costs, Property Taxes as Top Concern  

Property taxes and housing-related costs have become a defining political issue among Florida Republicans heading into the 2026 election cycle, according to a University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll released last week. 

 

DOGE 

Orlando Sentinel 

Florida DOGE plans to audit Orange County  

Orange County is in Florida’s auditing crosshairs, with Mayor Jerry Demings receiving notice that the so-called state Department of Governmental Efficiency, or DOGE, intends to examine its spending in person next week. 

 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING  

Click Orlando 

This is what’s driving Florida’s affordable housing crisis 

Dr. Owen Beitsch discusses factors that make housing more expensive 

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

Route-Fifty 

Trump’s AI Action Plan targets states with ‘burdensome’ regulations  

The new roadmap recommends cutting off federal funding for states if they are deemed to be stifling innovation. Opponents say it’s the 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations under a different name.