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Studio 67FAC News Clips – November 3, 2025
COUNTY
Community Newspaper
County passes composting legislation to advance local climate resilience
County Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ legislation to allow environmentally responsible, community-based composting operations to legally operate in the county was adopted recently by the Miami-Dade County Commission.
LEGISLATION
The Destin Log
Florida Senate leader pushes aid for struggling rural counties
Michelangelo took four years to paint the Sistine Chapel. Senate President Ben Albritton is going to need at least two years to finish his own masterpiece – a set of policies known as the Rural Renaissance.
Click Orlando
Here is every new Florida law passed this year, explained
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the latest Legislative session, there are hundreds of new laws that have either taken effect or are planned to next year.
Florida Politics
Lawmakers rev up safety rules for e-bikes with new bill
Experts have warned that infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the growing popularity of e-bikes.
FAC News Clips – October 31, 2025
COUNTY
Daytona Beach News Journal
5 haunted places in, near Volusia, Flagler counties
A prolific writer who travels backroads and brings to life quirky communities and historic sites across Florida has broken down 28 of the Sunshine State’s haunted hamlets.
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County talks 2026 legislative priorities. What’s on the list?
In preparation for the 2026 legislative session, the Leon County Commission met to approve their wish lists – a mix of funding requests and legislative priorities that elected leaders hope their lobbyists will deliver for the county.
Florida National News
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – Orange County leaders broke ground today on Osprey Sound, a new 100-unit affordable apartment community for seniors located at 5453 Rio Grande Avenue.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Fox 4
Collier County weighs options to raise $305M for stormwater upgrades
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Collier County leaders are exploring ways to raise $305 million to fix aging stormwater systems, and the cost could come from residents’ wallets. County officials say funding could come through a sales tax increase or a new stormwater utility fee.
Hometown News Volusia
Volusia County Council advances five flood mitigation initiatives
The Volusia County Council approved five flood-mitigation initiatives during its Oct. 21 meeting, furthering efforts to reduce neighborhood flooding and strengthen community resilience across the county.
PROPERTY TAXES
Tampa Bay Times
Do most of Florida’s property taxes come from vacation homes, businesses?
PolitiFact | 64% of Florida’s property tax revenue is collected from properties that aren’t homeowners’ primary residences, studies show.
Tallahassee Democrats
GOP tax fight in Florida intensifies ahead of 2026 ballot
‘It offends me that they think somehow they could get away with this.’
WLRN
How local services could be slashed if Florida’s property taxes are cut or eliminated
Property taxes have been skyrocketing, as the values of most homes have doubled or even tripled in recent years.
DOGE
Florida Politics
‘You are being overtaxed’: Blaise Ingoglia says Miami-Dade’s yearly budget is $300M too much
‘This is the biggest number we have seen in raw dollars in the state of Florida.’
FAC News Clips – October 30, 2025
COUNTY
Orlando Sentinel
Florida county considers changing name from Broward to Lauderdale
Broward voters could be asked in the 2026 election if they want to change the name of the county to “Lauderdale County.”
My News 13
Orange County leaders seek assistance if SNAP is suspended
ORLANDO, Fla. — As we enter week five of the government shutdown, local leaders are hoping to address the fallout that has come with it.
WLRN
Miami-Dade mayor asks for donations as nearly 1 in 4 county residents set to lose SNAP benefits
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava made a public appeal for donations Wednesday as nearly a quarter of Miami-Dade County households are set to lose SNAP benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
PROPERTY TAXES
The Apopka Voice
Florida County Association warns property tax cut proposals could gut local budgets
County officials say plans to slash or eliminate nonschool property taxes could reduce revenue by 40%, threatening essential services like roads, water, and public safety
Around Osceola
Osceola’s legislators—and the Governor— weigh in on property tax reform
DeSantis pushed for one broad bill at Sunday Kissimmee appearance
Panama City News Herald
DeSantis’ property tax change could further limit cities, counties
‘When the state controls the purse, (local) flexibility is gone,’ one tax policy expert says.
The Bradenton Times
DeSantis says he wants just one constitutional amendment on property taxes in 2026
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking at the University of South Florida campus in Tampa on Oct. 29, 2025 (photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)TAMPA —Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to jab at House Republicans over property taxes on Wednesday and insisted that voters should be given just one proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul the system instead of multiple proposals.
Florida Politics
Byron Donalds is ‘supportive’ of Gov. DeSantis’ desire to cut property taxes, wants more details
Questions remain.
DOGE
Click Orlando
Florida CFO Ingoglia thanks Seminole County, drops tax scuffle
County officials responded to accusations of overspending by millions
LEGISLATION
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Volusia residents, officials urge lawmakers to repeal parts of SB 180
DELAND − State legislators knew going into a public meeting they would hear an earful about a law they enacted last spring, taking away control of growth and development from local governments at a time when neighborhoods across Volusia County have experienced flooding.
FAC News Clips – October 29, 2025
COUNTY
Florida Politics
Orange County is helping people plan their wills and get out of medical debt
Using grant money and the leftover federal COVID stimulus funds, the county is trying to help residents.
Click Orlando
Seminole County prioritizes projects for $250M in penny sales tax revenue
Commissioners presented with list of potential projects that funds could go towards
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Smart Cities Dive
FEMA delays $11B in reimbursements as states brace for tighter disaster budgets
The agency’s shifting of payments into the next fiscal year highlights mounting financial pressure and uncertainty for states counting on federal aid, the National Association of Counties says.
WDBO
Brevard County leaders do not expect federal aid after historic flooding
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Despite northern Brevard County experiencing some of the worst flooding in years, county leaders said they did not get enough flooding to qualify for federal disaster cleanup programs.
LEGISLATION
My Suncoast
Legislators looking at ‘tweaks’ to Florida’s growth law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WWSB) – State legislators are discussing the possibility of revising a new law that has drawn legal challenges because it blocks cities and counties from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to growth plans.
PROPERTY TAXES
News 4 Jax
Poll finds housing costs ranked most important problem facing Florida, division over property taxes
CFPM
Fearing property tax cuts by state, Winter Park opts against giving extra to nonprofits
This story is part of the News Collaborative of Central Florida, an initiative of independent local news outlets working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.
FAC News Clips – October 23, 2025
COUNTY
Palm Beach Post
FPL burying power lines underground in Palm Beach County
FPL’s Storm Secure Program is protecting homeowners from losing power during storms by moving power lines underground.
WJHG
Bay County preparing for possible $30 million FEMA clawback
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Bay County has spent the last seven years rebuilding after Hurricane Michael — and that recovery came with a big price tag.
Fox 35
Repainting crosswalks cost Seminole County taxpayers tens of thousands
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Some Seminole County residents aren’t in support of repainting the county’s green crosswalks, black and white – and using over $31,000 in taxpayer dollars to do so.
CNW
Miami-Dade County launches all-electric Bus Rapid Transit system
Miami-Dade County officially unveiled its new Metro Express Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, set to begin service on Monday, October 27.
Citrus County Chronicle
CItrus County clears path for 2026 road tax referendum
A plan to ask voters in 2026 to approve a one-cent sales tax for road improvements in Citrus County took a major step forward at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County board approves funding for affordable housing
Orange County Commissioners will allocate $58.5 million over the next three years to help build and preserve thousands of affordable housing units as part of the county’s ongoing effort to combat the housing crisis.
PROPERTY TAXES
WFTV
Florida may cut property taxes, but homeowners could still pay
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are pressing on with their push to cut property taxes in some form, promising assistance that would both streamline government and alleviate the state’s growing affordability crisis.
DOGE
Spectrum News
Seminole County leaders dispute wasteful spending claims
SANFORD, Fla. — It has been two weeks since Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia accused Seminole County of wastefully spending $48 million.
FAC News Clips – October 22, 2025
COUNTY
Midflorida Newspaper
County awarded $7.5 Million to hire 36 new firefighters
Lake County Fire Rescue (LCFR) has been awarded $7.5 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA. This funding will go towards hiring 36 new firefighters.
Florida Politics
Citrus County Commissioners give nod to 2026 sales tax referendum
‘Keep it simple. Get it on the ballot’
DOGE
Your Observer
Manatee County commissioner calls DOGE audit ‘accurate’
Commissioner Bob McCann said it’s time to “tighten the belt and cut some people loose.”
LEGISLATION
Daytona Beach News Journal
Deltona backs out of SB180 Florida lawsuit
Deltona city commissioners voted 4-3 on Monday night, Oct. 20, to withdraw from a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 180, a law that opponents say gives builders the power to override tough development regulations.
PROPERTY TAXES
Fox 35
Lawmakers in several states pursuing property tax reform measures
As property taxes continue to climb across the country, lawmakers in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas are looking for ways to provide property tax relief to homeowners, while Montana has established property tax relief.
Florida’s Voice
JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis is full-steam ahead on abolishing property taxes for Florida homeowners’ primary residence