"Quit stepping on our toes. Stop meddling in our local affairs," Seijas said. "You have plenty to do in fixing the state of Florida."

City and county governments are hoping the state’s improved financial picture will give them some breathing room and quell a recent trend in Tallahassee to place limits on how local governments can raise revenue and how that money can be spent.

Now, under a new Florida law that was supposed to help charities, a handful of these wealthy developers are getting another lucrative benefit. They have found a way to move dozens of apartment complexes off the property tax rolls, saving themselves...

As Congress and the president wrestle with solving the so-called fiscal cliff crisis, one particular issue should be of serious concern to local and middle-class taxpayers.