News

Our Cities in Action

Jul-17-2010 Palm Beach Post
Wellington ranked No. 72 in Money magazine's list of top U.S. cities
Low crime and high scholastic scores are among the calculable reasons the village snagged the 72nd spot on Money magazine's ranking of the nation's 100 best places to live.
Jul-12-2010 Florida Today
Titusville considers regulating pain clinics in city
The city council will decide Tuesday whether to take the first step to regulate pain-management clinics that could be improperly distributing prescription drugs.
Jul-06-2010 Palm Beach Post
Royal Palm Beach proposes symbolic drop in tax rate, plans to draw from reserves to balance rising budget
Royal Palm Beach leaders say a 2006 decision to sell Royal Palm Beach's water utility to Palm Beach County is saving the day. The village now has $60 million in reserves and is proposing to take...
Jun-30-2010 Jackson County Floridian
Chattahoochee sees economy perking up
One new business opened six weeks ago, another one is expected to begin a little later this summer, and an old eyesore is being cleared away.
Jun-20-2010 Historic City News
Masonic cemetery in Palm Coast restored
St. Augustine Heritage Director Dana Ste. Claire joined Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and City of Palm Coast Landscape Architect Bill Butler to pay tribute to this project at a rededication ceremony.
Jun-20-2010 The News Sun
Yes to a gurgle, splash and spray
Work will soon be under way on Sebring's streetscaping project around Historic Circle, and the resurfacing of downtown streets.
Jun-18-2010 City of Tampa
Tampa Offers Free Skateboarding in Honor of Go Skateboarding Day
In honor of National Go Skateboarding Day the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department is offering free skating boarding from 8 p.m. - midnight on June 21 at the New Tampa Community Skate Park,...
Jun-17-2010 News Chief
Winter Haven acquires lot for new Lake Conine park
This week, the Winter Haven City Commission unanimously approved the purchase of a vacant lot to provide secondary access to the proposed 33-acre Lake Conine Nature Park and a path for stormwater...
Jun-17-2010 Palm Beach Post
Riviera Beach to begin 18-month facelift for A1A
Road beautification work is about to begin along State Road A1A.
Jun-16-2010 Daytona Beach News-Journal
Drive starts to renovate kids' park in Ormond Beach
A fund drive for a facelift is under way, and the city has agreed to match up to $40,000 in contributions for renovations and upgrades that could begin as early as next fall.
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They're At it Again

Jul-03-2010 Naples Daily News
Governor candidate McCollum’s tax freeze not warmly received by cities
It’s an unnecessary step. That’s how some local government officials describe a proposal to freeze property tax rates for two years.
Jul-02-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida taxpayers foot bill to shore up state pension
Starting this week, the state increased by about 10 percent the amount it and local governments set aside for the pensions of government workers, police officers, teachers and judges. Meanwhile, Florida remains one of only five states that don'...
Jun-30-2010 Gainesville Sun
Opinion: Property tax "time out" would hinder local self-government
A “time out” so that state government can once again meddle in local affairs instead of tending to pressing statewide issues?
Jun-09-2010 WJHG Panama City
Florida Mayors Want Relief From The Legislature
The mayors thanked lawmakers who fought legislation that would have required cities to cough up more cash for services, without additional state funding.
Apr-25-2010 Tampa Tribune
Lawmaking at its 'worst'
After 12 years of being involved with growth management issues in Florida, I think this legislative session has got to be the worst.
Mar-25-2010 Tampa Tribune
End unfunded mandates
"Unfunded mandates" is an unusual term for most people. Yet unfunded mandates affect all Floridians, which is why we believe it's important that they be stopped.
Mar-24-2010 Capitol News Service
Cities, Counties Fight Mandates
Mayors and County Commissioners say unfunded mandates like those on courts, pensions, and health care are breaking their banks. Tallahassee Mayor John Marks says the mandates are making it hard for the city to balance it’s dwindling budget.
Mar-02-2010 Florida Times-Union
Florida should keep its hands off local governments' budgets
Speaking of budget cuts and the slide to mediocrity, a bill has been introduced in the Senate that would destroy the concept of home rule for local governments.
Feb-18-2010 Palm Beach Post
South Florida mayors decry mandates from state lawmakers
ATLANTIS — Florida mayors don't want state legislators calling the shots for their cities through unfunded mandates and other measures that infringe on their powers of home rule.
Feb-18-2010 South Florida Business Journal
Frustrated mayors take aim at Tallahassee
Frustrated over what they view as too many unfunded mandates coming out of the state capital, Florida’s mayors are shoving back with a new public awareness campaign.
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Stay Informed

Jul-18-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Amendment 4: A Tojan Horse that will cost Florida jobs.
This November, Floridians will have the opportunity to vote "no" on Amendment 4 - a Trojan Horse measure that will leave tens of thousands of working-class men and women without a job.
Jul-13-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
City employees portrayed wrongly in pension story
he June 25 article on municipal pension shortfalls was incomplete and so "pro-management" that it was unfair to municipal employees. Here are three critical factors that the article never addressed:
Jul-11-2010 Miami Herald
Letter to the Editor: Initiative would hurt growth
Amendment 4 will stifle growth and adversely affect our state unlike any other ballot initiative in recent memory.
Jul-10-2010 Daytona Beach News-Journal
Growth isn't the villain
Those in favor of Amendment 4 say this is in response to the wild unchecked growth we have experienced.
Jul-08-2010 Florida Today
Ballot measure targets cities
Space Coast cities face big potential changes, starting with the fall ballot.
Jul-08-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Redistricting amendment tossed from ballot
A Leon County circuit judge today struck from the ballot Amendment 7, the Legislature’s redistricting amendment aimed at undermining the Fair Districts proposals to create standards in drawing legislative and congressional lines.
Jul-06-2010 Orlando Sentinel
Mount Dora employees to present alternative pension plan as City Council prepares to pass final ordinance
City workers say they will pack a meeting tonight to urge City Council members not to move forward on changing their retirement plan.
Jul-03-2010 Naples Daily News
POLL Governor candidate McCollum’s tax freeze not warmly received by cities
NAPLES — It’s an unnecessary step. That’s how some local government officials describe a proposal to freeze property tax rates for two years.
Jun-24-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Some pension reforms in South Florida
Local governments that have imposed pension cuts or are considering doing so include:
Jun-24-2010 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida cities begin slashing pension costs
Once they were considered a sacred perk for public sector employees.But pensions have morphed into an albatross for many municipalities...
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