They Are at it Again

Feb-01-2012 Winter Haven News Chief
Leave local taxes to local officials
Apparently members of the Legislature are so determined to cut taxes -- even those imposed by counties on themselves -- that they are willing to cut the legs out from underneath economic development to do it.
Dec-17-2011 Longboat Key News
Town fights to keep, control biz tax
The Longboat Key Town Commission agreed to oppose by resolution Florida House Bill 4025 and Florida Senate Bill 760, which would eliminate the town’s business tax that collects about $165,000 annually.
Dec-10-2011 Naples Daily News
State proposal to eliminate business tax draws protest from local governments
A tax used by local governments to boost revenues could be on the chopping block during the 2012 legislative session.
Nov-29-2011 Orlando Sentinel
Give cities the power to shore up pensions
Earlier this year, Florida legislators started making state employees contribute to their pensions. That strengthened the state's biggest public pension plan, and made it fairer for the taxpayers who subsidize pensions.
Nov-12-2011 Walton Sun
Tax proposal worries PCB officials
PANAMA CITY BEACH — An anti-tax proposal up for consideration during next year’s state legislative session has Panama City Beach officials worried.
Nov-09-2011 News Serice of Florida
Rep. Weinstein Bill Aims to Limit Impact Fees on Development
Cities and counties would be barred from enacting transportation or school impact fees until mid-2015 under a measure filed Tuesday by a Jacksonville Republican.
Oct-25-2011 St. Petersburg Times
Florida tax incentive programs creating 1 out of every 3 jobs promised
Florida has given tax breaks and other cash incentives to some of the world's biggest companies in return for creating jobs...But only about one-third of those jobs have been filled while the state has paid out 43 percent of the contracts.
Oct-04-2011 The Current
Senate committee takes step toward defining unfunded mandates on cities, counties
A Senate committee agreed Tuesday to introduce a bill to address the thorny issue of unfunded mandates on local governments.
Sep-10-2011 New York Times
Florida Forces Cities to Pull Local Laws Restricting Guns
The signs — “No Guns Allowed” — are being stripped from many Florida government buildings, libraries and airports. And local ordinances that bar people from shooting weapons in their yards, firing up into the air (think New Year’s Eve) or taking...
Aug-01-2011 The Miami Herald
New State Law: Cities Can't Ban Guns in Parks, Town Hall
Under a new law that takes effect Oct. 1, all of the state’s cities and counties must repeal local rules limiting gun ownership. Although the state has claimed sole right to regulate firearms since 1987, this year’s new law adds fines for local...
Jul-01-2011 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Local Laws Fighting Fat Under Siege
Several state legislatures are passing laws that prohibit municipalities and other local governments from adopting regulations aimed at curbing rising obesity and improving public health, such as requiring restaurants to provide nutritional...
Jun-01-2011 Panama City News Herald
PCB to oppose EPA efforts
PANAMA CITY BEACH — The City Council is opposing a move by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose stricter nutrient emission standards in Florida waterways that seek to return surface water quality to “before the Indians were here,”...
May-28-2011 Orlando Sentinel
Cities to be blocked from cracking down on short-term rentals
Beginning this week, cities won't be allowed to impose any new rules against short-term rentals. That's good news for residents across South Florida who rent property to tourists, but other residents describe the rentals as party homes and...
May-26-2011 Tampa Tribune
Property tax implosion
Rigid policies designed to protect homeowners statewide from rapidly inflating taxes are continuing to do their work in the housing recession. Owners of thousands of properties now owe nothing to help support local governments.
Apr-21-2011 Sunshine State News
Compromise Reached on Local Business Tax
House Bill 311 aimed to block cities and counties from expanding their business license taxes to a vast cadre of license-holding employees.
Apr-19-2011 Beach Beacon
North Redington opposes rent bill
NORTH REDINGTON BEACH – Town commissioners expressed opposition April 14 to a proposed state bill that would prohibit local governments from regulating, restricting or prohibiting vacation rentals based solely on classification or use.
Apr-18-2011 Palm Beach Post
Bills to lower property taxes gaining momentum in Tallahassee
Out-of-state investors, business owners and first-time home buyers could pay far less in property taxes under bills gaining momentum in the Florida Legislature.
Apr-14-2011 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Environmentalists call 2011 'worst year' for protection
Signaling major rollbacks in Florida's development permitting and water quality rules, a series of bills loathed by environmentalists and lauded by business leaders moved close to final passage in the Florida Legislature Thursday.
Apr-12-2011 Orlando Sentinel
Lawmakers working to approve a state spending cap
House lawmakers are advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that has already cleared the Senate to put new limits on the power of future legislators to tax and spend
Apr-11-2011 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Legislature continues its power grab
Midway through the state's annual lawmaking season, the GOP-led Legislature continues moving to seize power from the governor, the courts, local government, even from the people who elected the legislators.

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