2017-18 state budget – Page 11

Sadowski Coalition seeks full funding for affordable housing in state budget

Published on March 2, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Affordable housing advocates urged the Legislature Thursday to spend all of the state’s dedicated housing money for its intended purpose, saying that more than 910,000 Floridians pay more than half their income for shelter. Representatives of the Sadowski Housing Coalition — including Associated Industries of Florida, AARP, the Florida Realtors Association, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida Home Builders Association — appeared during a news conference to make their case. Carrie O’Rourke, of the realtors’ group, said it…

Keep Reading

House Transportation and Tourism panel begins vetting member projects

Published on February 22, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The House Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee began voting on nearly $500 million in member project bills Wednesday, as its chairman warned that the panel’s approval does not guaratee a project will make it into the final House budget bill. “Our point here is to try to vet these to the extent we can in the time that we have,” Rep. Clay Ingram told committee members. “As we pass or don’t pass them, it doesn’t mean they are going to…

Keep Reading

Senate may balk at Rick Scott’s plan to hit hospitals over charity care

Published on February 15, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursement payments to profitable hospitals that stint on charity care may run into trouble in the Senate. During hearings Wednesday before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, members including Chairwoman Anitere Flores raised objections. “The governor’s office has made some assumptions, based on the fact that some hospitals are very profitable, that they can afford a cut,” Flores said following the meeting. “I’m hearing very different things from our local hospitals,” she…

Keep Reading

A cordial House reception for Scott’s budget, despite off-stage rancor

Published on February 7, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The House Appropriations Committee gave a respectful reception Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget Tuesday, with chairman Carlos Trujillo praising the spending plan as “conservative.” “It’s a very fair budget,” Trujillo told reporters following the meeting. “It was balanced. Some different priorities than we’ve expressed here in the House. But, overall, I think it was very fair, very reasonable, and very well put together.” Of proposed legislation that would spike Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida — two of Scott’s top priorities — Trujillo…

Keep Reading

Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget goes heavy on tax holidays

Published on January 31, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Michael Moline

Gov. Rick Scott proposed an $83.5 billion state budget Tuesday that would include $618 million in tax cuts, $85 million in economic incentives, nearly $4 billion for environmental protection, and more than $5.1 billion for public safety. Florida has added more than 1.2 million jobs during his tenure “because of our continued focus on cutting taxes, reducing burdensome regulations and fostering an environment where job creators can grow and succeed,” Scott said in unveiling his spending priorities in Tallahassee. “Because…

Keep Reading

House budget chairman starts looking for programs to cut

Published on January 10, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Michael Moline

House Appropriations Committee Chair Carlos Trujillo promised Tuesday to get to work this year on attacking budget deficits that loom during the next two years. Trujillo directed committee members to begin scrutinizing state spending and looking for programs to trim or cut. At the same time, he reiterated the House leadership’s determination to look for tax cuts, including to local property taxes. “The House is very interested in that,” he said of cutting local property taxes for schools, with the state providing…

Keep Reading

TaxWatch Christmas gift: 15 ways to save Florida taxpayers money

Published on December 22, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Michael Moline

Florida TaxWatch chief Dominic Calabro conceded Thursday that legislators might balk at spending money next year to improve government efficiency, but pointed to 15 innovations that wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime. They include prison reforms and requiring the governor and Legislature to pass specific legislation every year directing agency chiefs to find ways to operate more efficiently. “Revenue projections going into the 2017 legislative session suggest there will be just enough money to fund a continuation budget. A lot of it…

Keep Reading

Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

2017-18 state budget - page 11

Sadowski Coalition seeks full funding for affordable housing in state budget

House Transportation and Tourism panel begins vetting member projects

Senate may balk at Rick Scott’s plan to hit hospitals over charity care

A cordial House reception for Scott’s budget, despite off-stage rancor

Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget goes heavy on tax holidays

House budget chairman starts looking for programs to cut

TaxWatch Christmas gift: 15 ways to save Florida taxpayers money

2017-18 state budget - page 11

You might be interested in

You might be interested in

You might be interested in

You might be interested in

You might be interested in

You might be interested in

You might be interested in