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Studio 67FAC News Clips – November 5, 2025
COUNTY
WGCU
Deadline set for Lee homeowners with damage from Hurricane Ian
Lee County is setting a deadline for home owners to apply for federal money to repair damage from Hurricane Ian more than three years ago.
Alachua Chronicle
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the November 4 Alachua County Commission meeting, the board named Commissioner Ken Cornell as its chair for the upcoming year, with Anna Prizzia as Vice Chair.
The Florida Times Union
New JTA autonomous shuttles face questions by Duval DOGE
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s cost of providing rides on its new autonomous shuttles is about $370 for each passenger who boards the shuttles that operate between the heart of downtown and the sports complex, according to a Times-Union analysis.
Alachua Chronicle
Alachua County to host 2027 World Masters
ALACHUA COUNTY — Alachua County is proud to announce that it has secured the 2027 World Masters Athletics (WMA) Indoor Championships to be held at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center and West End Park.
First Coast News
St. Johns County approves $200K to stock food banks, suspends utility disconnections amid shutdown
As the impacts of the government shutdown threaten to deplete local food pantries and delay paychecks, St. Johns County leaders are taking action to help residents.
WQCS
Indian River County approves transfer of key county roads to FDOT
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Commission voted unanimously Nov. 4 to transfer jurisdiction of three major corridors to the Florida Department of Transportation, reducing the county’s long-term maintenance and infrastructure costs.
Jax Today
St. Johns County could charge developers a fee for conservation
The St. Johns County Commission moved Tuesday toward adopting an impact fee on developers to help pay for the acquisition of sensitive conservation land.
BROADBAND
Alachua Chronicle
Alachua County partners with Kinetic to expand broadband access
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County and Kinetic have announced a $22.9 million public-private partnership to expand high-speed fiber broadband to more than 4,200 homes and businesses across the county, with completion expected over the next two years.
LEGISLATION
Wink News
Florida lawmakers have proposed a new bill aimed at regulating electric bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles to increase safety measures, as more people opt for the faster mode of transportation.
Politico
Bill would exempt 10,000-acre ‘blue ribbon’ projects from local rezoning, votes
State Rep. Lauren Melo filed the bill that would designate “blue ribbon” projects with more than 10,000 acres for administrative approval if they conserved at least 60 percent of the property.
PROPERTY TAXES
Tampa Bay Newspaper
Column: Florida should explore phasing out property taxes. Here’s a way forward
Florida is rightly considering bold ideas to ease the burden of property taxes. As a lifelong resident and county commissioner, I believe we can achieve meaningful tax relief — starting with those who have called Florida home for decades.
FAC News Clips – November 4, 2025
COUNTY
WOKV
Clay County lights up green to support veterans
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — This week leading up to Veterans Day, Clay County is participating in the annual Operation Green Light for Veterans, honoring military service members.
Palm Beach Post
Florida history and origins of counties Madison to Pasco
Here is the fourth installment running down Florida’s 67 counties and how they ended up with the names they bear today.
WDBO
Seminole spending the $250mil in revenue from the Penny Sales Tax on potential county improvements.
Orlando, Fla. — On Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, Seminole County Commissioners held a meeting, on how to best spend the revenue from the Penny Sales Tax.
WOKV
St. Johns County approves 2026 Legislative Action Plan
- JOHNS COUNTY, Fla — With a unanimous vote, St. Johns County Commissioners approve its 2026 Legislative Action Plan.
PROPERTY TAX
WLRN
Could Florida lose some of its 67 counties?
Florida’s House speaker posed a hypothetical: Does Florida need 67 counties? County representatives say consolidations would clash with local pride — as well as practicality.
Reason
Florida governor Ron DeSantis pushes to abolish property taxes
Florida Republicans propose not one, not two, but seven different constitutional amendments to cap, cut, or even eliminate property taxes.
Sun-Sentinel
Property taxes are more than a bill, they’re an investment
Every year when property tax notices arrive, most of us feel a familiar twinge of frustration. It’s easy to focus on the bottom line, the amount due, and forget what those dollars make possible.
Highlands News-Sun
Florida Legislature begins review of efforts to reduce, eliminate property taxes
GAINESVILLE — The Legislature in Tallahassee on Friday began exploring in earnest proposals that would reduce or eliminate property taxes, a populist move that would dramatically help with housing affordability but could fundamentally change how communities pay for local government services, including fire departments, trash pickup, city parks and more.
STATE
Orlando Sentinel
Poll: Quarter of residents ‘seriously’ weigh leaving Florida
A quarter of Floridians surveyed are “seriously considering” moving elsewhere because of the high cost of living in the state.
FAC 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.