FAC News Clips – April 17, 2024

WFLA 

Hillsborough County school funding at risk as tax revenue is redirected  

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A half-cent community investment sales tax in Hillsborough County expires in 2026, and commissioners are expected to decide how they want to renew it on Wednesday, April 17. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Here’s how Florida’s tourist tax, big for Rays and beaches, works  

Budget season for local governments is around the corner, and with it the usual talk of property values and the tax bills local homeowners can expect to face. 

 

Naples News 

Lee County FEMA fight over flood insurance discount, unpermitted work  

Lee County announced Tuesday that it asked FEMA for an additional extension of time in order to respond to its information requests in order to preserve its 25% National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) discount. 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Orange County Mayor: Sales tax hike is ‘best long-term prospect’ to fund transit  

Demings indicates his proposed transportation tax, abandoned last week, will be back in 2026 

 

ENVIRONMENT 

WGCU 

Florida appeals U.S. District Court ruling in wetlands permitting fight  

TALLAHASSEE — Florida has quickly launched an appeal after a U.S. district judge rejected a 2020 decision by the federal government to shift permitting authority to the state for projects that affect wetlands. 

FAC News Clips – April 16, 2024

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

Route-Fifty 

‘Artificial intelligence is not innovation,’ it’s a tool. How governments use it will vary.  

Some state and local governments may embrace AI wholly, while others may take a more measured approach. Either way, experts said, the competition to be first is moot. 

 

HURRICANE SEASON 

News-Press 

2024 hurricane season compared to 5 similar years: Lessons to learn  

All the early predictions are calling for a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Click Orlando 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 14 more bills into law. Here’s what they are, when they take effect  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed 14 bills into law that cover a variety of issues, including tax collection, home construction warranties and swimming lessons for children. 

 

Route-Fifty 

Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities 

It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments. 

FAC News Clips – April 15, 2024

COUNTY 

WESH 

Orange County combats overdoses with CDC campaign  

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County is working to address the growing number of drug overdose deaths, by adopting an initiative created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Bay News 9 

New state law blocks demolition of old buildings  

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Some communities try to stay the same: maintaining dated buildings like motels, old shops and establishments that make it special to those who live there. 

 

Florida Politics 

Gov. DeSantis signs bills restricting harassment, civilian oversight of cops  

‘If you do that we view that as a problem and now you’re going to be held accountable.’ 

 

ENVIRONMENT  

Tampa Free Press 

Judge Nails Down Decision In Florida Wetlands Case  

In a case closely watched by business and environmental groups, a U.S. district judge Friday finalized his rejection of a 2020 move by the federal government to shift permitting authority to Florida for projects that affect wetlands. 

FAC News Clips – April 12, 2024

LEGISLATION 

Tampa Bay Times 

DeSantis signs bill preventing cities from requiring heat safety protections for workers  

The legislation also blocks local governments from controlling what their contractors pay their employees. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

WINK 

Collier Commissioners change rules for affordable housing projects under Live Local Act  

Anyone wanting to build affordable housing in Collier County under Florida’s Live Local Act will have to deal with a few new rules. 

 

COUNTY 

Tampa Bay Times 

Pasco ponders new tax to maintain county parks 

Commissioners said they know there are unmet needs and ask staff to move forward with a taxing plan. 

 

WESH 

Brevard County lifeguard funding debated by county, city 

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County beach cities don’t like the idea, but the county moved forward with a plan to cost-share county ocean lifeguards on city beaches. 

FAC News Clips – April 10, 2024

COUNTY 

WCTV 

Leon County receives nearly $2.4 million in opioid litigation settlement, millions more to come  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – At Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, Leon County commissioners accepted nearly $2.4 million in settlement funds from an opioid lawsuit. 

 

WCJB 

Single-member Alachua County commission districts going back on the ballot  

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Voters in Alachua County are not done deciding whether commissioners should represent individual districts or the entire county. 

 

ABC 7  

Lee County seeks to restore FEMA flood insurance discounts  

FEMA is giving Lee County and four other communities a second chance to reclaim FEMA flood insurance discounts for more than 100,000 residents. 

 

Orlando Sentinel  

Orange County abandons proposed transportation sales tax  

With consensus proving elusive, Orange County commissioners decided Tuesday to abandon a November sales tax referendum to improve a failing transportation network. 

 

Miami Times 

$2.5 billion bond postponed by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava  

A little more than two months after Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava floated a $2.5 billion general obligation bond (GOB) referendum during her State of the County address to pay for a series of expansive projects, she’s had a change of heart. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Florida Phoenix 

Legislation in Florida would ban local workplace heat protections; Arizona just approved measures  

From the east to the west, two states in the U.S. — Florida and Arizona — have something in common: Extreme heat. 

 

CYBERSECURITY  

Route-Fifty 

Lessons learned from whole-of-state cybersecurity efforts 

More than two years into the federal cybersecurity grant program, state and local tech leaders say information sharing between the different levels of government is the most important aspect of the approach. 

FAC News Clips – April 9, 2024

COUNTY 

News Press 

Lee County municipalities have 30 days to save flood insurance savings  

FEMA announced a 30-day pause to planned actions that would slash discounts to many municipalities’ flood insurance to allow affected Southwest Florida communities to keep their status. 

 

WFLA 

Hernando commissioners to decide on millage renewal for November ballot  

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hernando Board of County Commissioners is set to vote Tuesday to put the renewal of a millage on the November ballot. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Florida Politics 

Gov. DeSantis announces expansion of opioid recovery program as he signs new fentanyl laws  

The CORE program is being expanded to 17 additional counties across the state. 

 

Florida Politics 

Gov. DeSantis signs ‘Veterans Appreciation Month’ measure  

This replaces Veterans Week, which the Legislature approved last year. 

 

HOUSING 

Fox 28 

Florida Sees 13.6% Growth in Total Housing Units Over the Past Decade, 7th Largest in the U.S.  

The need for affordable housing in the United States has never been greater. After a dizzying run-up in residential real estate prices and rents in the last few years, housing costs are putting a financial squeeze on renters and homebuyers nationwide as they compete for a scarce, expensive supply of housing.