Latest News

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  • A Power Line Runs Through It
    Mar 17, 2010 — New York Times
    And underwater lines are still more expensive than lines on transmission towers. Stern’s 65-mile cable cost about $600 million, and a 53-mile cable under San Francisco Bay cost about $505 million. Stern’s company, PowerBridge, is now considering two renewable energy projects, however.
  • Avoiding a depression
    Mar 17, 2010 — Hernando Today
    The Federal Reserve was constrained by the gold standard. We would today be enjoying Great Depression 2.0. But the Bush-Obama administrations followed Keynesian fiscal policies. Miketinac objects to my use of the GDP as a measure of economic health.
  • BRIEF
    Mar 17, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    ...-- FORT LAUDERDALE A Broward man was indicted Tuesday in federal court on charges he ran a debt elimination and tax preparation scheme in which he told more than 100 clients not to pay their federal income taxes or creditors. Michael D. Beiter, Jr., also filed fraudelent tax returns, helped one client avoid paying $900,000 in federal income taxes and attempted to intimidate U.S. Internal Revenue Service employees, prosecutors said. Beiter had told clients that they could...
  • BRIEF: Tax QandA: Can I tap my retirement plans because I lost my job?
    Mar 17, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    But Slott warns this tactic only works if you keep your money in an old plan and don't roll it over.
  • Brunswick trestle fire damage not as serious as feared
    Mar 17, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    The grain cars were safely detached and continued onto their destination, said Candice Temple, Glynn County spokeswoman. The fire's cause and origin remained undetermined Tuesday. ATFE agents typically investigate major fires, especially those involving U.S. ports and shipping terminals.
  • Budget paints grim picture for services
    Mar 17, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    Those with the greatest needs have no spending limit. That would change under both the House and Senate plans, which would cap spending for that group at $120,000. Petersburg that provides art therapy and art-related job training for people with disabilities.
  • County moves forward on new tax
    Mar 17, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    ...coalition, told the commissioners the idea of a $35-year-tax on each business in Manatee County was supported by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and the Manatee Economic Development Council. Rice talked about the need for a funding source to attract businesses with quality jobs to the county. With the tax the county could use "the revenue to contract with the Economic Development Council to develop a...
  • Orange school tax hike possible; 4-day week this summer
    Mar 17, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    ...new optional tax would raise at least $22 million, an amount the district cannot ignore. "I really feel we're up against the wall," said board vice chairwoman Daryl Flynn. In coming weeks, the School Board will be looking at two things: whether to impose the tax in the fall, and whether to extend it by additional years. To do extend the tax, however, would require a ballot measure in November. The School Board will have public discussions on raising the tax and...
  • PREVIOUS COVERAGE | New tax for every Manatee business may be coming
    Mar 17, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    When you add another dollar, when you're hurting, a dollar is a lot to come up with." Small businessman Edward Hayward, owner of K&J Cleaners, 6224 31st St.
  • Signs of recovery -- and debate on Alaska
    Mar 17, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    Martha Brannigan Mar. 17, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Alaska Gov. That cut deeply into revenue and profits. But in recent months, cruise bookings have picked up and prices are slowly strengthening. The state adopted a $46 per passenger head tax in 2006 following a ballot initiative.
  • Sportsplex plan advances
    Mar 17, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    ...sports. Mariano's protest drew a heated response from Commissioner Michael Cox, Sportsplex's most vocal supporter. Cox accused Mariano of trying to reopen an issue the commission has put to rest. "He was on the losing end of the issue," Cox said. "Let's move on." Mariano didn't relent, though. He objected to a county plan that would replace with soccer fields the existing baseball fields at New Port Richey's Mitchell Park once Sportsplex opens. "You're not taking...
  • At Jacksonville Superfund site, Nelson calls for tax shift to pay for cleanups
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    ...title="United States Senator (Newstex ID is UNAFFILIATED-NELSONBILL)" NewstexID="UNAFFILIATED-NELSONBILL">Bill Nelson visited a long-vacant Superfund site on Jacksonville's Talleyrand riverfront Monday to say he will try to reinstate taxes on the oil and chemical industries to pay for environmental cleanups at the country's most contaminated places. "Sites like this can be so important to JaxPort; they have to be cleaned up," said Nelson, D-Fla., outside the old fenced site...
  • At Jacksonville Superfund site, Nelson calls for tax shift to pay for cleanups: Who pays for them and how has become a murky, neglected cause.
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Nelson visited a long-vacant Superfund site on Jacksonville's Talleyrand riverfront Monday to say he will try to reinstate taxes on the oil and chemical industries to pay for environmental cleanups at the country's most contaminated places. "Sites like this can be so important to JaxPort; they have to be cleaned up," said Nelson, D-Fla., outside the old fenced site of a Kerr-McGee fertilizer plant. "It ought to be cleaned up with money from the polluters." The 31-acre...
  • Bill increasing voucher money passes Senate committee
    Mar 16, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    TALLAHASSEE -- A bill that would increase the amount of tax money paying for vouchers so poor children can attend private schools passed a key committee in the state Senate today. Currently, poor children can apply for vouchers of $3,960 a year to attend a private school. The money comes from tax credits against corporate income taxes and taxes paid on insurance premiums. Under bills advancing through both houses of the Legislature, the voucher amount would rise from the current...
  • DWP rates may rise between 8% and 28% to pay for mayor's green initiatives
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Tier 1 customer would see monthly electric bills jump from $38.76 to $42.17 by April 2011. A Tier 2 customer in the Valley would see the monthly bill increase from $92.19 to $107.60, according to the proposal. Businesses would see increases in the average bill ranging from 20% to 26%. Any increase would become less steep, however, once ratepayers adopt conservation measures or find ways to install solar panels and sell the excess power to the DWP, mayoral aides said. The DWP...
  • Florida educators think new math standards will add up to success
    Mar 16, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    Legislators provided $216 million, forcing districts to delay some purchases. This year, administrators are looking for $194 million for math materials and about $73 million in books for all other subjects. State Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, said schools will get the money they need to buy the new math materials.
  • Greening the DWP
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Moving into clean, renewable and (perhaps, one day) inexpensive power is the proper direction for Los Angeles. But we have a dirty secret: We are coal-burners. Residents and businesses with solar-paneled roofs could actually make some money selling power back to the DWP.
  • New tax for every Manatee business may be coming
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    When you add another dollar, when you're hurting, a dollar is a lot to come up with." Small businessman Edward Hayward, owner of K&J Cleaners, 6224 31st St.
  • Palm Beach County considers alternatives to Delray drivers license office
    Mar 16, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    The state plans to phase in the other Palm Beach County closings over the course of a year, said Dave Westberry, spokesman for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  • Plan to offer affordable health care to Florida small businesses stalled
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Palm Beach Post
    We are trying to get everybody health insurance without it being mandated." Initially, about 20,000 people are expected to participate with the potential for 3.7 million subscribers. A 14-member board oversees Florida Health Choices, a non-profit corporation. One spot is vacant, but Peaden said he would like the board to have fewer members, which would be more efficient and less expensive, as far as travel costs to meetings.
  • Primary Source: DWP and city officials pitch their rate increase proposal
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Freeman says half of the 2-cent increase will pay for current energy efficiency efforts, and half will go toward covering the fluctuating price of coal. Salaries and benefits for DWP workers (3:44) Turner brings up the criticism raised whenever rates increase that unionized DWP workers receive generous pay and benefits compared to other city employees. Freeman replies that DWP workers receive salaries comparable to what other local utilities pay their employees.
  • Hightower now serves as chairman at U.S. Naval Academy
    Mar 15, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Jeb Bush and ran the president's local campaign. It raised the stakes in a way." There was a personal reason for going Navy, too.
  • More civics education needed, advocates say
    Mar 15, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, head of the Senate education-appropriations committee, said the cost killed the bill in his committee last year. That which isn't tested isn't taught." The state adopted new social-studies standards -- a blueprint for what is to be taught in schools -- in 2008.
  • OPINION: Jacksonville City Hall's budget dilemma
    Mar 15, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Taxes are abominably low here, much lower than in other cities. So what? Why is that bad? Winters are colder in most cities our size. I said something similar, in fact, about The Times-Union right before we had those layoffs and pay cuts a little over a year ago.
  • Saft plant counted on to spark Jacksonville in 'clean energy' sector
    Mar 15, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Enterprise Florida lists nine universities statewide, but the University of North Florida isn't among them.
  • Trinity wrong spot for Pasco sports complex, Jack Mariano says
    Mar 15, 2010 — St. Petersburg Times
    Another $400,000 would go toward expanding the Mitchell Park concession stands. Don't expect Mariano to support the proposed funding formula. He's pushing for the Starkey Ranch site, the runner-up site in Sportsplex USA's ranking. Why now?
  • Broward governments urged to consolidate services
    Mar 13, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    ...services or raising property tax rates. According to Fishkind's report, the average Broward city spends $1,152 per resident even though Weston spends just $534 per resident. Both Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea spend more than $2,000 per resident. Fishkind found that police protection costs 33 percent less for those cities that contract from the Broward Sheriff's Office than for communities with their own police agency. Overall, police staffing in Broward is 60 percent...
  • Broward governments urged to cut costs, consolidate services
    Mar 13, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    ...cutting services or raising property tax rates. According to Fishkind's report, the average Broward city spends $1,152 per resident even though Weston spends just $534 per resident. Both Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea spend more than $2,000 per resident. Fishkind found that police protection costs 33 percent less for those cities that contract from the Broward Sheriff's Office than for communities with their own police agency. Overall, police staffing in Broward is 60...
  • Business leaders urge Broward governments to band together and privatize to cut costs
    Mar 13, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    ...the average public and private sector employee. Government health insurance costs for its employees, he said, are twice that of private industry. Government pensions came under particular criticism. Fishkind's analysis said Broward governments have a total of $1 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, a looming bill that taxpayers must eventually pay. The city of Hollywood, he said, has unfunded pension costs of more than $2,000 per resident, while Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale...
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