A year after one of the most heated budget hearings in recent memory, the County Commission blazed through its first budget hearing in 63 minutes Thursday evening. ...more

September 12, 2008

New user fees for county parks and facilities and hikes to existing charges are worth considering during a public hearing process, commissioners decided Wednesday. ...more

September 11, 2008

Florida's property appraisers are demonstrating they are more committed to reducing property taxes than Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers, who failed in their promise to substantially cut them. ...more

September 11, 2008

City Manager William Poe said it really wasn't that difficult putting together a city budget that cuts spending by nearly $400,000 without cutting services. ...more

September 6, 2008

As the state's economic slump continues, Florida consumers are cutting back on everything from buying cars to eating out. ...more

September 3, 2008

Homeowners have every right to be angry about the property-tax notices that recently arrived in mailboxes. ...more

September 2, 2008

Hernando County commissioners find themselves in the unenviable position of having to tighten their financial belts and suck it in as they face the hard truth that the money stream has dried up. ...more

August 31, 2008

This wasn't supposed to be the year of the angry taxpayer. In January, Florida voters passed Amendment 1, which promised property tax relief on several fronts, including nearly doubling the homestead exemption. ...more

August 30, 2008

Savings Are Minimal I received my "Proposed Tax Notice," and I now realize that it did not change the tax environment much, as we were told it would do last year. My 13 years of paying $3,500 taxes for my home is probably average for Tampa. However, my tax statement states that with no budget changes my taxes will be $10.20 less than last year. ...more

August 28, 2008

The Avon Park City Council decided it would take more money from churches and non-profit groups to support the fire department, but the extra revenue wouldn't make up for a $74,000 budget deficit the city has just discovered. ...more

August 27, 2008