If given a choice, would Hillsborough County school employees choose layoffs and salary cuts to help close a multimillion-dollar deficit, or would they take a few days off without pay? As the head of the teachers union put it, it's like asking, "Would you rather cut off your right arm or your left leg?" But the district wants their input. School officials circulated a survey to 25,000 employees this week, asking for their thoughts on the grim options they're considering to save as much as $55 million. ...more

January 16, 2009

The U.S. Navy has indefinitely suspended its plans to use live bombs at the Avon Park Air Force Range due to budgetary issues, said Lt. Cmdr. Philip Rosi, public relations officer for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command. ...more

January 16, 2009

If given a choice, would Hillsborough County school employees choose layoffs and salary cuts to help close a multimillion-dollar deficit, or would they take a few days off without pay? As the head of the teachers union put it, it's like asking, "Would you rather cut off your right arm or your left leg?" But the district wants their input. School officials circulated a survey to 25,000 employees this week, asking for their thoughts on the grim options they're considering to save as much as $55 million. ...more

January 15, 2009

After a challenging 2008, Highlands Today asked some government officials their assessments of the budget situation for next year. ...more

December 23, 2008

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio used her visit to a New Tampa service organization as a chance to stump for light rail for the Tampa Bay area. ...more

October 15, 2008

The city's largest union on Monday overwhelmingly voted down a proposed one-year contract, forcing Mayor Pam Iorio's hand in a simmering dispute over higher wages and a longer contract. ...more

September 30, 2008

Contract talks between the Highlands County School District and the school support personnel union are scheduled to resume Tuesday after negotiations were suspended during the summer. ...more

September 22, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Unhappy school employees minced no words. They urged the Pasco County School Board to reject this year's budget, saying the board needed to work harder to find money for raises and step increases that aren't included in the financial plan. ...more

September 18, 2008

Unhappy school employees pleaded with the Pasco County School Board to reject this year's budget Tuesday evening, saying the board needs to work harder to find money for raises and step increases that aren't included in the financial plan. ...more

September 17, 2008

Pasco County's code enforcement division long has relied on residents to police their neighborhoods and call attention to abandoned cars, errant signs and other unauthorized activity. ...more

January 11, 2008