Republicans are up in arms about Gov. Crist's support of the stimulus package. Many are also surprised that the governor is contemplating a Senate run rather than standing for re-election. A possible reason for both relates to something I have pondered for some time: Florida should raise the sales tax by one cent, at least temporarily. The stimulus package, manna for our charmed governor, will likely enable Florida to balance its budget this year. But unless the economy improves significantly, next year we will be back to where we are now, cutting into the marrow of our already bare bones state programs. Perhaps the governor sees raising taxes in the near future as the only logical way to maintain the modest quality of life the state provides to its citizens, while understanding that, as a Republican, raising taxes would likely end his political career. The smart thing is to let someone else do it. ...more

February 14, 2009

The FBI is investigating former Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson. ...more

February 13, 2009

Buddy Johnson held a voting-machine company responsible for a bungled November election count, but that didn't stop him from asking the vendor for a job. ...more

February 6, 2009

The city council on Thursday voted to lower fees for tree pruning and removal, less than four months after approving an eightfold increase. ...more

February 6, 2009

The city council today voted to lower fees for tree pruning and removal, less than four months after approving an eight-fold increase. ...more

February 5, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist lived up to his promise to protect Florida's most vulnerable citizens by vetoing cuts in line items 128 and 129 in the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Budget. ...more

February 5, 2009

School Superintendent Wayne Alexander has tendered his resignation, citing the need to return to Connecticut to be with his family. ...more

February 5, 2009

Miami City Ballet will cut eight dancers because it can't afford to pay them. ...more

February 3, 2009

Due to dwindling contributions and increasing costs, the Boys and Girls Club of Highlands County will start charging a $25 fee per child per month, starting next week. ...more

January 30, 2009

HOW EMPLOYEES ANSWERED Most of the employees who responded were teachers, and most of them overwhelmingly rejected the budget-cutting ideas. The results are percentages and represent whether employees agree/strongly agree or disagree/strongly disagree: ...more

January 17, 2009