'User' Tax A Remedy Jump-starting the economy should not be as difficult as it seems. Most economists agree that the mortgage crisis is one cause, if not the main one. A one-cent increase in the state or county sales tax could be a sure remedy. ...more

January 9, 2009

James Adkins says if he doesn't win a county commission seat this time, he's hanging up his political aspirations for good. ...more

October 19, 2008

SAYS GOVERNMENT MUST BE MORE ACCESSIBLE ...more

August 11, 2008

Port Richey council members repealed the 10-percent utility tax that had been on the books since the 1960s. ...more

July 23, 2008

Port Richey council members will vote tomorrow whether to repeal a utility tax. ...more

July 21, 2008

Knowing the community has no money to make its next bond payment, community development district Supervisor William Martello says he would rather sue Lennar Corp. than let the district go into default. ...more

July 16, 2008

HERITAGE ISLES - Knowing the community has no money to make its next bond payment, community development district Supervisor William Martello says he'd rather sue Lennar Corp. than let the district go into default. ...more

July 10, 2008

They were among the sparks that ignited a rebellion in this small coastal city. ...more

June 16, 2008

Former President Clinton worked Friday to smooth over comments from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign and its allies that have raised hackles in the black community, a week before Democrats will vote in the South Carolina primary, their first test involving a heavily black electorate. ...more

January 12, 2008

SEBRING — In 2005, when Gilbert Santavenere moved to Sebring from Connecticut, the taxes on his house were $2,200 a year. Since the previous owner had a homestead exemption, Santavenere expected the taxes to go up to $2,800. "It ended up being $3,500 a year," Santavenere said. In a nutshell, that's the problem with Florida's property tax system, something the Florida Legislature tried to correct Monday when it passed a constitutional amendment that will lower ad valorem taxes an average of $240 per homeowner. Voters can grant final approval of the bill on Jan. 29, at the same time they cast ballots in the presidential primary. The measure includes variations of two planks in Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign platform last year: doubling the $25,000 exemption for homeowners and letting them take the 3 percent Save Our Homes cap when they move. ...more

October 31, 2007