In the run-up the Jan. 29 vote on Amendment No. 1, officials of local governments and public school districts around the state were issuing dire warnings. Tax revenue would plunge; services would be slashed; criminals would run the streets; children would go uneducated. The amendment, of course, was the plan the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist came up with in response to last year's howls of protest from property-owning Floridians about rising ad valorem tax bills. ...more

February 12, 2008

DADE CITY - Property Appraiser Mike Wells predicted Tuesday that Pasco County's taxable property value will decrease by 8 percent – or $2.5 billion – in the coming year, after several years of record growth.. ...more

February 12, 2008

TAMPA - Four Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies face suspension following a Jan. 29 incident in which one of them dumped a disabled man from his wheelchair. ...more

February 12, 2008

Amendment No. 1 will take a bite of about $2.32 billion out of Pasco County's total taxable property value, Property Appraiser Mike Wells told the County Commission this morning. ...more

February 12, 2008

The Safety Harbor City Commission has a new look. Monday night two newly elected commissioners took the oath of office during a City Hall ceremony that included cake for all who attended. ...more

February 9, 2008

For years, residents have been able to drag grass cuttings, leaves, broken trees limbs and other yard debris to the end of their roads, knowing that someone would come around at least once a month to take it all away, free of charge. ...more

February 9, 2008

Bankrupt developer TOUSA has won court approval for a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep paying its employees, selling houses and honoring home warranties. ...more

February 9, 2008

In contrast to the way he lived, Brandon resident John Paton died quietly Jan. 29 at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center nursing home in Tampa at age 87. ...more

February 7, 2008

Bankrupt developer TOUSA has won court approval for a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep paying its employees, selling houses and honoring home warranties. TOUSA, the parent company of Engle Homes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Jan. 29. It reported assets of $2.28 billion and debts of about $1.77 billion. The new agreement allows the company to borrow $135 million from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to pay normal operating expenses. The terms of the agreement allow TOUSA and its subsidiaries to continue building homes, pay off liens and sell the houses free and clear. Home warranties also will be honored. TOUSA subsidiary Engle Homes is the primary developer of Live Oak Preserve, The Hammocks and Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. ...more

February 7, 2008

Florida Democrats say they have no plans to take a second swipe at holding a presidential selection process so that delegates from the state might be seated at the party's presidential nominating convention. ...more

February 7, 2008