Tax reform and one of the worst housing slumps in Florida history joined forces to drive down Hillsborough County property values last year, the first year-to-year decline since 1992. ...more

July 1, 2008

Most homeowners will net a savings of $200 to $300 on average from this fall because of Amendment 1. ...more

June 22, 2008

After the presentation of raising taxes to protect land at the Highlands County Commission meeting, I remain opposed to this idea, in any form. I am opposed to paying any additional ad-valorem taxes, non-ad-valorem taxes, designated assessments, or designated fees for land conservation projects. It remains important that county commissioners deny land use changes that infringe on wet lands or conservation lands. Buying up land to create preserves is an idea that I will not support. Buying land from private owners takes these lands off the county tax rolls. ...more

June 19, 2008

A wood-frame house that burned last week would have been a century old if it could have stood another three or four years. ...more

June 14, 2008

Southern Pasco County homeowners from Odessa to the Gulf Coast can expect their contribution to the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board to remain stable under the proposed budget adopted last week. ...more

June 9, 2008

Inflation, the need to stay competitive and a shift in state funding can cost a bundle. ...more

June 5, 2008

One thing's for sure: The state did not fulfill its promise to hold education harmless. ...more

June 4, 2008

One thing's for sure: The state did not fulfill its promise to hold education harmless. ...more

June 3, 2008

SEBRING — Falling sale prices for homes in Highlands County, as is happening in most parts of the country, will put Michael Wright on the proverbial hot seat right away. On Monday, Wright started as the county's administrator and learned he'll have to recommend to the commissioners either budget cuts or an increase in the tax rate. Officials with the school board and the cities of Sebring and Avon Park also face the same tough choices due to the troubled economy and falling home values. The taxable property values overall in Highlands County dropped 9.2 percent from last year, according to the preliminary report by county Property Appraiser Raymond McIntyre. ...more

June 2, 2008

The taxable value of property in Hillsborough County declined by more than 5 percent this year, good news for some taxpayers but a sign of more tough times ahead for local governments. ...more

June 2, 2008