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Staff ReportsSeptember 7, 2018

An appellate court has granted a request for oral argument in a dispute between the owners of a Tallahassee office complex and several state agencies who bolted on the master lease. Dockets reviewed Thursday show an argument date of Oct. 9 before the 1st District Court of Appeal in a lawsuit over Northwood Centre, a […]

Michael MolineDecember 12, 2016

The Florida Legislature may have nearly $142 million more to spend next year than previously expected, but that won’t save lawmakers from difficult choices during the spring legislative session. The revenue forecast for the fiscal year ending in June could run $119.3 million ahead of the previous forecast in September, according to preliminary numbers approved […]

Ryan RayMarch 17, 2016

Republican Gov. Rick Scott made it official Thursday night, formally signing the $82.3 million budget presented to him earlier in the day by state lawmakers. He also made official his list of line-item vetoes announced Tuesday, excising about $256 million in member-sponsored funding from the budget he enacted into law. “I will be signing this budget into law […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2016

Though some locals may be less than thrilled with the Rick Scott budget vetoes Tuesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is not among them. Curry, in a conversation with FloridaPolitics.com Tuesday afternoon, said the city’s team “knocked it out of the park” with this year’s process, which had a “90 percent success rate” and was a “win by […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2016

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott released his 2016 “Florida First” budget. Six pages of projects didn’t make the cut, including many Northeast Florida priorities. A big loss for downtown development in Jacksonville: the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority Urban Homesteading Pilot Program did not get the $1 million requested. Neither did the St. Johns River Ferry allocation […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took a pre-emptive strike Tuesday, saying he plans to veto more than $250 million in projects when lawmakers send him the fiscal 2016-17 budget. The move comes just days after the Legislature voted overwhelmingly — 40-0 in the Senate and 119-1 in the House — to approve the $82.3 billion spending plan. […]

Associated PressMarch 10, 2016

Putting behind a year’s worth of rancor, the Florida Legislature on Friday will approve a more than $82.3 billion budget that includes a slight boost in money for schools but also rejects many of Gov. Rick Scott‘s main priorities. Just a few months ago the Republican-controlled Legislature was rushing to pass a budget to avoid […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2016

The 2016 tax package was back in the Senate Thursday, one day before the end of the 2016 Legislative Session, with state Sen. Dorothy Hukill trying to safely land the more than 100-page bill. Ironically, a watchdog group issued a report the same day that said the real tax problem in Florida isn’t at the state level, […]

Ryan RayMarch 8, 2016

When the Legislature’s final budget hit the desk Tuesday afternoon, it included a line item containing $10 million to fund free and charitable clinics for underserved and uninsured Floridians. About the same time, the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics issued a statement expressing their gratitude, along with a heartfelt request: please, Gov. Rick Scott, allow us […]

Associated PressMarch 8, 2016

Florida legislators will vote later this week on an $82.3 billion budget. The proposed budget was formally delivered to state lawmakers at 2:53 Tuesday afternoon. That clears the way for legislators to take a final vote on Friday. State law requires that the budget must be finished 72 hours ahead of the vote. Top House […]

Tag: 2016-17 state budget
A nice warm evening in Tallahassee on a very busy street while taking this shot.

Oral arguments ordered in state office complex ‘bat poop’ case

Austerity budget looms despite Florida’s improved state revenue forecast

Rick Scott signs budget, officially issues $256 million in spending vetoes

Lenny Curry cheers state budget, says Jax “knocked it out of the park”

Governor axes Jax Urban Homesteading program, St. Johns River Ferry, other NE FL requests

Rick Scott says he’ll veto more than $250 million from state budget

Lawmakers poised to approve nearly $82.3 billion budget

With clock ticking, tax package discussed in Senate

Free & charitable clinics: Thanks for the funding, please don’t veto it

Lawmakers now considering $82.3 billion state budget