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City Hall is keeping a close watch on its neighbors across the street as several bills this legislative session threaten to deplete Tallahassee's breadwinning source of revenue.Commissioners and staff are scheduled to meet for a budget hearing this week, and on the docket to discuss are five bills that could limit "the local government's ability to generate revenue to fund critical services."With Gov. Ron DeSantis focused on eliminating property taxes in the state of Florida, the City of Tallahassee could be facing a budget overhaul in the years to come,...

Joshua Fechter and Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune  |  Wichita Falls Times Record NewsProperty tax cuts aren’t free. In fact, they’re costing Texas a fortune.The Texas House is considering a budget that would shell out $51 billion — 15% of the state's total two-year spending plan — to maintain and provide new property tax cuts. That number, more than the state allocates to transportation or higher education, is making even some Republicans nervous about the state’s ability to afford the tax relief if there’s an economic downturn.If it were its...

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks during rally for property tax reform at Indiana StatehouseIndiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks during a rally for property tax reform Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse.(Correction: This story was updated to reflect that the 10% property tax credit is off of a homeowner's bill, not their assessed value.)The Indiana House on Thursday passed its version of the signature property tax relief bill that has grown to also include reforms of local government finance.  The complex tax proposal in Senate Bill 1, which passed the...

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks during rally for property tax reform at Indiana StatehouseIndiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks during a rally for property tax reform Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse.Property tax relief has become one of the top debates of the 2025 legislative session with hours of testimony from concerned local officials, a veto threat from Gov. Mike Braun and a rally of hundreds at the Statehouse in March chanting “Where’s my money?”Three different property tax plans from Republicans have been presented at the Statehouse this year...

Video: Driver hits gate arm on bridge to Palm BeachA woman in a black Mercedes Benz SUV smashed into the gate arm in the eastbound lanes of the Flagler Memorial Bridge to Palm Beach on March 18, 2025.If Palm Beach does not acquire the easements needed for the Midtown Beach Nourishment project by July 31, that project will be delayed until 2027, town staff said during the March 27 meeting.Public Works Director Paul Brazil said if the private owners' refusal could put the 50-year beach management agreement between the town...

DeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and supports open carryDeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and other restrictions on Second Amendment RightsFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a plan to eliminate the state's portion of property taxes for homeowners.DeSantis argues that tourists and non-residents should bear a larger share of the tax burden.The Florida Legislature is currently in session and must reach an agreement on the state budget before adjourning on May 2.Could Florida property taxes be a thing of the past soon? Gov. Ron DeSantis thinks so.At...

Two thirds of Canadians back Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre getting a national security clearance, and nearly as many support Liberal Leader Mark Carney disclosing the scope and scale of his investments he recently put in a blind trust, according to a new national poll.The opinion survey on the personal choices of these two leaders, conducted last weekend for The Globe and Mail and CTV News by Nanos Research, found 66 per cent of respondents wanted or somewhat supported Mr. Poilievre joining the other federal party leaders in obtaining this status...

The governor lambasted House GOP lawmakers for not addressing 'pressing issues that Floridians care about.'DeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and supports open carryDeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and other restrictions on Second Amendment RightsFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis criticizes the Florida House's decision to reinstate four budget items he vetoed last year.DeSantis urges the legislature to prioritize issues like condo insurance reform, medical freedom, and E-Verify instead.The Senate has yet to decide whether to support the House's budget veto overrides.Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t happy with Florida House...

"Louisiana wins again," was the headline as Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development trumpeted the official announcement of the $5.8 billion Hyundai steel plant planned for the Donaldsonville area of Ascension Parish.President Donald Trump hosted Landry and several elected officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to deliver the monumental news for the state and region, which had not been seen at such a magnitude since the governor and Facebook's parent company, Meta, announced a large artificial intelligence data center in northeastern Louisiana.The first-of-its-kind Hyundai project was...

Michael Stinziano  |  Guest ColumnistSouth Side homeowner Bonnie Mitchell sees 500% tax hikeSouth Side homeowner Bonnie Mitchell sees 500% tax hike, seeks relief through Legal Aid Society; is able to keep houseMichael Stinziano is Franklin County auditor.Re: "Will Ohio homeowners get property tax relief? Why lawmakers can’t agree on a fix," Feb. 24: Ohio does not have a property value problem; it has a property tax problem.Increasing home values are not the cause of unaffordable property tax bills in Franklin County. A byzantine, unconstitutional property tax system that forces underfunded schools...