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The problem: Reducing or getting rid of property taxes would eliminate dollars local governments rely on for needed services.How well will the Florida Legislature work with Gov. Ron DeSantis?FLORIDA TODAY's John Torres discusses the 2025 legislative session with reporters James Call and John Kennedy in this excerpt fro the Florida Pulse.Florida lawmakers excluded property tax cuts from the recently approved state budget and tax package.House and Senate leaders plan to study the potential impact of property tax reductions on local governments before considering further action.While a potential property tax cut...

Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds discuses task force for Iowa 'DOGE'Hear from Gov. Kim Reynolds as she talks about Iowa's 'DOGE' on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the Iowa State Capitol.Iowa's DOGE task force is considering issuing a recommendation to consolidate the state's 99 counties to improve government efficiency and enable property tax cuts.The task force argues that the current county structure is outdated and wastes resources, citing Iowa's low population density.The task force is focusing on streamlining services and regionalization rather than directly addressing property tax reform.Iowa's government efficiency task...

Habitat for Humanity of Collier County progresses on new Naples communityScenes from Habitat for Humanity of Collier County's Majestic Place community. When construction is complete, it will have 109 single-family homes.Collier County's preliminary property values increased by roughly 3% to $229.3 billion in 2025.Taxable property values saw a larger increase of 8.2%, reaching $164.5 billion, largely due to new construction.While market value growth slowed, new construction added $4.18 billion to the tax rolls.The final tax roll will be submitted to the state on July 1st, with TRIM notices sent to...

Potholes are popping up everywhere earlier than usualAn early taste of pothole season has many areas scrambling to make road repairs.If you have something to say about the many road projects on the state's slate, now's the time to do so.The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that the public comment period for the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-Fiscal Year 2030 five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) will be held from now through Thursday, June 12."This five-year plan includes approximately $18.6 billion in planned transportation investments," according to a release.The plan outlines...

No state has yet eliminated property taxes and in Florida they are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of 67 counties and almost half of the state’s 411 cities.With Florida lawmakers now in overtime trying to settle a state budget, the prime source of financing for many cities and counties could soon be headed for the chopping block.In whatever budget deal is decided by the Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants included some kind of commitment to rolling back property taxes – now or through a ballot question put before...

Dave Williams  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceReal estate investor headed to prison in Atlanta fraud schemeBy Dave WilliamsBureau ChiefCapitol Beat News ServiceATLANTA - The head of a commercial real estate investment firm has been sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $45 million in restitution in a fraud scheme involving the Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead.Elchonon (Elie) Schwartz, 46, of New York City pleaded guilty in February to one count of wire fraud. Schwartz convinced more than 800 investors to send him $62.8 million, including $54 million...

'This is a total dog and pony show. This is not anything that’s credible,' DeSantis said.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the House's late-session push for property tax cuts as ineffective.House Speaker Daniel Perez prefers sales tax cuts and formed a 37-member committee to explore property tax cut options, a move DeSantis called a "dog and pony show."The House’s push for property tax cuts will be ineffective,...

Mortgage preapproval first-time homebuyersIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, here’s how to get a mortgage preapproved.Starting earlier this month, any property listing that was publicly marketed to consumers but not listed on the local MLS within one business day no longer appears on Zillow.This step is in line with the National Association of Realtors' Clear Cooperation Policy, which aims to prevent exclusive real estate listings and increase fairness among buyers.Corrections & Clarifications: The headline on an earlier version of this story gave the wrong timing. The listing changes will happen later...