Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/30/2014

Revenue Firms Up for 2015 Florida Budget

Lawmakers are expected to have $30.6 billion in General Revenue, plus unspent reserves, to create a state budget in 2015. An historic $30.6 billion budget would be $2.2 billion more than the current spending plan, an increase of 7.9 percent. Read the full report from Florida TaxWatch.

New laws taking effect Jan. 1 you should know about

As 2015 begins Thursday, several new legal requirements take effect in the Sunshine State. Overall, the start of 2015 will be quiet for new laws in Florida. Florida residents and businesses, however, will see other changes with the start of the new year. More at WPTV and the Tampa Bay Times.

Home prices up 4.5 percent in October

Newsmakers of the Year
John Morgan - Impact Player

Few people had a worse election night in November than John Morgan. But few people had a bigger impact on Florida politics in 2014. The personal-injury attorney initiated, funded and led the campaign for Amendment 2, which would have legalized marijuana for medical use in the state.

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U.S. home prices rose in October at a slightly slower pace, as real estate sales have fallen and affordability has increasingly become a challenge for potential buyers. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index increased 4.5 percent in October from 12 months prior. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Wharton plans business conference series on Cuba

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is the first out of the gate to announce a high-level Cuba conference. The inaugural conference, titled the “Cuba Opportunity Summit,” will be in New York City on April 1 and is expected to attract about 200 senior-level executives. More at the Miami Herald.

As rising sea level chomps at Cape Canaveral, NASA uses nature-friendly solution

Along Florida's most famous slice of waterfront, the water is taking a bigger and bigger bite. As the level of the Atlantic Ocean has pushed higher, it has begun gobbling up the shoreline along Cape Canaveral. To deal with the problem, NASA came up with a solution beyond the typical Florida beach renourishment project. More at the Tampa Bay Times.

Real Estate
To sell a mansion, make it an experience

For many high-end properties, marketing strategies have moved well beyond advertisements, brochures and standard open houses. Instead, as the global real estate market grows ever more competitive, companies are creating “experiences” for potential elite buyers by partnering with chefs, musicians, jewelers and luxury car dealers.