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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Legislature can't agree how to spend $83 billion, so session goes to overtime
Florida's legislative session will head into overtime after two top Republicans — privately negotiating billions of dollars worth of spending and substantive policy — failed to meet a deadline to get an $83 billion budget done Tuesday night so that the session could end on time Friday. [Source: Times/Herald]
See also:
» Gambling talks collapse in Florida Legislature
Florida consumer sentiment in April drops from record high
Consumer sentiment among Floridians in April dropped 3.5 points to 95.7 from a record-high reading of 99.2 in March, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. Full story from UF News, here. Also read more at the AP.
Spotlight
Florida’s high-tech corridor
A decade ago, the 23 counties that have banded together to market their high-tech assets as the Florida High-Tech Corridor counted 7,600 companies employing 135,000. Today, the Corridor encompasses nearly 21,000 tech-related companies and 238,000 technology jobs. The non-profit High Tech Corridor Council is fostering collaboration between the University of Florida, University of Central Florida and University of South Florida, as well as with 14 community and state colleges and more than 20 economic development agencies. Read the full section here.
Florida House rejects letting local officials meet secretly
In a surprise result that’s unprecedented in the past 15 years, lawmakers on Tuesday rejected an attempt to significantly scale back part of the state’s famed Sunshine Law that secures Floridians’ right to watch how local officials make decisions on their behalf. [Source: Times/Herald]
Florida leads golf industry in jobs, lags behind California in economic impact
Florida's golf industry employs more than 132,500 workers, which is the top in any state. The state has the second-largest direct, indirect and induced output in economic impact due to golf at $11 billion a year — second only to California's $13.1 billion . [Source: Orlando Business Journal]
› Firm fails to hit jobs target, owes Sarasota County $200K
Enzymedica, an enzyme supplements firm that moved from Charlotte County to Sarasota County in 2012 after it received more than $200,000 in subsidies from Sarasota, failed to fulfill the majority of its jobs commitment.
› Trump's immigration policy lifts prison operator Geo earnings by 27 percent
Boca Raton-based prison operator Geo Group, benefiting from crackdowns on illegal immigration under the Trump administration, saw profits rise 27 percent in its first quarter. Quarterly revenue was up 8 percent over a year ago.
› Jacksonville’s Fanatics Inc. finalizes deal for Majestic acquisition
Jacksonville-based Fanatics Inc. has completed its acquisition of VF Corp.’s Licensed Sports Group that includes Majestic apparel brand. Also read more at the Florida Times Union.
› Floridians expected to vote on new property tax break
Florida may give a large tax break to more than 4 million homeowners under a sweeping proposal that will likely go before voters next year.
Your turn:
» Should Florida expand homestead property tax exemption to $75,000 (subject to voter approval in 2018)? (quick poll)
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