Florida cities anxious as property tax cut plans advance

The Florida House is moving forward with four property tax cut bills, over concerns from local government officials they will result in drastic cuts in services. State economists project the measure – if approved by 60% of voters – would cut taxes by $14.1 billion in the 2027–28 budget year, and $18 billion in future years. For opponents of the bill, that’s too big a hit for many cities and counties, especially those in rural areas with a slim property tax base. More from USA Today Network and Florida Phoenix.

Pricey Publix? Analyst says cheaper chains are stealing its shoppers

The busiest spending season of the year is in full swing, and while inflation has moderated across most household items in recent months, prices have remained stubbornly high in one key segment: groceries. For Lakeland grocery giant Publix Super Markets Inc., one of the largest privately held food retailers in the U.S., the effect of prolonged food inflation presents a real challenge to the company’s long-reigning dominance as the grocer of choice in the Southeast. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]

Florida state parks face $759 million backlog of needed repairs, state report finds

Aging visitor centers. Outdated septic tanks. A lack of accessible sidewalks and ramps. Despite welcoming millions of visitors last year, Florida’s state park system has a nearly $759 million backlog of repairs to maintain and enhance Floridians’ access to outdoor spaces. That’s according to a new state report, released this week, that details funding required over the next decade to bolster the quality of Florida’s 175 parks, the health of their ecosystems and the public’s ability to enjoy them. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Opinion: 2030 census gives Floridians opportunity to fix costly 2020 miscount

Florida is growing faster than almost any other state. With a population of more than 23.4 million, communities are expanding, schools are filling and roadways are busier than ever. Accurate data about who lives in the state shapes planning, investment and the resources Florida receives from the federal government. Without a complete count, communities lose out on federal funding and opportunities to invest in residents and long-term growth. [Source: Business Observer]

Florida unions challenge requirement for public college syllabuses

Florida's teacher and professor unions are legally challenging a new state rule requiring college instructors to post course materials publicly. The unions argue the rule is vague, oversteps the Department of Education's authority, and undermines academic freedom. State officials say the regulation is meant to increase transparency for students, while opponents fear it will lead to intimidation of faculty.[Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Port Canaveral becomes busiest cruise port in the world surpassing PortMiami [Florida Today]
Port Canaveral has passed the PortMiami to become the busiest cruise port in the world, officials announced Dec. 2. With 8,602,047 passengers for this past fiscal year, Port Canaveral surpassed Miami in total passengers for the second time. Miami announced this year it served over 8.5 million passengers.

› St. Pete fintech startup expands internationally [St. Pete Catalyst]
A St. Petersburg-based financial technology company has processed over $1 billion in payments and is now rapidly expanding internationally. Joseph Cover, CEO of 1PriceSwipes, believes he can “take a bite out of” Stripe’s payment processing business. He and his wife, Vicky, co-founded the startup in 2017. The husband-and-wife duo have embraced innovation and believe their approach will disrupt the current payment services ecosystem.

› Boca Raton’s January election is canceled after a judge stopped the ballot questions [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Boca Raton no longer will have a special election on Jan. 13 after a judge deemed the questions planned for the ballot unconstitutional, the city has confirmed. Circuit Court Judge Joseph Curley granted a temporary injunction Monday to halt two referendum questions from appearing on the January election ballot. The questions referred to charter and ordinance amendments, initiated by residents who formed a group called Save Boca, that identically propose the requirement of an election for any selling or leasing of more than half an acre of city-owned land.

› Attorney general questions legality of rural boundaries in Orange, Seminole [Orlando Sentinel]
The Florida Attorney General’s Office argued in a recent letter that rural boundaries in Seminole and Orange counties are “likely” unconstitutional and violate property owners’ rights, seeming to side with developers who want the protections nullified. The opinion, issued two days before Thanksgiving, came at the request of Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, who specifically asked about Seminole and Orange counties’ rural boundaries, which limit high-density growth in those areas. He did not ask about Lee County, which he represents and doesn’t have a designated rural boundary.

More stories ...

› Neighbors push back on Naples Grande water park plan [Gulfshore Business]
The owners of Naples Grande Beach Resort think a stretched, landscaped pool, several high-rise slides and a lazy river ride will make a delightful amenity for its hotel guests. Neighbors think that idea is all wet. The owners of the beach area hotel at 475 Seagate Drive have submitted pre-application plans to Collier County’s Growth Management and Community Development Department that would turn its seven east side tennis courts into a water playground.

› Boca Raton eyes St. Andrews annexation [Palm Beach Post]
Boca Raton is exploring a major expansion of its city limits as it turns its attention to St. Andrews Country Club, a gated golf community of more than 700 homes just outside the city's western edge. The potential annexation could shift more than $1.3 billion in taxable value from Palm Beach County to Boca while offering residents lower taxes and expanded municipal services, according to city officials. The idea is already creating tension with county officials.

› Up to $6,000 hiring bonus available for new Florida correctional officers [Click Orlando]
The Florida Department of Corrections is offering a hiring bonus of up to $6,000 for new correctional officers at select locations across the state. The bonus is part of a broader effort to attract qualified candidates to serve in Florida’s correctional institutions. FDC is providing a $5,000 hiring bonus at 15 correctional institutions, in addition to the $1,000 bonus already offered at 18 institutions, bringing the total potential hiring bonus to $6,000 for new hires at those locations.

› Tampa startup using AI to build custom curricula for schools [Tampa Bay Business & Wealth]
Riley Walker grew up in a Maine town with a population of 3,072. His sister was an artist who struggled in a rigid school system that offered little room for creativity. Watching her sparked a question that has guided his entire career. How do you make learning personal? How do you make it matter for every student rather than forcing them into the same mold? Those questions now shape ryco, a Tampa education technology company building custom curriculum and interactive learning tools for schools and businesses.

Natalie Alzate: One of Florida’s top YouTube stars