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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Duval School Board approves tentative $2.6 billion budget and decreased millage rate
The Duval County Public Schools district is planning for a $500 million or roughly 26 percent increase in funds this academic year compared to last year, the 2022-23 tentative budget shows. That additional funding will account for rising fuel costs for school buses, inflation rates impacting big contracts, student scholarships and curriculum enrichment among other things.
› Disney Cruise Line lays out fall 2023 plans including shift to Port Everglades
Disney Cruise Line announced plans for its shiny new fleet deployment for the winter sailing season next year including its first time calling Port Everglades home. Now with new ship Disney Wish, which joined the fleet this summer, the line has to shuffle five vessels. Both Wish and Disney Fantasy will remain parked at the line’s main home at Port Canaveral, but Disney Dream, which left the Orlando-area port for Miami for its first-ever new home port this summer will be changing its return address several times.
› Tobia proposes changes in tourist development tax to give all Brevard hotels grants for marketing
Brevard County Commissioner John Tobia justifies his novel twist on what to do with Brevard's tourist tax, saying he's just trying to be fair. The County Commission earlier this month approved a controversial deal for Driftwood Capital to get up to $30 million in marketing grants over the next 30 years out of money Brevard County collects from its 5% tourist development tax. Tobia was on the short end of that 3-1 vote.
› New Tampa General rehab hospital sells for more than $50 million
Sila Realty Trust has bought Tampa General Hospital’s new rehabilitation hospital building for $51.2 million. The freestanding 80-bed rehabilitation facility opened in May and sits on 3.8 acres on Kennedy Boulevard near downtown. It is about 2 miles from the main hospital and directly next to Tampa General’s behavioral hospital, which is currently under construction.
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