Florida budget forecasters sweating housing starts, ‘Trump effect’

State officials trying to nail down how much money Florida government will have to spend next year confronted two major uncertainties Monday: Whether and when a long-expected surge in housing construction will arrive. And whether Donald Trump will govern as he campaigned. [Source: Florida Politics]

A recall, an ouster, an election, now a do-over in Seminole Tribe

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is considering conducting yet another election to select a chairman, after members complained that the winner of an Oct. 31 vote did not meet residency requirements. The tribe’s board of directors ousted chairman James Billie on Sept. 28, after a recall petition and vote by the board. A month later Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. won the election to be chairman. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Talking Tourism: The basics of how bed tax works

Florida's bed tax or tourist development tax, to give its correct name, was set up to allow “marketing or advertising designed to increase tourist-related business activities." It was created so that tourism promotion is self-funding and does not cost the local population any money. [Source: Northwest Florida Daily News]

FloridaFlex resources fuel company's growth as go-to security resource for U.S. military

Syntech Systems Inc. is well known within commercial and private sectors, as well as U.S. military circles, for fuel and fleet management and security expertise. The company is expanding, but -- “We find it very difficult sometimes to fill technical engineering positions because the talent pool of candidates is far smaller than the need for that particular skillset,” said Lisa Starling, HR Director for the company. Now Syntech is finding top talent with assistance from FloridaFlex, a suite of business support resources available through the CareerSource Florida network.  [Sponsored Report] Read the full story here.

How low will Florida gas prices go?

Prices now are nearly half the historic peak of $4.11 a gallon on July 17, 2008 in Florida. AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins attributes the latest drop to low demand and crude oil prices remaining low. More from TCPalm, and the Miami Herald.

» See current gas prices for your Florida neighborhood in this interactive map.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Bradenton firm goes big in Texas [News Release]
Next Level Administrators, a Bradenton-based workers’ compensation claims administration firm, has opened an office in Dallas. The office, according to a statement, will be a local presence to clients and vendors in the area, including carriers, program managers and self-insured employers.

› New lure protects Florida avocado trees from invasive beetles [AgResearch Magazine]
A new lure will make it easier to monitor and control invasive redbay ambrosia beetles, which are wiping out avocado trees. An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researcher has developed the new tool which will help Florida avocado producers affected by the disease the pest spreads.

› Douglas Elliman acquires Tauriello & Co. of Delray Beach [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Douglas Elliman Real Estate has entered Delray Beach by acquiring the 60-agent Tauriello & Co. Real Estate Inc. Brokerage officials said Delray Beach is becoming a sought-after vacation home destination for clients from the Northeast region of the United States.

› New CEO wants Nathan Benderson Park to do far more than rowing [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The new president and CEO of the nonprofit that runs Nathan Benderson Park is passionate about creating great experiences for people, about the wide-spread benefits of working with community groups and about the need for the park to be constantly busy.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Interest growing in Florida cannabis industry [NBC Miami]
Less than a week after amendment two passed in Florida, which legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, serious interest is growing for the cannabis industry.

› Florida spots among the best small cities in the country [Palm Beach Post]
Looking to escape to a small-town world that is also nearby? Florida has some great options, according to a new ranking. Conde Nast Traveler ranked the top 15 small cities in the country with St. Augustine, Key West and Sarasota making the list.

› Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law linked to homicide increase [TIME]
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which gives widespread legal immunity to people who use lethal force in self-defense, may be responsible for an increase in homicides in the state, according to a new study released Monday.

› As rooftop solar costs drop, Florida utility attempts to raise barriers may not work [Miami Herald]
Developers say that as the cost of installing solar panels drops, the state could quickly become a leader in private solar energy expansion no matter what the energy giants do.