New proposal would scuttle tax ‘holidays’
For the first time in 16 years, the state wouldn’t offer sales-tax “holidays” under a House proposal that calls for an overall cut in sales taxes. The House Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a $5.43 billion package dominated by House Speaker Daniel Perez’ proposal to lower the state’s sales-tax rate from 6 percent to 5.25 percent. The package, which will be a key issue in upcoming budget negotiations between the House and Senate, also would reduce a commercial-lease tax from 2 percent to 1.25 percent, along with sales taxes on mobile home sales, electricity and games such as pinball machines. [Source: News Service of Florida]
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Online success
This fall, the University of Tampa will launch an online MBA program geared toward working professionals, complementing its existing in-person programs. The university has long considered adding an online MBA program, but Amy Harris, director of graduate business programs at the UT Sykes College of Business, says the team has struggled to make the idea compatible with the UT brand of providing high-touch and high-quality studies. [Source: Florida Trend]
Appeals court rules against sugar industry in quest to secure water meant for Everglades restoration
Florida’s sugar industry failed to convince a federal appeals court that it is the rightful owner of hundreds of billions of gallons of water that will be sent to a future reservoir that’s part of the Everglades restoration plans. United States Sugar Corporation and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida tried to convince the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals that the sugar growers, after being denied in 2008 a portion of water they take from Lake Okeechobee, deserved the same portion of water a decade for now from the Everglades super-reservoir. [Source: WGCU]
Restaurant work comes with few safeguards. A new Florida organization wants to help.
The restaurant and food service industry is the country’s second-largest private sector employer, providing 15.5 million jobs, according to the National Restaurant Association. In Florida, roughly 1.3 million people work in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Out of the Weeds is a new foundation that seeks to help Florida hospitality workers by offering financial relief. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Record-breaking seaweed in Atlantic could mean stinky beaches in Florida
Levels of floating seaweed mats have skyrocketed in the Atlantic Ocean in the past month, with the total amount breaking the record for March. The seaweed travels on ocean currents across the Atlantic and through the Gulf of Mexico, often washing up on beaches and causing a stinky mess in both the Caribbean region and along Florida’s east coast. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› $270K study may finally answer: Why does Mount Dora smell funny?
Out in Mount Dora, east of U.S. Highway 441, a strong odor has plagued the nasal passages of area residents for years. The mystery smell, described by Mount Dora Mayor James Homich as “more industrial than sewer,” has been a consistent source of annoyance and confusion for those in the city. Now the City of Mount Dora and Lake County have each pitched in $135,000 towards an odor evaluation study that officials believe could be the first step in identifying – and then, hopefully, eliminating – the stench for good.
› Fidelity National Financial defies market
In a generally dismal first quarter for stocks, Fidelity National Financial Inc. defied the market, rising 16%. At least one analyst expects the Jacksonville-based title insurance company to continue outperforming the market as the housing outlook improves.
› Tropicana Field needs more than a new roof. A peek inside
Workers had to punch holes in never-before-used drains underneath the baseball diamond so that when it rains, the water inside Tropicana Field has somewhere to go. What Hurricane Milton did to the Trop looks even more apocalyptic from the inside than it does from outside. Only a skeleton of the roof remains. Remediation specialists have pulled plastic over field lights, tied tarps over seats, lined up sandbags and sealed off openings to prevent further damage.
› Major industrial lease in Apopka bucks trend as Orlando vacancy hits 10-year high
A massive industrial facility in Apopka scored a major lease as the demand for large spaces slows. Apparel manufacturer Legendary Holdings signed a 10-year lease for a 283,170-square-foot facility at 5101 Wesley Road. The building is part of the four-building Orlando-Apopka Commerce Center, owned by Pennsylvania-based EQT Exeter Properties.
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› TV host Jeff Corwin studies manatees in Crystal River for ‘Extraordinary World’ show
Jeff Corwin, a biologist and conservationist who has hosted TV shows for nearly three decades, loves Florida’s manatees. In fact, sea cows were featured in the second episode of his very first series. Now Corwin is experiencing a full-circle moment as he returns to Florida to survey the gentle giants of Crystal River, joining government agencies and nonprofits to conduct a health survey following last year’s tumultuous hurricane season and a few years of large-scale manatee die-offs.
› CSG Systems in Crawfordville shutting down, terminating all employees
Roughly 100 employees were laid off last month at CSG Systems, Inc., in Crawfordville. It's an affiliate of an international accounting company specializing in billing and payment solutions. In a two-page "Notice of Facility Closure" dated March 25, Senior Vice President and General Manager Tommy York detailed the jobs and departments impacted by the elimination of the job site on 509 Commerce Boulevard.
› Brickell in line for its own circulator transit system
After picking up over 23,000 riders in its first 16 months, the Freebee Downtown Circulator is gearing up to expand into Brickell this year, fueled by new state funding. The free service, a partnership between the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Freebee, offers eco-friendly transit through Miami’s bustling urban core.
› Blue Man Group postpones launch of new Orlando show
Blue Man Group’s return to Orlando has been delayed again. Performances were scheduled to begin April 3 in a new 580-seat theater at Icon Park, in the shadow of the Orlando Eye observation wheel on International Drive. But construction on the theater is not complete, and the official Blue Man website now designates that it will be “opening soon in Orlando” rather than a specific date, month or season.