Is Florida spending taxpayer dollars efficiently? Here’s what the data tells us
The state budget has become a major talking point in Florida, with Gov. Ron DeSantis and some lawmakers butting heads about how exactly to spend taxpayer funds. But the bigger question is: Are they spending these funds effectively? That’s part of what WalletHub set out to determine with its latest report on the states with the best taxpayer return on investment (ROI). The report examines factors like education and economy to figure out which states garnered the highest taxpayer ROI — and which states might want to take a step back to reevaluate their finances. More from Click Orlando.
World Trade Center sees Miami well positioned in tariff war
As the global market scrambles to adjust to effects of sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Miami is in a unique position to mitigate and withstand the effects, owing to its long-standing reputation and experience as a global trading hub, one observer says. More from Miami Today.
Private equity owns nearly 25% of Tampa Bay apartments, new research shows
Nearly a quarter of apartment units in the Tampa Bay area are owned by private equity firms, according to data released this week by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a non-profit that studies the industry. Researchers from the group set out to track where private equity firms like Blackstone, Greystar and Starwood Capital are buying property. They found that 120 of these companies have amassed at least 8,200 apartment buildings with 2.2 million units in the U.S. That’s about 10% of all apartment units nationwide. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Jacksonville votes to keep food trucks away from gas stations
Jacksonville will make gas stations off-limits to food trucks that cook with open flames after City Council members decided the possible risk of a truck explosion causing gas pumps to catch fire outweighs the benefit gas stations play as high-visibility spots for food truck operators trying to make a living. The ban also will apply to locations that sell any kind of flammable petroleum products unless the food truck can set up at least 300 feet away. More from the Florida Times-Unionand the Jacksonville Daily Record.
History center: New ‘Orlando Collected’ exhibit marks city’s 150th birthday
The Orange County Regional History Center is celebrating the 150th birthday of Orlando with an exhibit that features 150 items that tell the story of the city. The bulk of the items for “Orlando Collected” come from the museum’s vault, and some have never been displayed before. It’s a wide range of artifacts, including seats from Tinker Field, the sign from Ivey’s Drug Store and chopsticks from Little Saigon restaurant. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
A ‘flying car’ over Tampa Bay? Yes, it’s real.
To get 250 feet above the mangroves while flying at least 40 miles an hour, you don’t need a runway. Or even a pilot’s license. With the emerging technology of ultralight all-electric aircraft, all that’s required is a patch of flat land and a sizable sense of adventure — plus two weeks of required training. And some disposable income, of course.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Finance Trends
Banking on AI
With the help of AI, Florida banks are finding efficiencies and better-guided customer service. Yet they also face the challenges of maintaining data privacy and meeting regulatory requirements as they develop custom AI technology. Many consumers are already aware of AI-driven financial assistants (think Fargo from Wells Fargo or Erica from Bank of America) to answer questions or monitor spending or transactions. Employees also use AI to customize product recommendations.
» Read more from Florida Trend.