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What you need to know about Florida today
1 million Floridians to lose Medicaid benefits this year
After Medicaid enrollment soared during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1 million Floridians likely will drop off the health-care program in 2023. Changes will start taking effect in April and end Medicaid coverage for people who are determined to be ineligible, which could have major implications for the health-care system and the state budget. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Business Beat - Week of January 20th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida Dept. of Corrections wants 12% budget hike, to increase prison employee pay again
Florida’s top prison official is calling for lawmakers to raise pay for state prison employees. During a presentation of the Florida Department of Corrections’ budget request for next year, Secretary Ricky Dixon said he wanted to raise the starting salary of correctional officers from $41,600 to $45,760. That would come at a cost of nearly $74 million for the year. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
State, local officials struggle to strike balance on short-term rental regulations
At a city commission meeting last fall in Pinellas County’s Indian Rocks Beach, local resident Jerry Newton’s frustration was evident. The problem? Short-term vacation rentals in his community. It’s the latest battle when it comes to short-term vacation rentals, and there’s more to come. Every year over the past decade, state lawmakers have tried to further limit the ability of local governments to regulate vacation rentals. So far, the efforts have been unsuccessful. More from the Florida Phoenix and Florida Politics.
In Florida, a tropical storm can trigger your hurricane insurance deductible
Virtually all homeowner’s insurance policies have a hurricane deductible, typically equivalent to some percentage of the value of the property. What many homeowners might not know is exactly when damage is considered to be caused by a hurricane. According to Florida statute 627.4025, once a storm has been declared a hurricane by the National Weather Service, all of the destruction it causes is hurricane damage, even if it weakens. What’s more, the deductible goes into effect for any damage that happens within 72 hours of the last hurricane watch or warning issued anywhere in the state. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Jacksonville may outlaw hate speech displays
Jacksonville might make it a crime to project images onto the side of buildings — like the antisemitic displays shown around Jacksonville in recent months. Beaches City Councilman Rory Diamond plans to sponsor a bill making it illegal to project displays onto someone else's building, whether the message is hateful or something else.
› 3,000+ new Orlando hotel rooms under construction. What that means for 2023.
Metro Orlando's hotel industry is busy building new room inventory to kick off 2023. CoStar Group (Nasdaq: CSGP) data provided to Orlando Business Journal shows there are 3,522 new hotel rooms under construction in the region — representing 2.6% of Central Florida's existing inventory of 136,359 rooms. The number of new Orlando hotel rooms under construction is the highest in the state, leading Miami (2,210 rooms), Ft. Lauderdale (1,702) and Tampa (1,564).
› Tampa business advisory firm makes big westward expansion move
LCG Advisors, a Tampa-based financial services advisory firm, has opened an office in Denver as part of a broader growth strategy in the western United States. According to a news release, the company has hired George Helock, a 13-year veteran of professional services industry, to oversee the Denver office as managing director. Prior to joining LCG Advisors, he served as market president of a Denver accounting advisory firm and was responsible for its day-to-day operations, in addition to serving clients in several different industries.
› Broward teachers will receive raises and $1,000 bonuses
Broward teachers will likely get $1,000 bonuses and salary increases of as much as 5% under a tentative contract. Beginning teachers’ salaries will be $48,925, up from $47,500 last year. Teachers under a grandfathered contract that predates 2011 will receive a 4% raise. Teachers hired since 2011, or those who switched to a pay-for-performance contract, will receive a 5% bump if they were rated highly effective on their evaluation and 3.75% if they were rated effective.
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