THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 2009
MIAMI-DADE:
Schools Chief Unveils Budget Plan
Miami-Dade Schools Chief Alberto Carvalho on Wednesday unveiled a plan to save the district $56 million -- and balance the budget -- before the fiscal year ends in June. The proposal, discussed at a meeting with The Miami Herald's editorial board, includes $21 million in cuts to nonschool spending and $8 million in cuts to schools. Carvalho also said he would ask employees to defer payment for an unspecified number of work days until the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. The overall savings to this year's budget from the deferred payments would be $27 million. [Source: Miami Herald]
TAMPA:
Riches on the Table in Casino Expansion
The Seminole Tribe of Florida plans to spend nearly $800 million to expand the Tampa Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. But it's far from a done deal. The tribe will move ahead only if the Legislature passes essentially the same gambling compact the tribe struck with Gov. Charlie Crist, which was thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court. Legislators have various ideas about tinkering with the agreement. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
ORLANDO:
Office Vacancy Rates Soar to Record High
The good news is that no more office space is in the "pipeline" right now for downtown Orlando. But with the economy ailing and companies shrinking rather than growing, the amount of space still available continues to press on rents and property sales. The office vacancy rate in Orlando's central business district ended last year at 17.4 percent -- more than double the recent low of 8.7 percent set in 2006. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
DUVAL COUNTY:
Wellcare to Drop Medicaid Program
Almost 37,000 Duval County Medicaid patients will have to find a new health-care plan by May 1 because WellCare told the state that it will stop offering coverage under the state’s reform pilot program. The decision does not affect programs in Baker, Clay or Nassau counties. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
» Related from Miami Herald: Wellcare Ditching Medicaid Reform Program
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Senate adds $15,000 Tax Credit to Stimulus Bill
President Barack Obama warns of need for stimulus bill right away. The stimulus legislation is growing larger by the day in the Senate, where the addition of a new tax break for homebuyers sent the price tag well past $900 billion.
› More Federal Foreclosure Aid Coming to Florida
Some bright spots punctuated the gallows humor running through a convention of shopping center executives recently: A few pizza restaurants, dental practices and discount retailers are expanding aggressively in the Tampa Bay area.
›State Farm Execs Explain Decision to Leave Florida
State Farm Florida has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the state in the last decade and risks insolvency if it continues writing property insurance here, company executives told a legislative committee. Related articles: Can Florida's Little Guys Replace State Farm?
... Insurers Balk at Bay Area's Risk
› Nadel Partners Accused of Fraud
A Fort Lauderdale investor who lost $5.8 million with Scoop Management Inc. has filed a fraud suit against Neil and Chris Moody, general partners in three of Scoop's hedge funds.The civil suit, filed in Sarasota County circuit court, marks the first time that the father-and-son financial team has faced legal action in connection with the implosion of the hedge fund group it helped start and manage with Arthur G. Nadel.
› Crist: Florida Must Have Fair Share of Stimulus
Meeting with business leaders from around the state Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Crist expressed his optimism that the federal economic stimulus plan will pass and that Florida will emerge from a struggling economy as it has in the past.
› Palm Beach Garden Could Rezone 2,024 Acres
About 40 percent of the city will be conservation land if a rezoning ordinance is approved Thursday and again on second reading March 5. "This shows our commitment to protecting the environment and preventing urban sprawl," said Planning Manager Nilsa Zacarias.
› Founder of Miami Architecture Firm Accused of Deception
Architecture firm Revuelta Vega Leon has had a hand in shaping Miami's skyline. Recently, though, the principals had a falling out, and founder Luis O. Revuelta left the firm. Now, the remaining principals are accusing Revuelta of acting underhandedly by operating his own firm while simultaneously serving as Revuelta Vega Leon's chairman and president.
› Southwest Florida Faces 'Extreme Water Shortage'
For the first time since 2001, the region is in a severe drought and local governments are about to be ordered to start aggressively fining residents who violate watering rules.The region's water stores have dropped to levels usually seen at the end of a dry season instead of at the start of one. In response to that, and to forecasts of a potential worsening of the drought, a state regulator is expected to soon declare an "extreme water shortage."
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Bense Named Vice Chairman of Enterprise Florida
Local businessman and former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense has been appointed vice chairman of Enterprise Florida Inc., where he will play an instrumental role in fostering statewide economic development.
› SunRail in Central Florida Gets Push from Crist
Backers of central Florida's $1.2 billion commuter-rail project are leaving the starting gate in Tallahassee much earlier than last year, attempting to head off the criticism and economic concerns that stalled the mass-transit initiative last session.
"Who could be against SunRail?" Gov. Charlie Crist asked.
› Arizona Chemical to Idle its Port St. Joe Plant
Arizona Chemical announced today that, due to economic conditions, the company will idle its Port St. Joe operations for two weeks beginning Friday.
› Consultant: Dade City Landfill Plan Flawed
The design of a proposed 90-acre landfill near Dade City violates state regulations and has flaws so serious that a redesign may be necessary to protect the environment, says an engineering consultant who had been hired by the company that wants to build the landfill.
› Lennar Merges Tampa, Orlando Divisions
Lennar, one of Florida's leading home builders, said that it has merged its Tampa Bay and Orlando divisions to form a single nine-county Central Florida Division. Mark Metheny, who has served as president of Lennar's Tampa Bay division since 2006, was appointed president of the new division.
› Attorney General Settles with Two Cruise Lines
Miami-based Oceania Cruises and Fort Lauderdale-based Classic Cruises Holdings, which does business as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, have agreed to refund about $3 million to U.S. consumers who were charged a fuel surcharge after they had booked their cruises.
editorial
› Catholic School Closings a Bad Sign
For South Floridians looking to educate their children outside the public school system, the choices are dwindling. Six Catholic schools are closing, and the city-operated charter school system in Pembroke Pines is struggling to survive.
More on this topic from Florida Trend:
The Power of School Choice
› For Sale: Extra Beds at Pinellas County Jail
Sheriff Jim Coats will meet with Florida Corrections Secretary Walt McNeil in Tallahassee on Friday to discuss housing state prison inmates in the jail — for a price.