Florida’s population to increase by 1.4M people by 2030
A report released Tuesday says Florida’s population could grow by 1.4 million people by 2030, and cautions that inflation’s effects could linger into 2027. The quarterly economic performance report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Florida Taxwatch group examined key trends in population growth, employment, income, GDP and tourism and predicts the state’s economy could hit some headwinds by 2027 before recovering by 2030. More from The Center Square.
Williams International to build $1B aviation engine plant in Florida
Boeing supplier Williams International is spending more than $1 billion to establish a gas-powered turbine engine manufacturing site in Okaloosa County. The site will be built in three phases. Williams’s first facility is set to be completed in late 2026, followed by another 250,000-square-foot plant expected to be completed in Q4 2028 and a 500,000-square-foot facility set for completion between 2035 and 2036. More from Manufacturing Dive.
Is building ‘out of control?’ Manatee County wants developers to pay more for it.
As development booms in Manatee County, leaders want to start charging builders millions more to pay for issues caused by growth. At a recent meeting, commissioners reviewed a plan to raise impact fee rates for local development to the maximum allowed by state law. The one-time fees collected from developers help pay for infrastructure like new roads, water and sewer utilities, schools, parks, libraries and emergency services. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Santa Ono rejected as the University of Florida’s next president
In a stunning move, the board that oversees Florida's higher education system voted against the confirmation of Dr. Santa Ono, formerly president of the University of Michigan, as the University of Florida's 14th president. It's the first time in the history of the 17-member Florida Board of Governors (BOG), the governing body for the state's 12 public universities, that it voted down a university trustee board's leadership selection. More from the Gainesville Sun and the Jacksonville Daily Record.
$50 million pay package for Slide Insurance’s leading executives draws criticism
The latest disclosures provoked sharp comments from critics suspicious of insurance industry claims of financial hardship earlier in this decade. Those claims led to reforms that shielded companies from paying most litigation costs brought by plaintiffs while raising costs for policyholders to dispute their insurers’ claims decisions. The Tampa-based company reported a net income of $288 million for the two years — or 13% of gross premium of $2.2 billion collected over the same period. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Transportation
Do Miami Beach residents want Metromover?
Miami Beach’s elected leaders oppose extending Metromover service to South Beach — but the city’s residents strongly support the county transit project, according to a new tax-funded poll. The survey comes from a county transit board that has long championed a “Baylink” transit line connecting downtown Miami to the Beach. Conducted by Bendixen & Amandi, a Miami polling firm, the survey found 79% of Miami Beach residents support a mass-transit link to the mainland.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Out of the Box
This flower at Selby Gardens blooms just once a year, and you can see for free
The Queen of the Night cactus plant is one of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ crown jewels, drawing close to 400 people last year to witness its one-night-only birth of spectacular blooms. The Sarasota garden sent out a notice this week that it will have a free viewing of Selenicereus, the night-blooming cactus, from 7 to 11 p.m. But they don’t know which night it will happen yet.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.