Florida’s property tax reduction plan heads to voters
The November election just got even more important in Florida. State lawmakers on Tuesday approved a ballot proposal to reduce property taxes, which fund local government services. Legislative Republicans say the taxes have gotten too expensive and local officials have been spending too much. But even some on the GOP side voiced concerns about what would happen to those services, especially in rural, financially-constrained counties. Despite that, all but a couple voted yes. More from WUSF and WPTV.
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» ‘People are going to get hurt’: Tax collector on legislature approving property tax relief plan
Podcast
Executive Perspective: Shirl Penney
Florida Trend President and Publisher David Denor and Executive Editor Amy Keller sit down with Shirl Penney, President and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners for a discussion about the wealth management platform's metrics and methods. Shirl dives into his personal background and how it shaped his motivation and management style, while exploring the mechanics of the financial unicorn's operation and path to success. [Source: Florida Trend]
Column: In Florida, the AI race and data centers meet hurricane season
The global AI race won’t be won in Silicon Valley alone. It may hinge just as much on whether places like Florida can keep the lights on after a hurricane. The United States is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the infrastructure that will power artificial intelligence, cloud computing, advanced wireless networks, and immersive technologies. But too much of the debate treats data centers as self-contained fortresses — as if the story ends at the server rack. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Can Florida arts funding survive DeSantis' veto pen?
State funding for the arts has been volatile, peaking at $59 million in 2022 before being entirely vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. The funding is split between vetted grant programs and legislator-requested projects for building and renovating cultural facilities. Some lawmakers have expressed concern that the process has become politicized, with the final budget awaiting Gov. DeSantis's review and potential vetoes. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Florida Sales tax holiday may be ahead for gun buyers, many other items
Florida state lawmakers approved a tax package that includes tax breaks for Floridians who hunt, fish, or camp, and revised the back-to-school tax holiday. The Senate voted 29-6, and the House 88-11, on the package on Friday, May 29. The package is estimated to cut state and local revenue by $272.2 million, including $105 million in state general fund revenue in the next fiscal year. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa space company to build floating launchpads for Firefly, Vaya rockets
Within days, prototype construction work should begin on Seagate Space's floating platforms that may someday launch Firefly Aerospace and Vaya Space rockets skyward off the Florida coastline. While SpaceX and Blue Origin deploy ships that serve as offshore landing platforms for rocket boosters, Seagate Space aims to launch rockets from sea.
› St. Pete venture fund surpasses $1B milestone in four years
The Ark Venture Fund, based in St. Petersburg, officially surpassed $1 billion in assets under management, according to a Tuesday announcement. Launched by renowned investor Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest in September 2022, the fund was designed to democratize venture capital by allowing individual retail investors access to high-growth private and public technology company investments, according to its website. Wood moved Ark Invest from New York City to St. Petersburg in 2021.
› Tijuana Flats reopens franchising after successful brand relaunch
After exiting bankruptcy, being acquired and undergoing a relaunch, Winter Park-based restaurant chain Tijuana Flats has reopened franchising opportunities. Its parent company, Maitland-based Latitude Food Group, announced this move in a news release. Chief Development Officer Brett Willis said the team has worked toward this milestone since acquiring Tijuana Flats in November 2025.
› Delray Beach earns USA TODAY's top beach honor for 3rd straight year
The crown for Florida’s best beach is staying put in Palm Beach County for a third consecutive year. Delray Beach is once again ranked No. 1 in USA TODAY’s annual “10Best” list of the best beaches in Florida, selected by a panel of travel experts and then voted on by the readers.
More stories ...
› Sources identify Pepsi as a 1 million-square-foot North Jacksonville tenant
Pattillo Industrial Real Estate’s proposed 1.11 million-square-foot warehouse in its NorthPoint Industrial Park in North Jacksonville has generated industry speculation about a distribution center tenant. That tenant is Pepsi North America, according to Jacksonville-area industrial market observers, who say Pepsi is on the radar for the site. Pepsi officials have not responded to requests for comment.
› Affordable housing in Miami gets a boost with incentives for small developers
Lynda Harris has owned vacant lots in North Miami and Brownsville for years. Harris is part of a program run by the nonprofit Miami Homes for All, which supports small-scale developers and landowners looking to build affordable housing or refurbish existing units. Miami Homes for All launched the Small-Scale Affordable Development Alliance last week after running it as a pilot program for several years.
› HART bus changes stir questions about public transit in Hillsborough
At an unshaded bus stop in Ruskin, with a scuffed bicycle leaning against her hip, Christina Carter waited. And she waited. And she waited some more. Carter’s struggles exemplify the difficulty for Tampa Bay residents who do not drive in a metropolitan area with limited public transportation. And transit advocates say the changes strike at the core of a debate around the future of the regional bus agency: With a majority of riders concentrated in densely populated Tampa, should the agency’s limited resources be focused there, too?
› $70 million MOSI fieldhouse could get June funding vote
A proposed $70 million fieldhouse at the Museum of Science & Industry could move closer to construction this month after Tampa Sports Authority staff recommended Suffolk Construction for the project’s construction manager-at-risk contract. Suffolk’s proposal estimates the project will cost about $70 million and could be completed in as little as 18 months, compared with an estimated 24-month construction schedule.