Arts groups grapple with Florida's funding formula
Unlike in 2024 when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all money for the arts, the legislative purse has opened a bit in 2026. But many of the pillars of arts and culture are so far looking at no funding from the state. Elected or appointed government officials who are responsible for “who gets what” in a hundred different arenas must every year weigh the merits of the arts supplicants who come looking for money, and balance them against the actual money available – and the possibility of vetoes. More from Tallahassee Democrat.
Property tax cuts could end up squeezing some Florida renters
Some renters may face higher costs if Florida voters approve property tax cuts on the November ballot — dealing another blow to housing affordability, real estate experts say. To make up for tax-cut losses, local governments might raise tax rates on non-homesteaded properties, which could include rental properties, said Ken Johnson, the chair of real estate and professor of finance at the University of Mississippi and the founder of Florida Atlantic University’s Real Estate Initiative. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
‘Once in a lifetime exhibition’: Founding-era U.S. documents on display in Miami
Starting on Saturday, Miamians can come face-to-face with the centuries-old documents behind America’s independence and democracy — for free. “Documents That Forged a Nation,” a touring exhibition of nine founding-era documents from the U.S. National Archives, is on display at the Museum of Miami until July 5. More from the Miami Herald.
Blue Origin eyes Space Perspective's former balloon factory in Titusville
The former balloon-building facility was used by the defunct space tourism company Space Perspective, which was evicted for unpaid rent. Blue Origin is in discussions with airport officials seeking locations for future manufacturing and bulk storage operations. Blue Origin is also undergoing a $600 million expansion at its Merritt Island rocket factory. More from Florida Today.
Clearwater wealth management firm acquired
A California-registered investment advisory firm is continuing to expand its presence in Florida. Modern Wealth Management has acquired Clearwater-based Flaharty Asset Management, which oversees approximately $1.1 billion in advisory and brokerage assets. The deal was announced earlier this month. More from the St. Pete Catalyst.
Business Beat - Week of June 19th
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AI lifeline?
Anil Menon, dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, uses the term "permacrisis" to describe the onslaught of challenges the nonprofit sector must confront. "We are living through permacrisis — not a temporary disruption but a permanent condition of compounding instability: fracturing political orders, collapsing alliances and technology eliminating entire categories of certainty," he says.
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