Lawmakers want salary hikes for state workers but there’s a conundrum

As lawmakers craft the 2022-23 state budget, the House and Senate are pushing to boost pay for state employees, local school staffers and certain health care workers. But the two chambers are far apart in getting the job done, and it’s not certain which avenue is better when it comes to doling out the pay raises. As it stands now, the Florida House wants to see a pay increase of 5.38 percent for the state workforce as inflation rises. Meanwhile, the Florida Senate is pushing a minimum wage increase of $15 an hour for state workers and a broader pool of employees. More from the Florida Phoenix.

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Florida Trend joins partnership for “Before You Vote” televised debate project in races for governor, U.S. Senate

Florida Trend, the Sunshine State’s highly respected “Business Authority,” has joined the “Decision 2022: Before You Vote” televised debate project as a key partner in the planned general election faceoffs this fall for Governor and U.S. Senator. The longest-running televised debate project in Florida’s modern history expects national interest in the debates to be held at Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth campus in mid-October. More from Florida Trend.

Manatee and Sarasota counties seek applicants to fill hundreds of job openings

Finding employees has become increasingly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, and local governments are getting creative to help fill hundreds of open positions. Both Manatee and Sarasota counties are preparing special hiring events to attract applicants to fill out their staff. Manatee County has 268 total vacancies as of this week, ranging from custodians and camp counselors to higher-paying jobs like engineers and paramedics. The county had 136 open positions at this same time last year. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Northwest Florida solar companies say new bill will pull the plug on their growing industry

Northwest Florida solar companies are worried they'll soon be turning off the lights on their businesses if a new net metering bill before the Florida Legislature becomes law. Justin Wolf, CEO of Meraki Solar, moved to Pensacola to start his business more than four years ago and now has more than 360 direct employees across Florida and another 300 contracted salespeople all in the business of putting solar panels on the roofs of people's homes. More from the Pensacola News-Journal.

Crystal Lagoons planned for Palm Bay -- and maybe Melbourne and Port Canaveral, too

Crystal Lagoons planned for Palm Bay -- and maybe Melbourne and Port Canaveral, too Rick Neale Florida Today SKIP Man-made, beach-lined Crystal Lagoon complexes are slated for future construction across the Space Coast, with a 10-acre, tropical-style resort advertised for the future Emerald Lakes community in southern Palm Bay. Melbourne and Port Canaveral also are included on Crystal Lagoons' lengthy list of worldwide public-access projects "in different stages of operation, planning, design and construction." But details have not been released. More from Florida Today.