A $3.3 billion gulf: Here are the budget fault lines dividing the Florida House and Senate

A $3.3 billion bottom-line difference divides spending plans in the Legislature, with the House and Senate awash in dollars from a recovering state economy layered on top of COVID-19 relief aid from Washington. A $3.3 billion gap sounds like a lot. But it’s easier to grasp – and for lawmakers to narrow – when viewed as smaller differences scattered across scores of spending priorities and involving a few million dollars here and there. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

Business Beat - Week of February 18th

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Florida's undersea world

There are more than 3,900 artificial reefs off the coast of Florida and growing. In fact, the number of artificial reefs in the state increased 65% between 2011 and 2020, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They are homes to the wonders of what lies beneath. But you don’t have to be underwater to appreciate them or enjoy the benefits they offer. Artificial reefs have a $3.1 billion impact on Florida’s economy, providing about 39,000 jobs and $250 million in state revenue, according to a 2014 study done for the FWC called “Measuring Florida Artificial Reef Economic Benefits: A Synthesis.” [Source: Florida Weekly]

Florida CFO to FCC: Block spam calls for free

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis wrote a letter to the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday urging them to require all cellphone carriers to provide free, comprehensive spam blocking services to all customers. "It is imperative that these robocalls be curbed immediately," wrote Patronis. "I am aware that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been working to combat robocalls;[1] however, I want to urge the FCC to require all cellphone carriers to provide free, comprehensive spam blocking services to all customers." [Source: WTXL]

Florida roads to get specialty license plate that celebrates going off-road

The newest specialty license plate headed for Florida’s vehicles may be more popular off of its highways than on. The “Explore Off-Road” Florida tag that raised money for the Florida Off-Road Foundation achieved the 3,000 preorders necessary for it to be put into production. The nonprofit’s stated goals are to protect and preserve Florida’s off-road culture and natural heritage; to educate Floridians about responsible use of the off-road environment; to support search and rescue volunteer programs to promote use of off-road vehicles to assist law enforcement; and to restore Florida’s off-road trails and natural habitat through organized cleanups, restorations and expansion. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tampa Electric fuel cost hike supported [News Service of Florida]
Tampa Electric Co. should be able to collect more money from customers starting in April because of higher-than-expected fuel costs for power plants, staff members of the Florida Public Service Commission recommended Thursday. The utility last month sought approval to pass along an additional $165 million in fuel costs to customers. The Public Service Commission is scheduled to take up the issue March 1.

› Inter Miami signs multi-year sponsorship deal with City National Bank [Miami Herald]
Inter Miami will kick off its third season next week with a new-look roster, a new pink jersey, and a new major sponsor. The club announced Thursday morning that it entered a multi-year partnership with City National Bank (CNB), one of the largest Florida-based banks. Under the partnership, CNB becomes The Official Bank of Inter Miami CF, marking the bank’s first alignment with a major league sports team as the bank expands its brand awareness and reach throughout South Florida and across the state.

› Hundreds hope to get hired as Orlando’s live event industry comes roaring back [WFTV]
Orlando’s major event venues are back in hiring mode as they prepare for a full slate of events in 2022. Amway Center alone has more than 50 non-recurring events on the books this year, as opposed to the usual 35 to 40. Down the road, Camping World Stadium has five concerts planned, with the possibility of more. Typically, the venue has two or fewer.

› Retail theft on the rise in Southwest Florida [WINK]
People steal almost everything from designer clothing, baby formula and even razors from Southwest Florida stores. Authorities say thieves do it most of the time to sell the stolen goods. If you think retail theft is soaring, you’re right, and in the end, you pay for it. “At the end of the day, they’re going to jack up the prices of the items that are stolen. So ultimately, it trickles back to the consumer,” said Trish Routte with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› SeaWorld’s bid to buy Cedar Fair theme park company is rejected [Orlando Sentinel]
SeaWorld Entertainment will not acquire Ohio-based regional theme park operator Cedar Fair after its offer for the company was rejected. SeaWorld, which has its headquarters in Orlando, announced the companies could not reach an agreement in a statement Tuesday evening. “In response to inquiries from various stakeholders, we confirm that our offer to acquire Cedar Fair was rejected,” it read. “Unfortunately, we do not see a path to a transaction.”

› Upgrades are in the works at Jacksonville Transportation and Aviation authorities [Floridda Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will provide some additions to its regional transportation center. An interior buildout has been approved for the second floor of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at 100 Lavilla Center Drive. It will add about 3,946 square feet to the center and cost $625,200. Auld & White Constructors LLC is the contractor.

› Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival brings sounds, culture of Scotland to Central Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
The rolling hills of Lake County will soon resemble the landscape of Scotland, complete with the sounds of bagpipes floating through the air, as the annual Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival returns. The celebration of Scottish, Irish and Celtic culture takes place Feb. 19-20 in and around the city’s Donnelly Park. Guests can explore clans and heritage, browse vendors, see Highland athletics and get a taste of Scotland through food and sound.

› Apartment project to bring workforce housing to North Bay Village [Miami Herald]
Workforce housing is coming for the first time to a village surrounded by Biscayne Bay. North Bay Village is slated for a 21-story apartment rental community called Shoma Bay with 327 apartments at the corner of 79th Street Causeway and East Treasure Drive. Seventeen of those apartments, or 5% of the building, will be reserved for discounted workforce housing. The rest of the units will have pricing, which has yet to be determined, to compete with other apartment rental buildings.