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Studio 67FAC News Clips – July 15, 2026
COUNTY
WFLA
Hillsborough commissioners to vote on $650 million for water, wastewater projects
TAMPA, Fla. – Hillsborough County commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday on a plan to finance $650 million for water and wastewater projects across the county.
Bradenton Herald
Flagler BOCC sets tentative $333M budget. What about property taxes?
FLAGLER COUNTY – Because of the unusual devaluation of property values in the county this year, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a tentative property tax rate of 7.99 for FY 2026-27, the same rate adopted in 2025-26.
WTXL
Leon County delays vote on $1.6M Flock camera grant
Dozens of residents spoke out against expanding automated license plate reader technology during nearly two hours of public comment.
Alachua Chronicle
Alachua County adopts rolled-back rate for property taxes, leaves other rates flat for FY27
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a short evening meeting on July 14, the Alachua County Commission set its proposed tax rates and fees for FY2027.
PROPERTY TAXES
Bradenton Herald
Seminole leaders warn of drastic cut in services if voters approve tax referendum
Seminole County would see a potential loss of up to $119 million in annual revenues by 2028 if Florida voters choose to slash property taxes in November, according to a county budget analysis.
Florida Politics
Ahead of budget rollout, Donna Deegan warns against Council putting spending ‘below the line’
City Council has proposed ‘below the line’ funding in case a property tax cut amendment passes in November, but Deegan warns that could hold funds hostage.
Lake Okeechobee
Okeechobee could lose $12 million in revenue under property tax amendment
OKEECHOBEE- Local government in Okeechobee County is set to lose $12 million in revenue annually if voters approve the cuts to property taxes on the ballot this November.
WESH
Sanford could close, sell parks if property tax amendment passes, leaders say
SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford city commissioners on Monday discussed potential cuts to parks and recreation services as a proposed property tax amendment could lead to an 18% reduction in the city’s general fund over two years.
DATA CENTERS
Bradenton Herald
It’s unanimous: Leon County bans new data centers for 18 months
It’s unanimous: The Leon County Commission has said ‘no’ to data centers for the time being through a vote at its July 14 meeting, agreeing to an 18-month moratorium.
CBS 12
Commissioners advance data center moratorium plan
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — Less than 24 hours before county commissioners vote on the controversial Project Tango AI data center, they unanimously advanced a proposal that could lead to a moratorium on future large-scale data centers.
WEATHER
Florida Politics
National Hurricane Center keeping close eye on potential weather system in the Gulf
The weather system could develop within the next week.
FAC News Clips – July 14, 2026
COUNTY
Bradenton Herald
Brevard scored millions in state funding. Here’s what it means
When people ask what happens during the legislative session, they often think only about the bills that become law.
Stet News
Putting a price on public beaches: County weighs parking fees
Proposal would raise $7 million a year toward balancing county’s $2.2 billion spending plan.
WTXL
Wakulla County may raise the fire fee
Commissioners approved raising the fire services fee to $277 and plans separate EMS fee currently funded by property taxes.
The Apopka Voice
Orange County launches free boot camp to help small businesses navigate county services
Four-part “Opening Doors” series will guide entrepreneurs through zoning, permitting, business development and procurement opportunities
CFP Public
Orange County seeks to give Vision 2050 another try without breaking state law
Orange County staff will update commissioners Tuesday on efforts to bring the county’s new comprehensive plan, Vision 2050, into compliance with a controversial state law that restricts local government planning.
PROPERTY TAXES
Longboat Key News
Not Just Sarasota: Across Florida, Governments Are Freezing Hiring Before the November Tax Vote
From Citrus County to Leon to Fort Myers, Florida governments are freezing hiring and drafting severance plans months before a single vote is cast — while the fight over whether Amendment 3 is overdue relief or a cost shift heads toward a November reckoning.
Islander News
Business leaders expect confusion over Amendment 3 as voters prepare to decide whether to begin phasing out homeowner property taxes
Orlando Sentinel
Commentary: The fate of property taxes in our laboratory of democracy
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis called state and local governments “laboratories of democracy,” places to test policies without risking the entire country.
WETLANDS
Tampa Bay Times
‘A handout to developers’? New Florida law has meant more Tampa Bay wetlands filled in
More than 32 acres of wetlands were destroyed in Hillsborough County under the new law.
DATA CENTERS
Bradenton Herald
Flagler moves ahead with data center moratorium amid calls for clarity
BUNNELL – With continued concerns over the potential impacts data centers may have on communities across the country, Flagler County is trying to get ahead of any major issues.
WPBF
Judge denies emergency motion to block Palm Beach County data center project
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge denied an emergency motion for a temporary injunction to halt or delay Project Tango, a proposed data center project in western Palm Beach County.
FAC News Clips – July 13, 2026
COUNTY
CNW
Palm Beach County programs earn national recognition, rank second in Florida
Palm Beach County has received 39 national Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), ranking second among Florida counties for the number of awards earned.
PROPERTY TAXES
WUWF
How the property tax amendment could reshape funding for Florida’s public hospitals
In November, Florida voters will decide whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce property taxes for homeowners across the state.
Bradenton Herald
Most readers oppose Florida’s property tax plan, poll finds
A Florida readers poll on support for Amendment 3, the GOP-led property tax overhaul showed the majority of residents oppose the measure, which would offer a significant tax cut but would potentially drain municipalities of money needed to fund essential services.
Florida Politics
Amendment 3 opposition keeps growing — and a ‘yes’ campaign is nowhere in sight
A new committee vows to ‘Save Our Services’ as Ron DeSantis stays sidelined
LEGISLATION
Bradenton Herald
Suncoast lawmakers hollowed out home rule — do voters care?
On a late afternoon in May, Sarasota County’s statehouse liaison explained to a group of residents how a controversial state law required county staff to approve large apartment projects despite heavy opposition.
FAC News Clips – July 7, 2026
COUNTY
WCTV
Taylor County Commission votes down data center moratorium, residents wonder what comes next
PERRY, Fla. (WCTV) – Taylor County Commissioners met Monday night to discuss several key topics for the county including, approval for a local option fuel tax ordinance and a Steinhatchee seafood facility study.
WFLA
Manatee County sees 56% drop in opioid deaths — the biggest decrease in Florida
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — There’s been a major turnaround in Manatee County’s fight against the opioid epidemic.
WGCU
Charlotte County Community Services wins 27 national awards for local programs
Charlotte County Community Services received 27 national awards last month, recognizing community programs and a local park.
Keys News
County officials and staff attend conference in Orlando
Monroe County elected officials and senior staff attended the annual Florida Association of Counties (FAC), Florida Association of County Managers (FACM), Florida Association of County Attorneys (FACA), and Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents (FACERS) in Orlando recently.
Florida Politics
FEMA funding headed to four municipalities impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022
Charlotte County, Palatka, Seminole County and Port of the Islands municipalities have Ian recovery funds earmarked for them.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
‘What the Legislature did wasn’t my proposal.’
Florida Politics
Could property tax relief cost Florida more? New group says yes.
New opposition campaign warns property tax amendment threatens essential local government services.
Midflorida Newspaper
DeSantis: Property tax on ballot ‘wasn’t my proposal’
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to put some distance between himself and a property tax measure he pushed for that is going before voters in November.
WLRN
A new PAC has formed to lobby against passing the property tax referendum
A political action committee has been incorporated in Tampa to lobby against the property tax referendum on November’s ballot.
WFLA
Poll: Florida’s property tax relief amendment has enough support to pass
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Government and political public relations firm Sachs Media has released findings after a survey about the property tax relief ballot measure.
DOGE
Bradenton Herald
DeSantis gives update on state DOGE audit of Manatee budget
Gov. Ron DeSantis provided a long-awaited update to the state’s fiscal audit of Manatee County Government, criticizing some previous decisions as “questionable.”
LEGISLATION
News 4 Jax
Here’s why Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoed e-bike speed limits
Over 200 new laws approved this year
Click Orlando
These new Florida tax rules just took effect. Here’s what you should know
Another 11 bills signed into law on Monday
Florida Politics
Long live the king: Gov. DeSantis vetoes sovereign immunity bill
Lawmakers scaled back the proposal’s liability limits before final passage to build wider support, which evidently didn’t extend to the Governor’s Office.
FAC News Clips – June 17, 2026
COUNTY
Fox 13
Hillsborough County leaders divided over proposed property tax reform amendment
TAMPA, Fla. – Hillsborough County leaders are preparing to discuss a new report that warns of significant budget challenges if Florida voters approve a proposed property tax reform amendment this November.
Observer Local News
Flagler County Commissioners weigh budget effects of proposed property tax reform
County commissioners review preliminary estimates and discuss how a proposed constitutional amendment could affect future revenues and local services.
Tallahassee Reports
Leon County Commission Addresses Budget Issues
During a budget workshop, Leon County Commissioners considered some changes to cut expenses if taxpayers vote to roll back property taxes this fall.
Yours Sun
DeSoto County data center defies negative image
Social media, and even Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have spread dire concerns over the development and impact of data centers in Florida and the nation.
SNNTV
‘It’s perfectly doable’: Manatee Commissioners request review for vacation rental ordinance
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Manatee County residents are at odds over short-term rentals, as some say they leave them with long-term problems.
PROPERTY TAXES
My Panhandle
FAC report: Panhandle counties among hardest hit if property tax cuts pass
FLORIDA (WMBB) – The Florida Association of Counties has released the amounts each county is expected to lose if property tax cuts are approved by voters.
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis wants court challenge to property tax amendment settled ‘pretty quickly’
Timing matters since Election Supervisors have work to do.
Tampa Bay Times
DeSantis’ property tax plan could be unconstitutional. Here’s why
The Florida Supreme Court has already shot down a 5-year residency requirement for property tax benefits.
Orlando Sentinel
Property tax cuts could hurt local government credit ratings
A massive overhaul of the state’s property tax structure being pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis would have a sweeping impact on the financial stability of local governments across Florida and place devastating constraints on their ability to borrow money, according to three of the nation’s biggest credit rating agencies.
Tampa Bay Times
Floridians should think twice before embracing property tax elimination | Column
Few things unite homeowners more than their shared disdain for rising property taxes.
DOGE
WFLA
Florida’s CFO: Palm Beach County Spends Tax Money Like ‘Drunken Sailors’
Sharing an update on what he calls ‘excessive spending,’ Florida’s chief financial officer paid a visit to Boca Raton.
FLGFC
TBBW
UTampa seeks $150M for 833-bed housing project
The University of Tampa is seeking up to $150 million in bond financing for a student housing development planned at 110 South Boulevard, providing the first public indication of the project’s financial scale.
LEGISLATION
News 4 Jax
Gov. DeSantis signs 14 more bills. Here’s the list of what’s new to Florida law
On the same day that he touted the signing of five bills related to law enforcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another 14 bills into state law.
Florida Politics
To veto or not? All eyes are on Gov. DeSantis, sovereign immunity bill
Records show the bill drew 242 lobbyist registrations.
FAC News Clips – June 11, 2026
COUNTY
Bradenton Herald
How property tax changes could reshape Manatee’s budget
As Manatee County budget talks started this week, officials stressed how proposed changes to property taxes would drastically cut the county’s funding.
WFLA
‘A terrible job’: Hernando Commission rejects fire department’s request for tax hike
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Hernando County officials heard presentations from Hernando County Fire Rescue and the Public Safety Director Wednesday, where first responders asked for a tax increase between 4% to 6% for improvements to infrastructure, new fire stations, improved equipment, and increased staffing.
Jax Today
St. Johns County announces new young professionals program
St. Johns County and the local chamber of commerce are partnering to launch a new program for young professionals and other business-minded young people.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
‘They took out what I had proposed.’
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County fears $71M loss after Florida property tax cut
Commissioner Christian Caban was a voice of positivity amid the gloomy outlook saying “we will get through this.”
WGCU
Rural governments sounding the alarm over impending November vote on property tax plan
Hendry is one of the state’s 29 fiscally constrained counties. Collectively, the small counties with a slow-growing tax base represent nearly half of Florida.
CW 34
DeSantis says state may use surplus to help some communities if property tax relief passes
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he supports using state surplus money to help some local governments fund essential services if voters approve a property tax relief measure.
Florida Politics
Semantic schism: Ron DeSantis rebukes Wall Street Journal jab at ‘progressive’ property tax measure
The Governor gets pushback from the corporatist right.
WPTV
Palm Beach County leaders brace for property tax reform impact on local budget
County commissioners are already facing a budget gap and could lose hundreds of millions if voters approve a property tax referendum
DOGE
Sun Sentinel
Florida DOGE team turns its focus to Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale now finds itself under the scrutiny of the Florida Department of Government Efficiency, just as the city is bracing for possible passage of a ballot measure in November that would impose statewide property tax cuts.