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Studio 67FAC News Clips – August 6, 2026
COUNTY
Wink News
Local governments must finalize budgets before Florida voters decide on property taxes
LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Florida voters won’t decide the fate of Amendment 3 until November, but cities and counties across the state don’t have that luxury.
WESH
Orange County advisory task force weighs billions in tourist tax project requests
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Billions of dollars in funding requests are on the table as some of Central Florida’s largest venues and tourism projects compete for a share of Orange County’s tourist tax dollars.
Flagler Live
Flagler County’s 911 Team Recognized for Membership in ‘Missing Kids Readiness Program’
The Flagler County Emergency Communications Center team was recently recognized for its membership in the “Missing Kids Readiness Program” at the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) National Conference by the National Center Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Orlando Weekly
Orange County expands medical debt relief initiative
Since 2024, the county has eliminated over $637 million in medical debt for more than 427,000 Orange County residents.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Democratic lawmakers join advisory committee for anti-Amendment 3 push
The plan to increase homestead exemptions strikes them as a scam.
News 4 Jax
What needs to change after judge orders Florida property tax amendment must be reworded for ballot?
You’ll still find the Florida Property Tax Amendment on the ballot in November. It will just be worded differently.
Click Orlando
Here’s what lawmakers cut from Florida Gov. DeSantis’ property tax plan
Latest amendment will go to voters in November
WPTV
Florida property-tax amendment faces growing opposition
Groups representing police, firefighters, sheriffs, hospitals, cities and counties have raised alarms about Amendment 3, warning it could drain nearly $12 billion annually from local governments.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
News 4 Jax
St. Johns County takes first step toward challenging Florida’s agricultural enclave law in court
- JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County commissioners voted Tuesday to have the County Attorney’s Office explore whether the county has legal grounds to challenge Florida’s agricultural enclave law, Senate Bill 686.
DATA CENTERS
Mid Florida Newspaper
County weighs data center moratorium as AI infrastructure questions grow
Lake County officials are weighing a temporary ban on data center development while they draft local rules to address the fast-growing demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
FAC News Clips – August 5, 2026
COUNTY
Ocala News
Marion seeking $25,000 state grant to provide bear-resistant trash cans to local residents
Marion County is looking to receive a grant from the state that would subsidize the distribution of bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters to certain local residents, with officials noting that unsecured residential garbage remains the leading driver of human-bear conflicts across Florida.
Positively Osceola
Osceola School Tax Referendum Heads to November Ballot After Required Action by County Commissioners
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Osceola County voters will decide this November whether to approve a proposed 1-mill operational property tax for the School District of Osceola County after the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners voted Monday to place the measure on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
Sun Sentinel
Florida county aims to slash exotic animal imports after Sloth World deaths
Orange County commissioners want to clamp down on the importation of exotic animals for commercial entertainment following the deaths of dozens of animals at Sloth World, a controversial attraction that never opened.
PROPERTY TAXES
WFLA
Uthmeier faces deadline for rewrite of property tax measure
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Work is underway to rewrite the state’s property tax amendment for November ballots.
Local 10
Florida officials not deterred after push for property tax reform hits snag
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A proposal to dramatically cut homeowners property taxes in Florida is facing a hurdle in making the November ballot.
The Apopka Voice
Florida Sheriffs Association is ‘significantly concerned’ about Amendment 3
The law enforcement organization says there are ‘a few things voters deserve to be aware of.’
Miami Herald
Eliminating property taxes will hurt Miami affordability
This November, Florida voters will be asked to decide on the most radical restructuring of Florida’s tax system in decades.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Bradenton Herald
Manatee County voters to decide $75M land conservation plan
Manatee County could spend up to $75 million to protect land from development if voters approve a new property tax this fall.
Jax Today
St. Johns County considers challenge to agricultural development law
St. Johns County will investigate the possibility of going to court to challenge a law that could lead to the development of local agricultural land.
FAC News Clips – August 4, 2026
COUNTY
West Orlando News
Orange County Mayor Received Public Leadership in Arts Award
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings received a public leadership in the arts award.
Daytona Beach News Journal
Flagler Beach restoration to continue with $34M Reach 2 contract
Nearly two years after completing the Phase 1 of its five-phase beach restoration project, Flagler County is taking the next major step.
PROPERTY TAXES
Tampa Bay Times
Florida judge rules property tax amendment misleading, orders rewrite
TALLAHASSEE — The property tax proposal initially pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis can’t appear on the ballot the way his office wrote it, a Tallahassee judge ruled late Monday night.
Florida Politics
‘More akin to a political slogan’: Judge orders rewrite of property tax amendment’s ballot language
The amendment stays on the ballot, but Attorney General has 10 days to rewrite the sales pitch as a description.
Florida Politics
‘I think for those counties, you set a funding formula.’
Florida Politics
Sheriffs warn that Amendment 3 hurts home rule in latest opposition to homestead exemption hike
The Florida Sheriffs Association is joining other public safety groups leading the opposition.
Florida Politics
Jay Collins says property tax amendment puts first responders ‘at risk,’ but he backs it anyway
The LG says a funding fix can be worked out after the amendment passes.
DATA CENTERS
TC Palm
Data centers Florida map shows 111. What about on the Treasure Coast?
One city and one county on Florida’s Treasure Coast have joined the growing list of places prohibiting hyperscale data centers.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Legislature sets 2027 Session dates, with Committee meetings beginning this Fall
Committee meetings will run about 2 months before the Regular Session begins March 2.
FAC News Clips – July 31, 2026
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Bradenton Herald
Can St. Johns County block new ‘ag enclave’ developments?
Signed into law in April and effective July 1, SB 686 is designed to convert agricultural parcels that are surrounded by development into development sites by sidestepping the traditional – and lengthy – comprehensive plan amendment process.
Orlando Sentinel
State law forces Orange County vote on controversial 1,400-acre Sustanee site
The developers behind the Sustanee project are making a renewed push for their repeatedly rejected plan to build a housing subdivision in rural east Orange County, using a new state law to declare their planned 1,800-home community an “agricultural enclave” that local officials would have limited ability to control.
PROPERTY TAXES
Bradenton Herald
Sarasota County braces for impact of Florida property tax change vote
Florida’s property tax system has been in place for 58 years.
WLRN
Between inflation, rising car and property insurance premiums and the costs of contending with extreme weather, many Florida homeowners are feeling financially squeezed.
Mid Florida Newspaper
Property tax clash gets day in court
TALLAHASSEE — A Leon Circuit Court judge heard arguments Wednesday over whether the property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot is misleading to voters.
Florida Politics
Voters reject property tax initiative once they understand what’s at stake, pollster says
Is Florida going to be the next California?
DATA CENTERS
Bradenton Herald
Manatee County FL moves to pause AI data center construction
After urging from residents, commissioners voted to move forward with a moratorium on data centers in Manatee County Tuesday.
CYBERSECURITY
Bradenton Herald
Cyber defense agency warns hackers increasingly targeting water systems
The U.S. government’s civilian cyber defense agency on Thursday warned of a significant increase in hackers targeting technology used to maintain and control water and wastewater systems, and said operators of such systems should remove them from the internet as soon as possible.
FAC News Clips – July 23, 2026
COUNTY
Bradenton Herald
Manatee County pauses hiring amid budget and tax uncertainty
A Manatee County Government hiring freeze in effect for the past six months is impacting county services as local officials brace for major budget changes.
Bradenton Herald
Volusia County sets preliminary tax rates. Higher bills ahead?
Despite about a 5% drop in the overall Volusia County budget, tax bills are likely to increase for some residents this year.
Bradenton Herald
Volusia launches first-of-its-kind domestic abuser list in Florida
DELAND – A public database that will put information about domestic violence offenders online received 6-1 approval from the Volusia County Council on July 21.
PROPERTY TAXES
Bradenton Herald
Florida county would be hardest-hit by Amendment 3 property-tax reform
St. Lucie County government will be the hardest-hit economically in the state if voters approve a statewide property-tax reform measure in November designed to give homeowners a tax break.
Miami Times Online
Amendment 3 can pass — but only if voters never learn what it does, new UNF poll finds
New polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows Amendment 3 has a narrow path to passage on Florida’s General Election ballot this November — but this is contingent almost entirely on voters not knowing what the measure would do to local budgets.
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida firefighters join fight against Amendment 3 tax cut
They said they cannot support ‘a proposal that could jeopardize the services Floridians depend on every day.’
TC Palm
Florida tax reform might mean firefighter layoffs or service cuts
Martin County Fire Rescue stands to lose $16.5 million over two years.
Florida Politics
‘You can’t harm them’: Jay Collins wants a grant program for Florida’s fiscally constrained counties
Without a state backstop, the ‘math is very challenging’ for them.
DATA CENTERS
Wind FM
Marion County Commissioners Schedule Data Center Workshop Amid Strong Public Opposition
OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to schedule a workshop on data centers for Sept.
LEGISLATION
Click Orlando
Here are all of the failed amendments in Florida this year
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Over 200 new laws were approved this year in Florida, though many other bills failed to pass the Legislature.
FAC 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.