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Studio 67FAC News Clips – May 1, 2026
COUNTY
Orlando Sentinel
Lake board approve school property tax for November ballot
A proposed property tax increase to help Lake County schools will be on the November ballot after the Lake County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to let voters decide if they want to pay more to boost teacher salaries.
Fox 13
Polk County launches one-year pilot program to combat illegal dumping
HAINES CITY, Fla. – Illegal dumping has been on the rise over the past few years in Polk County, and now, the county is testing a customer convenience center to fight the problem.
Orlando Weekly
Orange County accepting applications for film incentive program
Qualified TV commercial and filmmakers can now apply to receive a partial rebate on productions filmed in Orange County — home to the so-called “Most Magical Place on Earth” — by applying for a new film incentive program launched by the county on Tuesday.
PROPERTY TAXES
When In Your State
Florida leaders have spent more than a year discussing major property tax cuts, with proposals evolving across political circles, yet no clear, unified plan has been agreed upon by state officials.
Miami Times Online
Ron DeSantis expects ‘entrenched interests’ to mobilize against property tax vote
Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to excuse the ongoing delays in releasing what seemed months ago to be a clean plan to eliminate homestead property taxes via constitutional amendment.
Florida Traffic
7 states pushing to eliminate property taxes in 2026
Property taxes have long been one of the most frustrating ongoing costs of homeownership.
GRANTS
Lake O News
EPA announces $4.8 million to protect waterways from sewage overflows in Florida
ATLANTA — This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced, on April 30, the availability of approximately $80 million through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs.
TECHNOLOGY
Route-Fifty
With driverless cars a reality, what can cities do to prepare for them?
Speakers at the Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas last week said the shift from pilot programs to implementation has accelerated in the last year, and will keep doing so.
Route-Fifty
How libraries can help the public engage with AI and their local government
With a better understanding of the technology, residents could be more trusting of and engaged with government’s use of AI.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Legislature passes Ron DeSantis’ Republican-friendly congressional map
The map could net Republicans 4 seats in the U.S. House.
FAC News Clips – April 29, 2026
COUNTY
WUWF
PolitiFact FL: DeSantis said Florida’s drought could bring a quieter hurricane season. Is that true?
Florida is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades, causing widespread wildfires and evacuation orders in large swaths of the state.
Alachua Chronicle
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Following the General Public Comment period at the April 28 meeting of the Alachua County Commission, Commissioners made two motions based on requests from the public: one asked staff to move forward with five demands in an anti-ICE petition from Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion (GINI), and one asked County staff and the School Board to review “underutilized” facilities to address family homelessness.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Summertime will sizzle in the Capitol, and debating potential tax relief in the Capitol may be hotter than the swampy weather outside.
Miami Herald
Miami mayor warns of steep cuts if property taxes end
Miami is preparing a budget scenario that would cut a quarter of the city’s spending.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
‘Typical political shenanigans,’ Ron DeSantis complained on X.
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis redistricting plan sets up St. Pete-Manatee clash for representation
The shift appears to be part of a broader effort to dismantle the Tampa Bay region’s Democratic base.
FAC News Clips – April 28, 2026
COUNTY
WTXL
Local governments reviewing programs after DeSantis signs DEI crackdown
DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, FL — Programs benefiting minority communities could be on the chopping block after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation cracking down on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The Apopka Voice
Partnership with Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund will integrate financial counseling and recovery support into disaster preparedness efforts
WPTV
County nears completion of a $15 million beach renourishment project
Crews dumped nearly 400,000 cubic yards of sand on a four-mile stretch of shoreline at Bob Graham Beach
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis still doesn’t have language, votes for ‘revolutionary’ property tax repeal plan
The plan has been teased all year, but the Governor’s Office doesn’t know how it wants to ‘structure’ it.
LEGSLATION
Florida Politics
DeSantis’s map redraw targets Jared Moskowitz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz
The plan would carve up Broward County, shifting coastal and inland voters into dramatically reconfigured districts.
FAC News Clips – April 24, 2026
COUNTY
Wink News
FEMA approves $97M for Florida disaster recovery projects
LAKE MARY, Fla. (WINK)—FEMA announced nearly $97 million in funding to support recovery for past disasters in Florida for Public Assistance projects.
WFLA
Pinellas County sees record-breaking tourism numbers for the start of 2026
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Tourism is booming for Pinellas County as the county recorded its highest-ever hotel bed tax collections for both January and February this year.
DATA CENTERS
WGCU
Okee-One data center in Okeechobee scuttled by county officials
After significant public outcry over excessive electric and water use by data centers, the Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners Thursday decided to scrap a land-use proposal that would have re-designated agricultural land in southern Okeechobee to technology land.
Route-Fifty
Local governments race to attract data centers, often in spite of concerns from their constituents
Communities are sounding the alarm on an industry that stands to have a far greater impact beyond the walls of its warehouses.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Florida Phoenix
Sen. ‘Darth Vader’ wants to rewrite the state’s growth management laws
Ocala GOP Sen. Stan McClain says it’s time for a conversation on adapting Florida Chapter 163.
DOGE
Florida Politics
St. Pete audit finds no wrongdoing despite Blaise Ingoglia’s wasteful spending claims
The findings contrast criticism from Ingoglia, who earlier this year said the city overspent by $49.4M.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
But if they don’t pass what he wants, he’ll simply call another Special Session.
WTXL
Neighbors weigh in on lawmaker property tax relief plans
Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday he plans to call a special session specifically for property tax relief, adding that he wants to see “historic” reform.
LEGISLATION
Orlando Sentinel
Lawmakers reach budget deal, set new May special session
TALLAHASSEE — More than one month after ending the regular session without passing a budget, legislative leaders said Thursday they have a deal on top-line spending levels.
Florida Politics
Special Session to finalize budget set for May 12-29
Senate President Ben Albritton’s memo didn’t spell out other topics to address in the Special Session.
WFSU
Florida municipalities face more limits under new DEI and climate laws
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two measures significantly limiting what Florida’s cities and counties can do with diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental initiatives.
FAC News Clips – April 23, 2026
COUNTY
WGCU
Opposition to data centers mounts; more could come to rural Okeechobee County
Much of southern Okeechobee County is zoned as agricultural land but a proposal to be discussed the county board Thursday could drastically change the rural landscape in this area of grazing cattle and widely scattered housing.
WGCU
As development booms, Sarasota County faces $1.7 billion transportation shortfall
Any driver who has sat through rush hour traffic on one of Sarasota County’s major thoroughfares has experienced the problem firsthand.
PROPERTY TAXES
Miami Herald
Where is DeSantis’ Florida property tax proposal?
When Florida lawmakers return to the state Capitol next week at Ron DeSantis’ behest, one of the governor’s biggest, most-consequential priorities won’t be on the agenda: cutting property taxes.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Budget coming: House and Senate agree on allocations, Session expected in May
Allocations pave the way for budget conferences to begin.
Florida Politics
Governor signs bill shutting down local climate change efforts
Florida blocks local climate efforts as state leaders clash over energy policy.
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis signs measure to change how RV parks are assessed for local fees
Officials may need new data from park operators as occupancy rates become part of the assessment formula.
Flagler Live
DeSantis Signs Bill Banning Local Governments from Implementing Diversity and Fairness Policies
Soon Florida cities and counties will be banned from funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and enacting net zero policies that cut down on greenhouse gases.
Florida Phoenix
DeSantis pressures House to pass AI Bill of Rights, references FSU shooting
“I think voters are going to look and say, ‘Why are you siding with big tech against the people of this state?’”
FAC News Clips – April 22, 2026
COUNTY
Spectrum News
Hillsborough approves $95 million plan to tackle flooding
TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners have signed off on an ambitious set of stormwater improvement projects aimed at reducing flooding and strengthening infrastructure across the region.
CFPM
Orange County chips ICE out of federal agreement, still must accept detainees at jail
Orange County commissioners and Mayor Jerry Demings voted unanimously Tuesday to terminate the section of the county’s Intergovernmental Service Agreement relevant to housing immigration detainees.
DATA CENTERS
Tampa Bay Times
DeSantis officials gave $1.5M to data center campus. They say they were tricked.
The state college behind the plan said the backlash is all based on misinformation.
FEDERAL
Light Reading
Industry groups, local governments at odds over broadband bill
Telecom industry associations are urging Congress to pass a House bill to reform broadband permitting processes, but groups representing local governments and communities are actively opposing the measure.
LEGISLATION
WFSU
Gov. DeSantis has signed a bill making it easier to develop farmland
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation supporters say boosts property rights and helps address Florida’s housing shortage, while critics warn it may increase sprawl and weaken local control.
Click Orlando
DeSantis gets 20 new Florida bills on his desk. Here’s the full list
Nearly 40 laws now signed by Gov. DeSantis so far this year