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Studio 67FAC News Clips – August 11, 2026
COUNTY
Alachua County
Alachua County Leaders Appointed to NACo Committees
Alachua County is proud to recognize five county leaders who will be serving in leadership and advisory roles with the National Association of Counties (NACo), bringing their expertise to national discussions on human services, transportation, public safety, agriculture and other issues affecting communities across the country.
Citrus County
Citrus County Earns 17 National Achievement Awards for Effective Government Programs
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2026) — Citrus County has been recognized with 17 2026 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services.
American Infrastructure
NACo urges Congress to maintain existing transportation funding
The National Association of Counties (NACo) urged Congress to maintain full funding levels for surface transportation by extending it in a pair of letters to the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
World Atlas
Cities That Are Also Their Own County
Local government in the United States is typically structured with cities nested inside counties. Two unique groups of exceptions exist, however, in which a city and a county become one and the same, or where the county layer is completely absent.
104.5
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan joins Jacksonville’s Morning News each month.
The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee on Thursday will begin its first of multiple reviews of Mayor Donna Deegan’s $2 billion budget.
Orange Observer
Orange County recognized for its Single Parent Captive Insurer initiative
The county’s Risk Management Division was recognized for its efforts by the National Association of Counties.
PROPERTY TAXES
FL Voice News
Uthmeier: Law enforcement should have been involved in property tax exemption proposal
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier told Florida’s Voice on Monday that the rollout of the ballot title and summary for a proposed constitutional amendment expanding Florida’s homestead property tax exemption should have included greater transparency and input from law enforcement leaders.
WFLA
Tampa afterschool programs at risk if property tax amendment passes
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — School is back in session in Hillsborough County which means hundreds of families will be relying on afterschool programs.
CW 34
Florida property tax amendment raises questions about funding for first responders
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida’s proposed property tax amendment is raising questions about how local governments would continue funding essential services if they collect less tax revenue.
CBS 12
Will Amendment 3 lower your property tax bill? Property appraiser says it’s not guaranteed
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — If Florida voters approve Amendment 3 this November, their taxable property values would go down — but Martin County Property Appraiser Jenny Fields says no one can promise homeowners their final property tax bills will go down with them.
STATE
Bradenton Herald
In Polk, DeSantis touts Florida as leader in ‘flying-car’ development
AUBURNDALE – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis strode toward a lectern, accompanied by the theme from “The Jetsons,” the 1960s cartoon about a futuristic family.
WUWF
Federal parks, public lands need $680 million in repairs in Florida. Park lovers say there’s a fix
The wear and tear on Florida’s national parks and public lands, regularly hammered by increasingly intense hurricanes, throngs of visitors and cuts in funding, has fueled a ballooning statewide maintenance backlog that has swelled to $687 million in the last five years.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Midflorida Newspaper
HB 399: What it means for local government
One of the Legislature’s most significant land use bills this year is House Bill 399.
FAC News Clips – August 10, 2026
COUNTY
Click Orlando
REPORT: Florida ranks among best states to live in. Here’s why it placed so high
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida landed in the top 10 of WalletHub’s new list of the best states to live in, ranking No. 10 overall in the latest analysis that compared all 50 states across several metrics tied to livability.
Alachua Chronicle
Alachua County Commission to consider ICE resolution on Tuesday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, August 11, Alachua County Commissioners will consider a resolution “expressing community concerns regarding law enforcement practices, affirming compliance with [state laws], and encouraging transparency in law enforcement identification.”
PROPERTY TAXES
WUSF
Why sheriffs have concerns over the property tax amendment
On “The Florida Roundup,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods talked about how tax cuts could potentially affect public safety across the state.
Palm Beach Post
Why renters could pay the price for Florida’s property tax break
Camilo Mejía, director of policy and advocacy at the nonprofit Catalyst Miami, knows many Florida homeowners see Amendment 3 as a lifeline, a property tax break in a state that is becoming more unaffordable every day.
Florida Politics
The draft language is ‘great.’
DATA CENTERS
98.7 Gator
Palm Beach County Zoning Commission Approves AI Data Center Moratorium
Palm Beach County’s zoning commission is unanimously recommending a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Daniel Perez to resign as House Speaker after Senate confirms Brazil ambassadorship
Perez is leaving roughly 3 months before his Speakership was already scheduled to conclude.
AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y
Route-Fifty
Lack of broadband service, funding gives rise to telehealth services in rural clinics
Clinics with better internet connections are now offering telehealth services to patients who can’t do it from their homes.
FAC 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.