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Studio 67FAC 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.
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.