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Studio 67FAC News Clips – June 3, 2025
COUNTY
Click Orlando
Proposed federal coastal funding cuts would be devastating, Volusia County warns
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County officials are raising alarms over a Republican-backed budget proposal in the U.S. Senate that would eliminate all funding for State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs, funding the county relies on to protect its shoreline, promote tourism, and ensure public safety at the beach.
News 4 Jax
- JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – After several local crashes, St. Johns County commissioners will revisit a proposed e-bike safety ordinance during their meeting Tuesday.
Bradenton Herald
Manatee County to vote on charging developers more for growth
As development booms in Manatee County, leaders want to start charging builders millions more to pay for issues caused by growth.
Flagler Live
The half-cent sales tax increase the county administration proposed to pay for the long-term management and preservation of Flagler County’s 18 miles of beaches died today after weeks of comatose uncertainty. Commissioners Kim Carney and Pam Richardson summarily killed it.
WESH
Lake County is looking how to manage population growth
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Growth is often inevitable — and Lake County is quickly becoming one of the places people want to move to.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Miami Herald
Kevin Guthrie: Florida prepared to take on more of FEMA’s role
On the eve of hurricane season, Florida’s top disaster official promised Floridians that they will see no changes to the state’s hurricane response despite the turmoil at FEMA over staff cuts and proposed slashes to state disaster aid.
WESH
With FEMA cuts, Florida counties prep for hurricane relief burden
ORLANDO, Fla. — The State of Florida and local governments might have to play a bigger role in leading relief and recovery efforts during this year’s hurricane season.
Bay News 9
Duke Energy provides $163K in storm grants to Florida groups
FLORIDA — The Duke Energy Foundation is helping Florida communities prepare for the hurricane season with $163,000 in emergency preparedness and resiliency grants.
ENVIRONMENT
ABC 7
State seeks to halt manatee protection ruling
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WWSB) – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has gone to a federal appeals court after a U.S. district judge last month ruled that the state has violated the Endangered Species Act as manatees face threats in the Indian River Lagoon.
LEGISLATION
Bay News 9
Florida lawmakers strike budget deal, return to Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers will return to Tallahassee on Tuesday after legislative leaders struck a deal on the Florida budget. New and seasoned lawmakers are meeting in Tallahassee to get up to speed ahead of session.
Click Orlando
‘Rural renaissance’ plan, Florida sales tax cut sidelined amid budget battle
Budget deal eliminates tax on commercial leases, offers sales tax exemptions
Florida Politics
Analysis: House tourist development tax plan would cripple Florida’s economy
‘We could soon be watching high-value travelers fly over Florida.’
Florida Politics
House, Senate reach deal on nearly $50B in budget allocations
Agreeing on budget silos is a critical step toward finalizing the budget, and time is ticking.
FEDERAL
WGCU
Homeland Security pulls down list of ‘sanctuary’ cities and counties after backlash
The Department of Homeland Security removed a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” days after the agency posted it on its website.
FAC News Clips – May 29, 2025
COUNTY
Bay News 9
Lake County plans workshops to manage growth surge
TAVARES, Fla. — Lake County officials are looking for community input on how to manage its influx of growth.
Westside Gazette
FPL announces planned upgrades for Broward County to continue building a stronger, smarter grid
The company’s smart grid technology prevented more than 800,000 outages during active 2024 hurricane season.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Click Orlando
Will Florida have a tax holiday ahead of hurricane season? Here’s what to know
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For nearly a decade, Florida residents have been able to depend on an annual sales tax holiday to help prepare for hurricane season.
WTXL
FEMA pulls its strategic plan, signaling an upcoming overhaul of procedures
The multi-year document sets policy and priorities for the department as it responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.
WTSP
Sen. Rick Scott urges hurricane preparations, dismisses FEMA readiness concerns
The Republican joined local officials in Clearwater to urge residents to have hurricane plans in place.
PROPERTY TAXES
Palm Beach Post
Florida property taxes make communities better | Opinion
Property taxes are not a punishment for homeownership. They are an essential investment in the community that makes homeownership worthwhile.
LEGISLATION
Bay News 9
‘Yes, In God’s Backyard’ bill affordable housing solution
- PETERSBURG, Fla. — A church may not be the first that comes to mind when you think of affordable housing, but it will likely be part of the conversation and solution going forward if the governor signs a newly passed bill.
FAC News Clips – May 27, 2025
COUNTY
352 Today
Marion County commission approves impact fees ordinance for MCFR and EMS
OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance on May 23, 2025, that updates the county code relating to fire and rescue fees.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
WPTV
Here is how budget negotiations are impacting the hurricane sales tax holiday
WPTV’s Joel Lopez is speaking to residents while working to hear back from the Florida Department of Revenue on the status of the tax holiday
LEGISLATION
Tampa Bay Times
Florida bill could block communities from rebuilding stronger after hurricanes
Senate Bill 180 would freeze tougher rules for at least two years, potentially allowing developers to rebuild under the same codes that failed to protect property.
WUWF
Lawmakers won’t return to Tallahassee this week to hash out the budget
With the July 1 start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year looming, lawmakers won’t return to Tallahassee this week to resolve a budget impasse.
AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y
Fan 740
ND’s local governments press forward under new property tax laws
BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie News Service) – North Dakota’s legislative session is in the rearview mirror, and the impact of hundreds of bills that were approved is still being assessed.
FAC News Clips – May 22, 2025
COUNTY
Sun-Sentinel
Where to? Ambulance patients may soon get a greater say
Patients who find themselves racing to a hospital in the back of an ambulance may soon be able to tell their drivers which hospital to go to, under a proposal pitched before the Broward County Commission.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Volusia County launches ‘comprehensive’ program for veterans
Billed as a one-of-a-kind community effort among Florida counties, the Volusia Values Veterans Program has officially gotten the green light to launch.
Orlando Sentinel
Builders race to file permits before Osceola’s mobility fee deadline
With a huge hike in development fees looming, homebuilders submitted a deluge of building permits in recent days to Osceola County.
ABC Action News
Commission votes to move forward with repealing Affordable Housing Act
TAMPA, Fla. (WFTS) — Hillsborough County Commissioners voted Wednesday to take the first steps towards repealing the HOPE Affordable Housing Act.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
My Suncoast
Waterway cleanup in Manatee County in high gear as hurricane season looms
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Manatee County is racing against the clock to minimize the threat of flooding ahead of the looming hurricane season.
WPTV
FEMA cuts leave administrators fearing big recovery bills after severe storms
“We don’t know quite how FEMA is going to respond if we end up in a crisis.”
TAXES
TC Palm
Amid deadlock on budget, DeSantis pushes to cut property taxes
No state has yet eliminated property taxes and in Florida they are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of 67 counties and almost half of the state’s 411 cities.
Pensacola News Journal
Esambia leaders ‘no’ on diverting tourism money to property tax relief
A proposed state law could siphon millions of tourism dollars collected by Escambia County and divert the money to property tax relief.
ENVIRONMENT
Spectrum News
Orange County working to protect Shingle Creek basin
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County leaders are working to protect two vulnerable areas that may need additional protections and regulations: the Shingle Creek and St. Johns River basins.
FAC News Clips – May 21, 2025
COUNTY
Herald Tribune
Manatee County plans for spending $252 million disaster recovery grant
Manatee County will invest more than $252 million in federal disaster recovery funds awarded in response to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton in housing repair, infrastructure restoration, and resilience projects.
ABC Action News
Hillsborough County affordable housing funds in jeopardy
A Hillsborough County commissioner is proposing to slash funding for the HOPE Affordable Housing Act, and have it go towards public safety instead.
Bay News 9
Seminole County approves Freebee as new microtransit service
SANFORD, Fla. — A new way for residents to move around is coming to Seminole County.
WPTV
New Field Usage Fees and Parking Hikes Under Consideration
“We want to keep good parks for them to play on, and we are paying for it right now.”
WJHG
Bay County cleans up beach ordinance verbiage
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -With the busy summer season approaching, Bay County Commissioners are updating the language and streamlining their ordinances.
Alachua Chronicle
An Emancipation Day message from Alachua County Chair Charles Chestnut IV
May 20th holds deep historical significance in Florida as it marks the day in 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation was publicly announced in the state.
ENVIRONMENT
First Coast News
St. Johns County leaders, residents celebrate land swap withdrawal as ‘victory’
A state representative vows to find better ways to tighten up loopholes that threaten the development of conservation land.
HURRICANE SEASON
ABC Action News
Florida braces for hurricane season amid budget standoff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a follow-up to a story we brought you last week, the governor’s office says it isn’t sweating the double whammy of hurricane season and a potential state government shutdown.
Orlando Sentinel
As hurricane season looms, DeSantis allays concerns about FEMA
Amid signs of turmoil at the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the Atlantic hurricane season is about to begin, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he isn’t concerned because FEMA isn’t really that important at all.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis signs measure giving counties more power over boat anchoring
Supporters say the new law will help decongest Florida’s waterways. Opponents argue it’ll create an inconsistent patchwork of rules.
FAC News Clips – May 20, 2025
COUNTY
St. Pete Catalyst
Commission explores incentives for affordable housing funds
The demand for affordable housing is only going to increase significantly through 2035, Caitlin Johnson told Pinellas County commissioners May 15.
Bradenton Herald
How will Manatee spend $250M in FL hurricane relief funding?
Manatee County officials are close to deciding how they will use over $250 million in federal grant funds for local hurricane recovery efforts.
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County tax rolls get $5 billion boost from new construction
Twenty-two new apartment complexes were added to the tax rolls last year in Palm Beach County, producing nearly 3,800 rental units. And 3,000 single-family homes were also built.
Bay News 9
Manatee announces county DOGE team
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After federal Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — efforts trickled down to Florida, individual municipalities have started creating their own versions, including in Manatee County.
ENVIRONMENT
WUWF
Judge outlines steps Florida Department of Environmental Protection needs to take to aid manatees
A federal judge Monday ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to take a series of steps aimed at protecting manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon, including requiring it to go through a federal permitting process and temporarily preventing new septic tanks in the area.
Fox 13
Manatee County wetland protections on hold after response from state
BRADENTON, Fla. – It was supposed to be a final vote to restore wetland buffers in Manatee County.
LEGISLATION
Click Orlando
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs biggest batch of new laws yet. Here’s the full list
New laws cover motor crimes, boating issues, and more
FEDERAL
Route-Fifty
At least 20 states have reportedly lost digital equity grant funding
States across the country have had their grant funding pulled after President Donald Trump announced he was ending the program. Program supporters say they are plotting their next steps.