FAC 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 

LIVE: With e-bike crashes on the rise, St. Johns County commissioners consider hot-button safety ordinance proposal 

  1. 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 

County Kills Half-Cent Sales Tax for Beaches as It Seeks Mystery ‘Alternatives’ to Save 18 Miles of Shoreline  

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 

  1. 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.