An outreach program at the David Posnack JCC focuses “not on what separates us, but on what we share,” writes the JCC’s CEO. South Florida doesn’t struggle with diversity — it struggles with what to do with it. That’s why we need to elevate programming that brings together our community by focusing on what we have in common as opposed to our differences. In Broward County alone, more than 2 million people live side by side, representing a striking mix of backgrounds. Hispanic

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about his property tax cut proposal during a news conference at the Florida REALTORS headquarters in Orlando on Monday, March 31, 2025. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) By Marc Wigder PUBLISHED: July 12, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis called state and local governments “laboratories of democracy,” places to test policies without risking the entire country. Florida is about to run one such experiment with its property tax system

By Susannah Bryan South Florida Sun Sentinel For decades, yellow-hued water has flowed from faucets in homes, hotels and restaurants serviced by Fiveash, the 1950s-era Fort Lauderdale water plant that’s way past its prime. But a pricey new water plant dubbed Prospect Lake Clean Water Center is on the rise. And when it opens later this year, crystal-clear water will stream out of its pipes. That clear water will come at a cost: $666 million, which comes to $1.4 billion over th

Con jobs aren’t limited to Ponzi schemes or a promised prize from a fake lottery. Politicians can be just as sneaky. One of the sleaziest scams you’ll ever see is Amendment 3, the assault on local government that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s weak-kneed Legislature put on the November ballot. Here’s what Tallahassee politicians didn’t want to know before acting: State economists said last week it would cost Florida’s local governments nearly $5 billion in real estate taxes

By Abigail Hasebroock South Florida Sun Sentinel Some renters may face higher costs if Florida voters approve property tax cuts on the November ballot — dealing another blow to housing affordability, real estate experts say. To make up for tax-cut losses, local governments might raise tax rates on nonhomesteaded properties, which could include rental properties, said Ken Johnson, the chair of real estate and professor of finance at the University of Mississippi and the founde

By Gray Rohrer News Service of Florida Climate Reporting Network TALLAHASSEE — Two former local elected officials and a nonprofit group filed suit Thursday in Leon County Circuit Court against the property tax cut amendment placed on the November ballot by lawmakers, alleging it is misleading. The group is called Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language and the two officials are Thomas Campenni, former mayor of Stuart, and Michael Davey, former mayor of Key Biscayne. T

(Sun Sentinel Opinion) There is a quiet but unmistakable irony in Gov. DeSantis’ proposal to phase out property taxes on primary residences. He presents it as a liberation for homeowners, a kind of populist gesture meant to shield ordinary Floridians from rising costs. Yet the very structure of Florida’s Constitution, and the long-standing balance between state and local authority, makes his plan not only impractical, but deeply destabilizing for the counties and municipaliti

Misleading numbers and secretive spending aren’t mere glitches in this administration. They are prominent features. But none of it is as destructive as his plan for eventually doing away with homestead property taxes. It’s no coincidence that he gave lawmakers a week to parse the math and three days to approve it. In two days, the Legislature largely went along with a plan for dramatically slashing taxes on a homeowner’s primary residence, a primary source to run all 67 count

the amendment can reduce your federal itemized deduction for state and local taxes (SALT), because you can only deduct what you actually pay in property taxes. And if local governments replace lost revenue with fees instead of taxes, those fees are not deductible at all. Here’s the full picture, clearly laid out. 🟦 1. Your federal SALT deduction goes down if your property taxes go down The IRS allows you to deduct up to $10,000 in state and local taxes (SALT), including: Pro

Opinion / Sun Sentinel The drastic demolition of cities and counties sought by the Legislature is the most irresponsible enactment by Tallahassee since 1861, when an elected convention made Florida the third state to secede from the Union. How did that turn out? Then, as now, the people gambling recklessly with Florida’s future had not thought out the consequences — and didn’t much care. This time is different. Voters have the final say on Nov. 3. The tax scheme will be on th

Clock ticking for cities to make their approvals By Rafael Olmeda South Florida Sun Sentinel With just three months to go before a crucial deadline, Broward County has passed what officials are calling the “linchpin” of the master plan of the Solid Waste Authority’s ambitious effort to massively increase recycling and reduce local trash output. The 28 municipalities that are part of the Solid Waste Authority must vote on adopting the master plan by Aug. 14. The Broward Coun

By Rafael Olmeda South Florida Sun Sentinel Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia briefly took off his fiscal watchdog hat Tuesday to deliver a message more in line with his title as State Fire Marshal: Hurricane season is coming, and it is not too soon to get ready for it. The season starts next Monday, June 1, and runs through Nov.30. “The time to prepare is now,” said Ingoglia, speaking at the fire rescue station in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Stock up on batteri

By Jim Turner andAnaGoñi-Lessan News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE— Florida lawmakers put forward just under 2,000 bills and resolutions as they entered the 2026 legislative session. They returned home Friday having agreed to about 235 measures that await action from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here is what became of 10 key issues: Artificial intelligence. DeSantis’ priorities included creating an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and imposing regulations on massive energy

By Jeffrey Schweers Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE — With only 60 days to pass a full plate of bills and a balanced budget, the Florida Legislature’s grand plans to add property tax cuts to their crowded calendar never had a chance. Lawmakers did not even get a budget out before the close of business Friday, the end of the regular session, much less a complicated ballot measure that would ask voters in November to cut property taxes. So now they will have to return to Tallahass

By Ana Goñi-Lessan News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — An emergency fund used by Gov. Ron DeSantis on immigration enforcement efforts that expired in February will be renewed after lawmakers agreed to extend it Friday, the last day of the legislative session. After the House and Senate battled back and forth for most of the 60-day session, the two chambers struck a deal to extend the fund, but with new rules on how money can be spent. While the bill (SB 7040) includes repor

Legislation bars cities, counties from supporting activities that promote diversity, equality, inclusion By Jeffrey Schweers Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE—One of the most contentious pieces of legislation this session—one that would ban local governments from supporting parades, festivals and other activities promoting diversity, equality and inclusion—is headed to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Florida is where DEI goes to DIE,” declared Rep. Dean Black, the Jacksonville R

By Jim Turner News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE—A proposal to move more condominium policies out of Citizens Property Insurance, the state-run carrier, is headed to Gov.Ron DeSantis. The House voted 88-19 on Monday on a measure (SB 1028)that directs Citizens to establish two clearinghouses for commercial residential and non-residential policies by January 1, 2027. One of the new clearinghouses is for authorized insurers to make takeout offers on commercial residential and n

Local News By Susannah Bryan | sbryan@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: March 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM EDT Tax reform jitters are spreading through cities across the state as legislators move forward with a plan set in motion by Gov. Ron DeSantis to give homesteaded property owners a much-needed tax break. Fort Lauderdale officials say they are well aware of the fiscal fallout that might be coming and are already making plans for what could be a worst-case s

As tax cuts loom, digital billboards, cell towers on table By Abigail Hasebroock South Florida Sun Sentinel With potential property tax cuts on the horizon, Palm Beach County officials are considering creative new sources of revenue that won’t burden taxpayers. The ideas include digital billboards, school-zone cameras, cellphone towers and naming rights. If certain proposed property tax amendments are approved by voters in November, Palm Beach County could lose hundreds of mi

The state House wants to give Floridians a dose of pretty-looking poison, bottled as a massive tax cut and dangled before voters on the November ballot. House Republicans passed a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 203) that would — if 60% of voters approve — eliminate non-school property taxes on about half of Florida homes in 2027. For most cities in Broward and Palm Beach counties, it is a slow-motion fiscal catastrophe. Such a massive tax cut superficially sounds go