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Local Issues 2008 |
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* Yes, bring on the Boston Red Sox to Sarasota, they would be a much bigger draw for the area. Talks are in the process.
* OMG Jennings and Buchanan are going to go head to head again in 2008?
Gov. Charlie Crist tells reporters Allstate Insurance agents should work for a more ethical company. The state claims Allstate won't release 100's of documents to prove their requested rate increases. 4-11-08
* As upwards of 40% of our nations bee colonies have disappeared, Florida beekeepers head to California to help pollinate the state.
"made great strides in addressing the needs of the new generation of digital learners by focusing on rigor, relevance and relationships in the classroom."
* Sarasota Charter Board to review putting appointed Sheriff position on ballot. The Sarasota County Sheriff budget is around $90 million a year.
* Manatee County Schools to invest over $16 million in TV studio and building. Are they in the education field or a TV broadcaster? Why don't they contract out TV services to a local TV station? We hate to know how much Sarasota County and their schools spends on TV production.
* Airport director initiates study to replace air-traffic control tower at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
* 80% of homeowner's insurance
rates have not been lowered as promised by Florida
regulators.
* UF may cut summer school to help make up for recent budget cut of $16 million.
* Sarasota man, Daniel Prewett, and his staff may be in deep trouble. The IRS says they defrauded the government out of $130 million in income taxes by claiming false write offs for their local tax clients. The company Hewitt Jackson/ JS Accounting had over 7,500 local clients. One dentist wrote off his $800K yacht. Mr. Prewett escaped to Italy and is in custody there. Mr. Prewett was not an Investment Advisor as defined in Florida and erroneously reported in other publications.
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Longboat Key Club to get $500 million dress up. With a Ritz-Carlton in the area and a Waldorf planned the club needs to play catch up.
* SHT newspaper nominated for the 1st time for a Pultizer prize. Kudos!
* Charlotte County stuck with $100 million loan after developer backs out of deal to buy land.
* Sarasota Bradenton Airport traffic up over 12% in February from the previous year.
* Sarasota County cuts almost $6 million from current budget. 3-08
At least two Manatee elected officials, the elections supervisor and clerk of the courts collect retirement benefits while also getting to get paid full time salaries. The State needs to correct a loophole that allows for this double dipping costing the State over $300 million last year alone.
Here comes the new Waldorf-Astoria to downtown Sarasota. It is expected to be finished in about 2 years.
* The Florida Building Commission today recommended to the Legislature that new buildings along Florida’s coast that will be insured by the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation be built to stronger standards than current building codes require.
* 52% of voters cast a ballot in Sarasota County in the primary, a record setting number.
* Sarasota Memorial breaks ground for a medical center in a lucrative Manatee development Heritage Harbor. Manatee Hospital isn't happy with them moving in their turf.
* From 2004 to 2005 Manatee County school budget increased 25% by over $200 million. Then in 2006 it went up $50 million. In 2007 it went down $130 million. Now they are screaming about more possible cuts. Gov. Crist though has proposed another $138 million statewide.
* Sarasota County Commissioners turn down mail in ballot system. And talk about debating making Sheriff's position an appointed one rather then elected. In other action they approved a payment for damages to the tune of $65K to a developer. Commissioner Mercier says Fruitville Rd. will have traffic problems.
* For the past umpteen years the Sarasota metro area only had one TV service provider. Now we have two, Comcast and Verizon. Verizon was just named the Consumers Report Best Bet for their Verizon FiOS service which gives you TV, phone and Internet. Thank you Verizon and the Sarasota County Commissioners for opening up the market and giving us a choice.
* Sarasota Realtor Bill Furst said
he became so frustrated with the increasing assessments
throughout Sarasota County that he announced this week
he has decided to run against Property Appraiser Jim
Todora in the upcoming Republican primary in August.
* Tampa developer offering new
homes for $120,000.
* New report shows Florida 38th in education. Now
that's a record to not be proud of.
* Sarasota County says it
will keep at least some camping at $6 million dollar
beach property it bought two years ago.
* Over 20,000 Manatee and
Sarasota residents request absentee ballots for
January 29th primary elections and voter amendment to
lower taxes.
* Local prominent builder plans to
give up to $100K rebate on homes bought over a 10
year period. Benderson is offering the deals on homes in a
1000 unit sub-division in Port Charlotte.
* New study shows cell
phone drivers slow traffic down and help create
gridlock. We knew that you can see it up and down
U.S. 41.
* Sarasota County pursues
opening Midnight Pass at meeting with state next month.
* Sarasota County looks at $14 million loss of revenue if voters approve statewide tax measure this month. |
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