Those considering opening their hearts and wallets during this holiday season are advised to do a background check before donating to charities. ...more

December 3, 2009

City council members will weigh whether to jump on board with Hernando County commissioners on cutting impact fees to 2001 levels or create the city's own impact fee ordinance. ...more

November 15, 2009

The city wants to spend $150,000 to study whether it would benefit from a partnership with Hillsborough County to buy a new computer software system. ...more

September 16, 2009

The Housing and Urban Development Department is using $1.2 billion in stimulus money to fight homelessness. ...more

July 11, 2009

I've had a few questions lately about this idea of Florida getting oil-drilling revenues to help with its sagging budget - and things like schools. If you're swayed by this argument and big oil's latest push to put rigs off the tourism state, then you need to know something: Oil money from federal leases cannot be used for that kind of stuff. It can only be used to clean up the mess and damages from drilling. ...more

June 16, 2009

Pinellas officials had no good news for people who attended a Tuesday night town hall meeting on the county's budget plans for the 2010 fiscal year. ...more

March 4, 2009

One person likened a proposed stimulus plan for Hernando County to a Ponzi scheme the likes of which disgraced investor Bernie Madoff would be proud. ...more

February 12, 2009

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the possible misappropriation of federal grant money loaned to a now-defunct steel manufacturing firm by a local nonprofit housing and employment organization. ...more

February 11, 2009

In an era of falling revenue, the County Commission has taken a LEAP of faith and authorized spending nearly $160,000 on strategic planning for greater efficiency. The county already has its own system, Lean Efficient Accountable Pasco, to stretch every tax dollar. But commissioners believe a firm, ICMA Consulting Services, can help them deliver services better while conserving every penny of revenue. More than 220 cities and counties already get assistance through ICMA's Comparative Performance Measurement Program. ...more

February 4, 2009

Hillsborough County commissioners were divided Wednesday about giving $50,000 in federal funds to a controversial Tampa nonprofit organization, the Housing and Education Alliance. ...more

January 8, 2009