In 1998, the average national cost of a new home was $129,300, and people's annual average income was $38,100. ...more

February 22, 2008

It's not too early to start thinking about next Christmas, and some Pasco County government officials and environmentalists are. They're eyeing the 12,500-acre Cross Bar Ranch in the central part of the county, east of U.S. 41 and north of State Road 52, for preservation and continued public ownership. ...more

December 26, 2007

House Speaker Marco Rubio came to town Friday with a Christmas wish of sorts. The Republican from West Miami stood in the hall of the brand-new VFW Post 10209 and implored an audience of more than 100 do more than just sign a petition to get a property tax amendment on the November ballot. ...more

December 21, 2007

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio comes to town today to talk taxes. ...more

December 20, 2007

Now that one of Florida's top politicians is coming here next week to rally residents around a new tax plan, some might want to do a little homework beforehand. ...more

December 14, 2007

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is set for a visit next week to rally residents around a new tax amendment proposal. ...more

December 12, 2007

The Tampa Bay Rays' proposal for a new waterfront baseball stadium made no mention of wanting money from St. Petersburg or Pinellas County taxpayers. ...more

November 14, 2007

Every morning, a hired car picks up Margie Conner at her north Lakeland home and drives her 20 or so miles to Bartow and the school district transportation center. A round trip can cost more than $50. ...more

October 25, 2007

Every morning, a hired car picks up Margie Conner at her north Lakeland home and drives her 20 or so miles to Bartow and the school district transportation center. A round trip can cost more than $50. Once there, the 58-year-old school bus driver reports to a guard shack, where she sits alone doing nothing for nearly six hours – at $11 an hour. Sometimes she reads a book. She gets two 15 minute breaks and uses the bathroom at the main office. At the end of the day, another hired car takes her home. All this is paid for by Polk County taxpayers, roughly $1,700 so far. ...more

October 24, 2007

Regarding 'Spending The Future' (front page, Oct. 12): Surprisingly, current and past county commission members have nearly spent all the projected tax revenue. These commissioners, like homeowners who irresponsibly borrowed (I mean gambled) on future home values, have put Hillsborough County taxpayers in jeopardy. ...more

October 14, 2007