Tampa City Council is scheduled today to hear a proposal that would put needed sting in the penalties for those who trash their neighborhoods. ...more

February 21, 2008

Commissioner Pay Should Be Based On Per Capita Income One way to help the county budget would be to change the way the salary for a county commissioner is determined. The job of county commissioner is a part-time job, but the salary is almost $60,000 per year. According to the 2000 census, the per capita income for Hernando County was $18,321. This means that we would need to have gotten a 325 percent increase and only work part time since 2000 to break even with these part-time employees ...more

February 19, 2008

Hillsborough County Schools have an unworkable and arbitrary school transfer policy that is neither enforceable nor particularly fair. ...more

February 10, 2008

SEBRING — Possible deadlines for an elected or appointed superintendent referendum were announced Thursday night during a School Board of Highlands County workshop. The issue of changing from an elected to an appointed school superintendent has become a hot issue lately amongst parents and residents. Depending upon how the school board handles the issue, residents may have the opportunity later this year to vote on whether board members should appoint future superintendents or keep the current system, which leaves it up to the public to elect them. ...more

February 4, 2008

The single-member district proposal which is being circulated would greatly diminish the power of every voter in our county. I urge all county residents to vigorously oppose the petition drive by not signing it and if it makes it to the ballot, vote "no"! ...more

January 27, 2008

There is no doubt that Florida's property tax system needs to be reformed. This current inequitable system, coupled with rapidly increasing local government spending, has produced tremendous tax increases for many taxpayers. Unfortunately, these are not the taxpayers that Amendment One would help. The Legislature's need to pass something "people will vote for," coupled with a sincere desire to help Floridians who cannot afford to move because of higher taxes, resulted in a proposal that is not only unsatisfactory but also likely to be detrimental. Not to mention that one of the provisions may be unconstitutional. ...more

January 27, 2008

My family and I are new to Florida. As with many newcomers, we were dismayed by local property tax rates and hoped the Legislature would address the issue. ...more

January 25, 2008

Joe Gibbs Racing is lobbying NASCAR to keep the minimum age for the Sprint Cup Series at 18 so the team can promote 17-year-old prodigy Joey Logano as soon as next year, team president J.D. Gibbs said late Tuesday. ...more

January 24, 2008

Whether this letter be in response to those recently expressing consternation of our federal government or to those who may simply question the direction of Highlands County's elected officials, my message remains the same. The familiar phrase, "Of the people, by the people, for the people" means a great deal to me. In my opinion and quite simply put, "Of the people" signifies that we, the citizens, have given or allowed our government certain powers, which also means that we may restrict them as well. "By the people" then gives us the authority to decide those who will serve in elected positions. "For the people," as I read it, implies that those elected are charged with the responsibility to recognize each person's circumstance and to make proper and just decisions accordingly. This is not an enviable position to be in, for sure. In my life, I've found there are times when doing the right thing is not necessarily popular. Equally, I've come to understand that what's popular is not always right. ...more

January 21, 2008

Britain's prime minister called Sunday for overhauling the country's organ donation system to make it easier for doctors to remove body parts from deceased patients without prior consent. ...more

January 14, 2008