News Archive

With first-time unemployment claims spiking last week, a top Florida economist is cautioning that the vital, but battered, tourism industry is in for another difficult spring because of COVID-19.

Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, told lawmakers Wednesday that despite improved tax-revenue numbers for December, big-spending foreign tourists aren’t expected to flock to Florida in the coming months because of the pandemic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday proposed a record $96.6 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, offering a more upbeat picture of Florida’s finances than lawmakers who will have to stitch together a spending plan as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper the economy.

During a news conference at the Capitol, DeSantis said his proposal would increase funding for public schools, continue funneling money into environmental issues such as Everglades restoration and direct dollars to initiatives like helping address sea-level rise.

Santa Rosa County School District’s impact fees are justified.

That was the finding of a new study into the legally contested fees on new construction presented to the school board Jan. 19.

Santa Rosa Commissioner Chairman Dave Piech was racing against the clock.

Like others who’d signed up to bend the ear of the three legislators for Santa Rosa County last week, he had three minutes to make his pitch, which included two requests totaling $1.5 million.

First a pandemic, then a hurricane, then a bridge closure.

Gulf Breeze businesses have not caught a break this past year.