FCAT scores for public elementary and middle schools were announced on Friday, and once again Navarre area schools, with the exception of one, maintained the highest mark. Across Florida, however, there was a huge drop in the number of schools earning an “A” based on cumulative Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores. Additionally, due to stricter grading standards, the state board of education had to take emergency action to prevent many schools from failing.

Santa Rosa Commissioners held hearings last week to start allocating the county’s approximately $100 million budget.  Raises for county employees was a request made repeatedly by constitutional officers to the board, which voted to move forward with the process to increase property taxes three percent to facilitate the $1.35 million needed to fund the pay hike.

As the nation continues to ready itself for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, news broke last week that businesses with more than 50 employees will not be facing fines until 2015 for failing to offer health insurance coverage.