Lee Memorial Health System hosts a rally on Thursday calling on local lawmakers to support a measure in the state legislature
to increase the tax on tobacco products.  WGCU’s John Davis reports

Members of Southwest Florida’s business community got a property tax update today (Wed) from Lee County’s Appraiser Ken
Wilkinson.  WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

Florida
lawmakers expect to have budget proposals available within a week.  The
debate continues on how to raise revenue. Some want tax increases while
others wait for stimulus dollars. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this
report.

Florida
lawmakers are gearing up for another session. This time they have to
deal with a serious budget shortfall, debates over taxes and what to do
with federal stimulus money. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez spoke with
Democratic state senator Dave Aronberg about expectations for this
year’s session.

The
Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions is pushing for a new
tax on some small cigarette makers.  The goal is to close a loophole in
the 1998 tobacco settlement agreement.  WGCU’s Chelsey Stoner reports.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – Alex Sink – was at the United Way House in Cape Coral today (Friday) promoting Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day. It’s part of a national effort to get more low-income workers to apply for the often overlooked program. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

Anyone buying a home in Florida pays what’s called the doc stamp tax. The high number of short-sales and foreclosures is raising concerns over who pays the tax and how much is paid out. But as Lynn Hatter reports, the Department of Revenue is offering a tax break in those situations.

Governor Charlie Crist is lashing out at Orlando and other communities across Florida that are raising their property taxes. This week Orlando voted to increase its property taxes by 14 percent - and as Mark Simpson Reports the governor says he’s not impressed.

The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Amendment 5 dispute on Sept. 3rd. As James Call reports, earlier this month, a circuit court judge ordered the so-called tax swap amendment off the November ballot, saying it was misleading on several fronts.

A new effort has kicked off in Miami to cap how much local governments can tax property, while preserving tax savings. But the idea isn't new. It was tried during this year's legislative session, and is identical to another initiative already in the works. Joshua Johnson has more from Miami.