County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the upcoming 2008-09 fiscal year – the same rate homeowners paid this year. Property owners will, however, save an estimated $115 each in the coming year, however, thanks to statewide property tax reform, a slow economy and a trimmed down budget of $980 million. Homeowners in August will receive notices from the property appraiser showing their estimated taxes for the coming year. Those in the county's fire and rescue taxing district also must pay 99.6 cents per $1,000 as well as school taxes, water district and mosquito control district fees and other assessments. Those in municipalities pay local taxes. ...more

July 23, 2008

In Florida, where the grass stays green year-round, mowing the lawn isn't optional. ...more

July 23, 2008

A hoteliers' forum was abuzz with rumors this morning about what the new owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning might do with the valuable downtown real estate surrounding the St. Pete Times Forum. ...more

July 22, 2008

The red ink is mounting for airlines amid soaring fuel costs, leaving them little choice but to further increase ticket prices. As Delta Air Lines and American Airlines reported big second-quarter losses last week, they signaled customers should expect more hits to their checkbooks. ...more

July 22, 2008

Coldwell Banker recently surveyed its sales associates to evaluate the effect of rising gasoline prices on their customers and trends toward urban living with interesting results, company officials say. ...more

July 20, 2008

Customers of Tampa Electric Co. should brace themselves for a hefty increase in their monthly electric bill next year. ...more

July 19, 2008

As fuel prices soar and airlines trim flights, savvy travelers are booking holiday air travel months early to be assured of a seat. ...more

July 18, 2008

The nation's leaders are running out of answers to America's economic crisis. ...more

July 16, 2008

In the near future, you may want to make sure your lawn's mowed and you don't have your car gathering cob webs out front when you see anything resembling a stylish golf cart drive by. ...more

July 16, 2008

We were inside a small pottery shop in the North Carolina mountains, and that's like being in a Cuban restaurant in West Tampa: They are everywhere. ...more

July 14, 2008