Superintendent vs. County: In a debate watched by construction and related industries, Hillsborough County's proposal to use money earmarked for school construction to build new roads is a bad idea and probably illegalOfficials fight tax cut: With early voting started and the primary election nearing, government officials are stepping up the campaign to defeat a constitutional amendment to cut property taxes.City denies condo extension: Another downtown Sarasota condo project has fallen on tough times, although this one, known as the Atrium on 1750 Ringling Blvd., is struggling long before the first brick was ever laid.Port lands big one: A South American shipping company has chosen Port Manatee, one of the largest deepwater seaports in Florida, as the location to expand its weekly Gulf of Mexico trips.Enviros raises $20 million: The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, an environmental group in Naples that works closely with developers, has raised $20 million and is seeking an additional $5 million in donations.Naples continue to drop: The Naples Area Board of Realtors recently reported 134 single-family homes sold in December, a 9% drop from the same month a year ago$1.4 million land consultant: Lee County commissioners approved paying Coral Gables-based Dover, Kohl & Partners $1.4 million to conduct a study of 83,000 acres in Southeast Lee County on which they recently placed a moratorium for new development.
