Tagged: taxes

04/11/13 - Thursday's Topical Currents begins with income tax tips from experts.  The deadline for 2012 tax filing is Monday.  We’ll also look ahead to important changes in the tax code for 2013, especially those which affect small businesses.  And more.  Linda Gassenheimer’s Food & Dining . . . with wine columnist Fred Tasker and “Dinner in Minutes.”  That’s Topical Currents, Thursday at one o’clock on WLRN.

Florida lawmakers are doing something they haven't done in years: adding money to state programs.

The recession sent the state into multi-billion-dollar budget shortfalls that led to big cuts in education and state government payrolls.

But this year, lawmakers have money to play with. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed a budget of more than $74 billion for the fiscal year that starts in July. That's about a $4-billion increase in spending over the current year.

So where did the extra money come from?

Florida gets about 87 million visitors a year. The nonprofit research group Florida Taxwatch wanted to know what would happen to the economy if that number reached 100 million.

The group did a study. The results suggest 121-thousand jobs would be created and other good things would happen to the economy.

So, the report recommends that the Legislature allocate more money for advertising.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is asking state lawmakers for half a million dollars in order to recoup a $20-million investment in the now-defunct digital animation studio, Digital Domain.

And according to local experts, Florida has a tough fight ahead to get its money back.

The state originally gave Digital Domain $20 million in incentives in order to lure the company--and jobs--to Port St. Lucie. Four months ago, the firm filed for bankruptcy, shut down and let go 300 Florida workers.

If you want to hold a major street fair or festival in Delray Beach, the city wants some cash up front first.

Delray Beach officials say they're tired of the unpaid bills left behind by major event organizers in recent years.  The city is in the hole for about $50,000 after certain festivals failed to cover costs for events not hosted by the city.

Several major fairs – including the Carnevale and the Delray Beach Film Festival -- have been banned for skipping out on the tab.