Education · Broward County
School districts in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties are urging voters to approve a one-mill property tax renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot, warning that rejection would eliminate hundreds of millions in funding for teacher pay, school safety personnel, and mental health services. District leaders fear voter confusion with Amendment 3, a separate measure that would reduce property taxes used for public services. Miami-Dade officials estimate a $500 million loss could drop teacher salaries from $73,030 to $57,814; Broward faces a roughly $358 million annual shortfall affecting about 13,400 teachers receiving supplements; Palm Beach warns approximately 900 choice-program teachers would lose jobs and pay would fall $8,000 annually. The one-mill levy costs homeowners about $418 per year in Broward County. State law requires these referendums every four years, with the current authorization running through mid-2031.
Community News · Broward County
Florida leads the nation in Medicare Advantage plan discontinuations for 2027, with about 81,000 enrollees across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties affected by plans ending or merging. In Broward County, available plans drop from 119 to 106, while Palm Beach County falls from 121 to 111; Aetna PPO plans are being terminated in Palm Beach County, and HealthSpring is exiting all three South Florida counties entirely. Enrollees whose plans end must select a replacement by Dec. 31 or automatically fall into Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage or a Medigap supplement. Insurers including Humana and UnitedHealthcare are shifting from PPOs to HMOs, trimming supplemental benefits like dental, vision and gym memberships, while Special Needs Plans grow to about two-thirds of Florida offerings.
Education · Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade County, Florida's Empowerment Scholarship (voucher) program received approximately $766 million this school year, surpassing the $737 million allocated to public and charter schools. The state provides roughly $8,000 per voucher student compared to less than $3,000 per public school student, while about 300,000 children attend public and charter schools versus approximately 82,000 in private schools statewide figures show over 500,000 students using vouchers at a cost exceeding $4 billion. Miami-Dade School Board member Roberto Alonso supports the program but called for adjusting the state's public school funding formula to current economic realities, while teacher and Eduvoter Action Network founder Crystal Etienne questioned accountability for voucher spending. The article notes declining enrollment due to families leaving South Florida, immigration drops, and lower birth rates may prompt legislative review of education funding.
Social Events · Miami-Dade County
For the first time in six years, NASCAR's Championship Races across all three series return to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8, marking the venue's 19th hosting of a championship event. The Cup Series main race will cover 267 laps around the mile-and-a-half track for a 400-mile event, with organizers expecting more than 40,000 fans in attendance. Speedway president Guillermo Santa Cruz said the track's unique design makes it special for drivers, while playoff driver Ryan Preece noted the multiple racing lines and chaotic restarts that make Homestead exciting. A media day was held ahead of race weekend to build excitement.
