localvu

If you've been to a strawberry festival in Florida, you know the feeling. You're walking past food stands, live music, and rows of local vendors. There's a parade down the street, a livestock show around the corner, and somewhere nearby a plate of strawberry shortcake you did not plan on eating.

Local government is designed to be open, transparent, and accessible to the public. From how decisions are made to how policies take shape, there are many ways to stay informed and engaged. Local Government 101 brings that information together in one place.

Florida’s legislative session is nearly underway, and lawmakers are once again debating how housing works in our neighborhoods. One proposal sounds harmless on its face, but the details tell a very different story.

There’s a reason people keep moving to Florida—and it’s not just the beaches. It’s the balance. Our state keeps taxes low and delivers the services people count on: safe neighborhoods, strong schools, clean water, and responsive emergency services.

There’s a reason people keep moving to Florida—and it’s not just the beaches. It’s the balance. Our state keeps taxes low and delivers the services people count on: safe neighborhoods, strong schools, clean water, and responsive emergency services.

What makes a hidden gem? It’s the place where your shoes gather dirt on a trail no tourist guidebook mentions. Where the pace is slower, the flavors are local, and the people feel like neighbors.

Florida has a formula. And it works. Low taxes. No state income tax. Balanced budgets. Efficient property tax system. Strong history of local decision-making. The result: Florida remains one of the most tax-efficient states in the nation—delivering quality local services and a high quality of life, all while providing real value for taxpayer dollars.

Florida’s legislative session has officially passed its “best by” date. The budget’s still on the shelf, but the policy work? Mostly baked.

Tallahassee politicians—at the behest of development special interests—are poised to strip away local zoning rules, override local voices like yours, and hand even more power to developers.