Calling all lifelong Monopoly bankers. Following last month’s budget retreat, Lakeland’s city commissioners compiled a list of 34 initiatives for the upcoming 2022 fiscal year.
While city commissioners and city planners work together to decide how to allocate funds, we thought we’d ask our readers how they would distribute these big bucks. Take a look at 3 of this year’s initiatives below, and let us know what you would do with the city’s budget. |
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1. Affordable housing. Commissioners unanimously agreed to increase funding for affordable housing by 50% from the previous year’s $500,000 to $750,000. This affordable housing budget is significantly higher than years prior — triple what the city pledged in support over the last three years.
2. Cultural arts. City commissioners expressed support for Lakeland’s art scene by increasing funding for the arts by $25,000, bringing the Mayor’s Council on the Arts annual grant to $275,000. Commissioner Phillip Walker encouraged his fellow council members to support all art forms, including dance and cultural performances.
3. Airport commercial service backstop. Commissioners agreed to pledge $1 million to a “revenue guarantee” fund, which will act as an incentive for major commercial airlines to bring service to Lakeland Linder International Airport. The fund protects airlines from potential financial losses during the first year of service to LAL.
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If you could be the banker, which priority would you be most likely to focus on? |
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Weather
○ 96º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain
State
○ Gov. DeSantis signed an executive order to end Florida's State of Emergency + suspend all local COVID-19 emergency orders statewide. An additional bill that exempts businesses from government mandates + allows schools to remain open for classes was also signed. Read more about the executive order’s specifics here. (WTSP)
Civic
○ The city of Winter Haven is looking for residents to apply to be part of the new Winter Haven Public Safety Community Advisory Committee, made up of 9 residents + 2 alternates with the goal of promoting police department transparency. Committee members are slated to be active this year, serving staggered terms. (The Ledger)
Number
○ $18 billion. That’s how much money the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce (along with 112 other chambers of congress) is asking the U.S. House and Senate leadership to allocate to creative economic recovery. The proposal aims to support the 33 million Americans whose businesses have faced economic hardship due to Covid-19.
Edu
○ A half-cent sales tax renewed in 2018 has helped pay for 500+ renovation + renewal projects for Polk County Public Schools over the last 18 years, recently including a complete makeover at Mulberry High School (1 Panther Pl.) and the new Davenport High School (4525 County Rd. 547), set to open in Aug. (The Ledger)
○ Enrollment for Florida Virtual Schools is now open for summer + fall 2021 classes. K-12 students looking to continue their education online can do so through Florida Virtual Schools. Classes are tuition-free, flexible, and can be taken full or part-time. To see if this could be the right option for your student, click here. 💻 (WFTS)
Job
○ Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to college we go. The Disney College Program is back at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The program, which allows students to live + work at Disney while completing school, briefly suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is up + running again as of May 3, just in time for Star Wars Day.
NowOpen
○ The world’s largest White Castle is #NowOpen right here in central Florida. The full-service Orlando restaurant (11595 Daryl Carter Pkwy.) offers everything that the fan-favorite fast-food chain does, including the famous Original Sliders. Guests are limited to purchasing 60 sandwiches at a time. 🍔 (WTSP)
FeelGood
○ Polk County Public Schools is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by hosting prize drawings on their Facebook page. Teachers can shout out a fellow educator or share what they love about their job on their personal social media accounts using the hashtag #lovepolkschools to be entered. ○ Teacher Appreciation Week is in full swing at The Back Nine (7331 US Hwy. 98 N.). Show your school ID or paystub through Fri., May 7 for a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée.
Outdoors
○ Are you trying to escape a swarm of lovebugs? May is mating season for these pesky pairs, and while it may feel like there’s no escape, the season only lasts 4 weeks. You can read more about these prolific pests (and how to avoid them) here.
Listen
○ On a recent episode of Catapult’s podcast Headway, Atenea Lara — founder of Inspiring Fitness — discusses how to grow your brand’s online following no matter what industry you’re in. Listen here. 🎧 Ⓟ
Health
○ DYK one of the common conditions that general surgeons treat is the gallbladder? Learn more about how the local experts at Lakeland Regional Health deal with gallbladder trouble + how to make an appointment here. Ⓟ
Coronavirus
○ On Monday, the Florida Department of Health announced 3,075 new cases of COVID-19 and 39 deaths in Florida. That brings FL’s total number of cases to 2,245,853+ the total deaths to 35,307. See Lakeland + Polk numbers here.
○ Monitor the Florida Department of Health in Polk’s website for the latest information regarding vaccines. |
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Give a warm Polk County welcome to Lakeland’s newest foodie account, @lkldfoodwars. Their maiden voyage into foodstagram took them to Plant City, where they tried The Industry Eatery’s charcuterie board + some local pours from Keel + Curley. Where should this cuisine critic dock next?
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Show
○ Daniel Peppin | Tues., May 4 | 7-10 p.m. | The Poor Porker, 801 E Main St. | Free | Come by for a solo acoustic performance by Daniel Peppin.
Active
○ Zumba | Tues., May 4 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Mulberry Civic Center, 901 NE 5th St. | $3 | Tickets can only be purchased at the door + only cash is accepted.
TryThis
○ May the 4th Be With You | Tues., May 4 | 7 p.m. | Galaxy Bar Lakeland, 5153 US Hwy. 98 N. | Free | Travel to a galaxy far, far away with costume contests, special drinks + collector’s item raffles. 🌌
Cause
○ Mobile Food Pantry | Tues., May 4 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Blessings & Hope Lakeland, 2150 E. Edgewood Dr. | Free | If you’re in need, pick up a box or bag of prepackaged food. 🥫 |
Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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Hey, teacher’s pets. We asked you to share an excellent educator with us, and you didn’t disappoint. Here’s what some of our readers had to say about their favorite teachers:
“I nominate Lorraine Valerino for outstanding teaching! She’s one of the best!!” — Reader Cindy D.
“Mr. Casey Hall, Digital Arts teacher at Ridge Community High School, has greatly impacted his students, the staff, and the school community. Every day he devotes time to producing new lesson plans that will keep students engaged and excited to learn new skills they can use in real life situations.” — Reader Sam M.
“I want to recognize my wife Lisa Madden as an amazing and awesome teacher! She teaches at Spessard Holland Elementary as an ESE teacher!!!” — Reader William M.
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Greenville, SC 29602
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