News Update for 8/5/22

Wonder why the cost of housing is going up in Highlands County? It could be rental units. A survey released by Stressa shows that 8.5-percent of home loans in the Sebring-Avon Park area have been for investment properties.
The analysis that Highlands matches national numbers, however, the median property value here is about $150,000 – while the national average is $235,000.
The data used for the survey came from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A call to establish a committee in Highlands County to help direct the spending of federal funds in the ESSER program has been pushed back. Better known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, the federal relief monies have been distributed to schools to deal with problems created by last year’s Coronavirus situation.
Instead of establishing a committee, Highlands County Superintendent of Schools Brenda Longshore told the school board that she is in touch with former teachers of the year, school-related employees of the year as well as the district school advisory committee and the student council, who could offer such advice.