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Senate leader: Property tax could go on ballot this year
By BILL KACZOR
Associated Press Writer
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Lawmakers could put a property tax relief measure before voters as early as this fall, Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Mike Haridopolos said Thursday.
Legislators have been flooded with complaints about inequities and rising property taxes, spurred largely by sharp increases in real estate values.
"There is a real hunger for some commonsense help," Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, said after his committee received an update on reform efforts. "I think this is a big enough issue to hold a separate election."
If the Legislature did that, it would beat the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to the punch.
The Florida Constitution requires such a commission to meet once every 20 years, starting in 2007, to review the state's budgetary, revenue and spending procedures. The commission, yet to be appointed, also can put amendments dealing with those issues on the ballot the following election year, in this case 2008.
It would take a three-fourths vote in the House and Senate to call a special election to amend the constitution this year, Haridopolos said. Amendments offered at regular elections take a three-fifths vote.
Complaints about inequities have centered on the Save Our Homes Amendment that voters adopted in 1992. It limits property tax increases on homes occupied by their owners to 3 percent annually, but homeowners who move lose their accumulated benefits. Many, as a result, have felt locked in to their existing homes.
A solution known as portability would let them take some or all of their Save Our Homes benefits with them when their move.
Local government officials have resisted that idea for fear of losing revenue, but a Department of Revenue study presented to the committee predicts tax rolls would be reduced only 0.7 percent in 2008 and 2.4 percent in 2012 by a statewide portability provision.
The report cheered portability advocates.
"In the four years I've handled this issue the clarion call from local governments has been if you somehow allow portability we'd literally bankrupt local government," Haridopolos said.
Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, argued the effect would be even less than the Revenue Department estimated because home sales would increase once homeowners no longer felt locked in.
The Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research has commissioned a property tax study that will include that factor and others.
Haridopolos said the Legislature could focus just on portability although he advocates a comprehensive approach including tax relief, not just reform.
"We might have to look at actually putting an overall revenue cap on local and state government," Haridopolos said. "Everything is on the table."
The Legislature will gather public comment on the property tax issue during a series of town hall meetings that begin Jan. 25 in Panama City.
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7 comments:
I'm so glad someone is finally taking this issue to the people of Florida! We need relief.
Senator H has been speaking on this subject at least for a year to try to help us senior citizens who are stuck in our homes because we cannot afford half the house for twice the property tax if we move.
Is Senator Haridopolos going to be coming to Daytona Beach or nearby?
As a 5th generation Floridian who runs a family owned business which has been on the same piece of real estate for 65 years, I can't tell you how much I appreciate having someone champion this issue. I worry about whether I will be able to pass the business on to the next generation or be taxed off of the land my grandfather bought. I'll be watching!!
We just received our bank statement in contrast to our property tax which soared in 2006. It seems our $1398 monthly mortgage payment is going up to $2300 to cover our new property tax increase. If we send in $6900 dollars before February we can reduce the payment to $1750 a month. Isn't that just lovely!
How in the world are we supposed to afford such a burden? This information was never disclosed to us during our in 2005 prior to our settlement,. Otherwise, we would have ran out of this State for sure! How are we supposed to afford our home now, can someone please tell us
Remove the 3% CAP
Remove SAVE OUR HOMES
Reduce the MILEAGE RATE by 50%
Create a exemption for seniors
Balance out tax levels before the State suffers anymore
When will the road show be coming to Jacksonville? I have a bunch of people who would like to give the senator a big hug for leading the charge on this!
Save Our Homes has been a great benefit for me, but it isn't fair to treat people differently based on when they file homestead.
I am one of the people moving out of Florida, heading to Tennessee where the property tax structure treats everyone equally. I have been a Floridian for 34 years but I can not afford to live here after retirement.
My real estate agent in TN said thanks to Florida her business is booming. Sixty percent of her buyers are from Florida.
As a resident of Brevard County I am proud of Senator Haridopolos for his leadership on this issue, and Senator Posey on insurance.
Brevard County is very fortunate to have such great leadership!
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