In response to Floridians' continued demands for property tax relief, the Florida Legislature began debating various proposals during the first week of Florida's 2007 legislative session. The first such proposal to come before the Senate would dramatically alter the way in which property is appraised: it would require property appraisers to assess property according to its current, existing use, not according to a hypothetical "highest and best use." It is expected to lower taxes on homestead and non-homestead property alike, benefiting homeowners, renters, and business owners.
Under the current system, the property appraiser may consider eight factors in assessing property. One is the "highest and best" use to which the property could potentially be converted. This allows the property appraiser to assess an apartment complex as though it were a timeshare condominium, on the theory that the property could readily be converted to the more valuable -- but imaginary -- use. The Senate proposal would require the property appraiser to base assessments on reality, not hypothesis.
"We've got to move away from taxing potential," Senator Mike Haridopolos said. "That's like you are going to put a higher income tax on a guy who's at Harvard Law School. That's not fair. He hasn't graduated."
Exact details of the proposed legislation will be released this week.
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15 comments:
Senator, a very smart example of what makes cents/sense!!!
Agree. Please do something for the people.
I have an undeveloped residential property in Port St. Lucie. In 2000, my assessed value was 2800 and my taxes were 149.66.
In 2006, the assessed value was 78100 and my taxes are 2083.78.
Nothing has changed...except the speculators with their unreasonable "future" potential use of the property.
The county is also at fault by using this fictious value. There are 18 taxing authorities - which is ok, except the commission doesn't evaluate the current use of the property. The current property doesn't use these 19 services! This is truly, taxation without representation.
PS: To top it off, Senator Ken Pruitt, the Forida senate president represents Port St. Lucie!
Bye Florida if this keeps up.
A Florida Resident
Your Letting Florida's homeowners down, Mike. Changing the way property is appraised won't help 99% of homeowners. It will help big business which will then shift more of the tax burden of homeowners! I had too much faith in you.
The Florida Senate including Ken Pruitt of Port St. Lucie have caved into the demands of local governments, big business and the news media. The plight of Florida's overburdened homeowners is being trampled BY THE REPUBLICANS who are only interested in the interests of business. Limit property taxes to 1% of the purchase price or raise the homestead to $200,000 in order to provide meaningful tax relief. Tweaking appraisal standards will not benefit homeowners who only use their property to live in!
I have 4 rental homes in south florida my tenant are being drive out by taxs. My only rent increase have been in an attempt to cover taxs.
case 1. tenat owns a business which employees 50 people, plans on moving the hole business out of the state due to property taxs.
case 2-3. Tenants have been force to leave the state because of florida high local CPI, which has been driver Housing and TAXs.
case 4. I personal lived in florida for 15 years. However, the lake of high tech work force me to move to phoenix. I want to return later in life. However, due to property taxs, I will not
The House is still playing around with the sales tax increase. We agree with Senator H that the property assessors need to use the real use of the property not an imagined possible use ... even as I listen to Rep Don Brown say it has always been that way...that's the problem with the same ole song.. & on top of that to leave it to each County to go "on a diet" which we know they will never do unless given an allowance. Every family needs relief and we are counting on Sen H to lead the charge.
Sounds very nice and simple BUT may I suggest a retroactive tax for 3-5 years once a property is converted to a much higher value. Such as farms that go to huge subdivisions or apartments that convert to condos. There has to be a way to recapture the revenue upon a use upgrade otherwise only speculators, etc. will benefit from the plan.
Well siad. Glad to read you and President Pruitt are taking time and want a "real" bill & not grandstanding to play to one Party or the other. We do want a well thought out solution and not a feel good idea like no property taxes.
Mike,
It is with great concern that I read stories eminating from the Tally legislature...there is a void of leadership in the Florida Republican party similar to what has been experienced at the national level...nowhere is this more evident than in Marco Rubio's regressive proposals for sales tax increases...while the coastal areas and the theme parks receive much revenue from out of towners, increasing sales taxes will mostly help the rich and hurt the poor...while my income places me in the upper 5% of society, as a Christian I cannot condone policies that will hurt those least able to afford them...remember what Christ said: that that you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me...the Republican's lack of leadership now brings us to letting the voters pick? You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.
I'm really glad that something is being done to help bring down the tax burden. Somehow we need to get the gov't to remove the ability to forcibly take private property away from citizens who don't pay taxes. I agree there must be some kind of taxation, but the gov't has far to much power to wreak havoc on someone's life.
Getting people's mortgages down will help greatly. Currently I have to pay $400 monthly into my escrow account and I'm sure that's a paltry amount compared to others. Something must be done to make this system more equitable to all. Surely gov't can do like the rest of us have to and tighten the belt when the money runs dry!
If I understand the Dems plan in the Senate it would be tied to an eventual increase in Save the Homes percentage. Why oh why can't folks leave the part which works ....also portability idea makes sense but not the eventual increase. Why always an increase in things...no diet for local government that way.
Recap: According to Gov Bush's Property Tax Reform Committee, since 2002 government revenues have grown by 80%, city government revenues by 98% and special taxing districts by 110%. In the same time, the data shows that population and inflation grew by 32% and family income (CPI plus population) by just 39%.
Read this: Since 2002, taxable VALUES have increased 86.3%. The personal income increased 24.7%. !!
Florida Law: The Florida tax system should produce, in a stable and reliable manner, revenues that are sufficient to fund appropriate governmental functions and expenditures.
Is the Florida Legislature taxing according to above directive? I see no corelation between whats needed and what is taxed!!
Again, we should focus on assessments BASED ON CURRENT USE ONLY instead of "highest and best use".
That's keeping everyone honest!
It has been stated in the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser's pamphlet that "rising property values afford us the opportunity to roll back tax rates." PLEASE DO. iT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
One Option: Appraise private property only once every 3 years (it WAS done that way some years ago) where no sales have taken place.
P.S. I read the Chamber of Commerce report on this subject and it ALMOST touched on the real problem: Cost-prohibition and the ability to pay by the property owner.
Keep fighting, consumer. The gigantic WINDFALL revenues all govts now have are being slurped up without thought of the future. Bob
like your stanceon excessive phone taxes. expect u to do your usual conservative stance
Listened to proposals today. Did not understand why there should be a 10% increase on property taxes later on. Why not just keep it at 3% for all. 10% is too much. Hope there will be very clear explanation of all proposals as each newspaper prints different versions.
I am a registered republican and I have voted republican since I was able to vote in 1990. I do not support the property tax reform. I voted for you and I want to express my views on the tax reform.
I do not agree with any of the program and service reductions that would occur in Brevard County. One service reduction would be to the public libraries.
I recently learned at my library that if the tax reform is enacted at just a 15% reduction the public libraries in Brevard County will:
• eliminate the literacy program
• eliminate talking books library for the blind
• eliminate homebound services
• eliminate interlibrary loan program
• eliminate the mobile library
• reduce the library open hours by 29%
• eliminate the construction of the new Rockledge library
• reduce the books and other lending materials by $1 million
If the tax reform is enacted at 30% reduction or more, they will close libraries and reduce programs, including children’s programs like story time and the summer reading program.
What kind of democracy allows public libraries to close? Or decrease in programs and outreach of libraries? Or doesn’t encourage reading and learning for children through libraries? This is not something I agree with.
With this property tax reform, I am seriously reconsidering my support for the Republican Party. I voted for and support George W. Bush, and I voted for Jeb Bush and all the republicans in office. But, if the republicans I voted for support the property tax reform that pays for and supports the programs and services in Brevard County, I do not support their decisions and question whether I should continue supporting the Republican Party.
Please do not eliminate these valuable services, programs and outreaches for the citizens of Florida.
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