More Property Tax Relief

Over the past several months there has been much discussion on the blog about lowering property taxes in the state of Florida. The Florida House passed a number of measures that would have lowered property taxes and stimulated our economy. However, none of them became law. Instead, on January 29, 2008 we will have to vote on a property tax amendment that many taxpayers feel falls short of what’s needed.

There is a grassroots petition drive underway that may be a good supplement to the January 29 property tax amendment. It calls for a maximum tax of 1.35% of the taxable value of a parcel of property. This is a true grassroots movement, led by citizen activists and not politicians.

The plan is simple and applies to all properties. Importantly, it also keeps Save Our Homes (SOH), cuts almost $8 billion in property taxes and fills some holes in the January 29 property tax amendment. It is advantageous to non-homestead property owners, owners of business properties and first-time home buyers.

We encourage you to go to the group’s website: www.cutpropertytaxesnow.com.

Look over the plan and learn more about it. From the website, you can print a copy of the petition; 600,000 signatures are needed by January 31st in order to put this question on the November 2008 ballot.

A couple of questions for discussion:

(1) Do you support this initiative? Why or why not?
(2) Is Tax Reform being held back too much by all the political attention to “protecting” the education budgets (state and local)?

Florida Economy: Headed In The Right Direction?

A recent post by Clayton Ellsworth raised some interesting points about the economic condition of Marion County and Florida, and the state’s general direction. We don’t want to be doom and gloom, but maybe all this exuberance (spin?) about the state of our state we are hearing from Governor Charlie Crist needs some testing and questioning.

As Mr. Ellsworth points out, one of 10 homes right here in Marion County is in foreclosure or pre-foreclosure.

State economists, based on a worsening housing market, just reduced the state’s general revenue outlook by $2.5-billion for the current and upcoming fiscal year. The revenue loss this year will be about $1-billion, on top of $1.1-billion the Legislature already cut in a special session. Next year brings an additional $1.4-billion shortfall. The revisions are attributable to a worsening housing market caused by the subprime loan fallout and resulting tightening of credit and lending practices; a slowdown in Florida's population growth; and higher energy prices.

A recent St. Petersburg Times poll indicates that the number of Floridians believing the state is headed down the wrong track outnumbers those who say the state is on the right track.

A Newsmax brief brings to light some interesting comparisons of California’s current abysmal economic condition, and how it got where it is, to some of the current trends in Florida. Check out the link below.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/california_fiscal_crisis/2007/11/01/46007.html?s=sp&promo_code=3C66-1

Our question for you:

Do you think the general direction of Florida’s (and even Marion County's) economic/political environment is heading in the right direction? Why or why not? If NO, what should be done to get it back on track?

New BCC Chairman: Give Him Your Advice

The Board of County Commissioners will have a new chairman for the next year. Charlie Stone was elected chair and Jim Payton the vice chairman. Historically, the chairman position has helped set the agenda and direction for Board meetings and priorities focus.

Previous chairman seem to have developed personal "pet projects" or special areas of interest. Outgoing chairman Stan McClain has been a leader on county water supply issues. Andy Kesselring provided leadership on environmental issues like growth planning and farmland preservation. Jim Payton, as a past chairman, was a spokesman for better road planning and support of human services.

Obviously, there are many challenges facing our county leaders. What would you advise chairman Stone take on as his pet project during his term as the BCC chairman? Why?