A proposed constitutional amendment would allow them an extra $25,000 homestead exemption.
By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published March 24, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Public school teachers could qualify for an additional homestead exemption of as much as $25,000 under a constitutional amendment that squeaked through a Senate committee Tuesday.
The amendment passed the Comprehensive Planning Committee on a 4-3 vote. The amendment later overwhelmingly passed the House Local Government and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
The bill asks voters to give counties and cities the authority to grant the tax breaks to K-12 teachers in public and charter schools.
Three-fifths of House and Senate members must approve the bill before it can go on the Nov. 2 ballot. But first it must be passed by eight more committees.
"This is just an additional way to put some more money in their pockets to make them want to stay in the teaching profession, as well as attract teachers from other states to come to the state of Florida," said House sponsor Roger Wishner, D-Sunrise.
Only classroom teachers would qualify for the tax breaks. A teacher promoted to an administrative position, such as principal, would lose the break. Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, wanted school librarians and counselors to qualify, and bill sponsors said they will work to include them in the bill.
Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, said she doubted the tax breaks would be implemented because the decision to award them would be left to local governments, which will have to make up for the lost revenue.
"I wonder if you could have stronger language and, of course, (the counties) probably want to shoot me right now for suggesting that to you," said Argenziano, who also represents parts of Citrus County. "But what you're trying to do is bring in more teachers, trying to give them an incentive to come to our areas, which is a great thing. I just don't see that the counties are going to give you the break or allow it to happen."
Local governments stand to lose as much as $36.4-million in tax revenue, according to a state analysis.
Some senators, including Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, and Walter "Skip" Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, opposed the bill because they wanted the tax breaks to extend to private school teachers as well.
