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Tax protesters raise their voices
By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published October 11, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG — About 80 frustrated taxpayers gathered in front of St. Petersburg City Hall Wednesday, rallying behind a pledge to oust local incumbents unwilling to cut area property tax rates.
With a fervor still spilling over from this summer’s statewide tax revolt, the group demanded governments shred budgets and start over.
Led by the grass-roots political start-up Cut Taxes Now, the protesters suggested cities and counties should use population and inflation statistics, not property value increases, to shape their budgets.
“The politicians all thought the tax revolt was going away,” said David McKalip, who started Cut Taxes Now.
“Well, we’re still here.”
One protester, Joseph Miele, said he filed a federal lawsuit to eliminate property taxes altogether.
He suggested governments collect their money some other way.
The group protested for about an hour outside City Hall despite St. Petersburg agreeing to lower it’s tax rate 5 percent next year, to its lowest rate since 1986. Protesters said the city could have done more.
McKalip, a St. Petersburg neurosurgeon, already has targeted one City Council member who would not support more than a 5 percent reduction.
McKalip says Cut Taxes Now plans to mail fliers highlighting the tax record of council member Rick Kriseman, a Democrat now running for state House.
[Last modified October 15, 2006, 10:46:21]
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