Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Floridians need quick action on property taxes, 2/15

Reality check on property tax Feb. 12, editorial 

Have you lost your mind? It sounds as though you are more concerned about the wealth of our government than about the staggering number of taxpayers who are losing their homes.

Did you not see the article, Foreclosure rate jumps in Pasco, in the Feb. 9 newspaper?

The facts are in! People are losing their homes and businesses and are continuing to lose them. This isn't going to get any better unless the Legislature does something now.

You are right about one thing. The Legislature should "listen more." But the Legislature also needs to act quickly.

Lynne Shelby, St. Petersburg

As grass is cut, savings grow - and so do workers' bonuses Feb. 6, story

Try some efficiency

Here we find another example of why the spending of city, county and state governments needs to be capped so they stop spending so much of our money.

This article explained how the Pinellas County mowing program has been spending $2-million a year on cutting the grass. Someone at the county "woke up" and hired a consultant who said that private businesses could do it for $1.1-million.

When the people doing the mowing at the county Highway Department found out from the county administrator that they might lose their jobs, they decided that maybe they could do this more efficiently and save even more money. Maybe they needed to cut out the dead weight and actually work. All of a sudden they saved the taxpayers almost $1-million.

What a novel idea. Working efficiently. We should apply this concept to all levels of government, including the School Board. We could then pay less in taxes than we do now. How about giving us, the taxpayers, back the extra money saved. It's our money in the first place.

Paul Mevoli, St. Petersburg

State's tax shortfalls crimp budget Feb. 10, story

Commercial property requires some relief

Gee, it may be a big surprise to the bureaucrats and politicians that state revenues are down, but it's not a shock to the small business owners and property owners who warned of exactly this development at government meetings throughout the state after finding themselves on the receiving end of untenable insurance and property tax increases.

Many warned that the inability to determine year-to-year carrying costs would "kill" the second-home market, force businesses to close and deter new ones from opening. Some indicated that the actual increases were already forcing them to close or leave Florida.

And in the legislative rush to quiet the outcry by homeowners, commercial property owners still have no clear, understandable assurance of noncancellation and lower insurance rates. My company, for example, just received a cancellation notice from Nationwide on one of our commercial apartment buildings, although the policy expires on April 25. Does the governor's moratorium include this policy? Even the State Department of Insurance is waiting for legal "clarification" before giving a definitive answer.

As for property taxes, there is not enough urgency in the governor's proposed reforms on commercial properties that house renters and businesses. These properties are, with no caps, bearing the heaviest burden. We need a 3 percent maximum increase per year on all business properties (residential and commercial) and clear instructions to county property appraisers that the income method is to be utilized as an alternative to "highest and best use" upon the request of the property owner. These reforms must begin now!

When will everyone "get" that without these businesses there will be fewer jobs, no affordable rental housing, less of a tax base and decreasing property values?

Guess what, primary home owners. Wait until you see what your millage rate will be then, even for basic services.

Martin L. Altner, Clearwater

Voting with their feet

We are snowbird condominium property owners paying $5,642 in property tax. Our neighbors who qualify for homestead exemption pay $1,900 a year. If $1,900 is a fair amount to pay, why are we paying almost three times as much? Could it be we cannot vote or, as one reader suggested, we have two homes and should pay more because our second home is not a necessity? Sure, we use the roads and other services five months of the year, but we also pay sales tax and gasoline taxes.

I have spoken to a number of Realtors who say there are two main reasons buyers are not in the market. High taxes and insurance costs. More people are now leaving Florida than moving here, and sales tax revenues are down, which will affect the state budget. All this will result in higher taxes and continued job losses in the construction and home service industry.

I cannot vote in Florida, but I can vote with my feet and so will a lot of other snowbirds when the real estate market has some buyers. Floridians, you cannot have snowbirds continue to subsidize your property tax without economic repercussions.

Brian Forrest, South Pasadena

Limit spending

I attended a condo meeting earlier this month that featured an appearance by the mayor of South Pasadena. He informed us that he would be personally going to Tallahassee to fight House Bill 363 (which would limit annual increases in county and municipal operating budgets). He strongly believes local governments are better equipped to understand the needs of the voters and tax accordingly.

He impressed me as a concerned and caring man, as are most of the politicians who take their jobs seriously. But let's face facts and look at their track records. Spend, spend and spend some more.

Gov. Charlie Crist provided the answer for the tax crises: "Spend less." I support House Bill 363. Enough is enough.

Louis Artalona, South Pasadena

Wireless network in the works for St. Petersburg Feb. 14, story

Not a done deal

This article talked about the city of St. Petersburg selecting a wireless Internet provider and said, City Council members "are poised to select an Atlanta company, EarthLink, to provide the city's network."

This statement makes an assumption and it is not fully accurate. It is likely that several City Council members prefer that the city enter into a contract with local finalist Citi WiFi Networks. As a matter of fact, a subcommittee made up of City Council members recommended using "the hometown group" during the Feb. 1 City Council meeting.

This decision has far-reaching implications beyond simple wireless Internet access because it will greatly affect the future of our communications, local jobs, revenue and safety.

Please note that this decision is not yet made by the city and that the topic is still up for discussion during the St. Petersburg City Council meeting today at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Frank McCarthy, CEO, Citi WiFi Networks, St. Petersburg

Vaccine plan sparks debate Feb. 11, story

Do more tests

How interesting that the debate and worry regarding the new vaccine, Gardasil, is that girls might become more sexually active. Where the true debate and worry should be is the fact that we know nothing about the long-term effects of this vaccine, because the longest clinical trials have only been for five years.

When the health and welfare of an entire generation of child-bearing women and their offspring are at stake, a mere five years of clinical testing is a very short time to claim that we know enough about the long-term safety of Gardasil vaccinations to make them mandatory.

With the many drugs and medical procedures that have recently been recalled or reassessed, it would behoove us to give this much more time and thought before allowing our precious children, our future, to become medical guinea pigs.

Gardasil vaccination may be a personal choice now. As far as being mandatory, more time and clinical testing are needed to prove its safety and efficacy.

Betsy Mae Troy, St. Petersburg

[Last modified February 14, 2007, 22:41:23]