Tampabay: They really don't like taxes

The anger burned slow during a property tax hearing Thursday night at Hillsborough Community College. Few shouted or pounded their fists. No one taunted the lawmakers before them.

But speaker after speaker, dozens in all, delivered a central, unmistakable point: Government spending is out of control.

“Please don’t just patch the system,” implored Linda Hayward, 48, of Brooksville. “The real problem is local governments have become incredibly greedy and stolen our money.”

Her words brought applause from the more than 200 Tampa Bay area residents attending the hearing, put on by the Legislature to collect ideas to address soaring property taxes.

“We need to tell the local governments that are getting fat off our backs that they can’t have our money any more,” said David McKalip of St. Petersburg, organizer of the citizen group Cut Taxes Now, which advocates a spending cap on government.

In the past six years, property tax levies have doubled to $30-billion, far outpacing population and personal income growth.

“We all thank Gov. Crist for starting the debate,” McKalip said. “But it’s not enough.”

Crist recently proposed doubling the homestead exemption to $50,000, making the 3 percent Save Our Homes cap on annual assessments transferable to new homes; and extending the cap to businesses, second homes and other non-homesteaded property.

But each of Crist’s proposals has the downside of perpetuating inequities or creating new ones. Portability, for example, would still discriminate against new Florida residents.

“The Legislature must act because local officials cannot do it and will not do it,” said Carl Mathews, 72, of South Tampa.

Earlier this month, Hillsborough County became the first government entity to agree to rein in spending with a cap.

Pierre Mathurin, 45, of Tampa was one of the few voices calling for caution. He said rushing to cut taxes could cause long-term problems, including cutbacks in essential local services. As he returned to his seat, a few people quietly booed him. “Pay my tax bill,” a woman called out.

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by Walt	02/16/07 07:00 PM
People don't seem to understand the relationship between the services they want from local government and what they are willing to pay. Cut your taxes because you don't like them and you will cut your services. Hope you like hauling your own garbage.

by Larry	02/16/07 11:42 AM
Just as with development, if you leave it up the lobbyist beholden commissioner, we'll continue to pay ever increasing taxes, without having a say in the process. County Government also needs to be changed to make it more responsive to the voters.

by raf	02/16/07 09:32 AM
I disagree that our greed is to blame. Just because our property is worth more, that doesn't mean that govt. is entitled to more taxes. That's called growing government. Taxes can and must be lowered.

by Lou	02/16/07 09:29 AM
Between high taxes, pocket picking politicians, robber baron insurance companies and greedy developers Florida is slowly being destroyed.

by Paul	02/16/07 09:19 AM
Cap government spending. Just because the property is worth more money means the services being provided go up proportionatley? Do we need another 'Boston Tea Party', heck, we have plent of bays around here to have one in. Cap those taxes!

by Elton	02/16/07 09:11 AM
We seem to have forgotten that from the federal level down, these officials are supposed to represent our wishes...not the other way around. A few recall referendums would send a clear message.

by Alan	02/16/07 08:29 AM
Stop with the free ride given to pro sports teams, with the underwriting of "pet" projects, with the tax breaks and incentives to businesses, with "study groups" and junkets and no-bid contracts and plush offices for pols and nepotism and waste and..

by Rod	02/16/07 08:22 AM
Start by ending the shell game manipulation of the Lottery's proceeds. It has long been "known" that, for each dollar the Lottery gives to education, a dollar is siphoned into the general frund from education. Prove this wrong or end it.

by Charles, Jr	02/16/07 08:14 AM
We have only ourselves to blame, we voted them in office, knowing that lobbist would control them-thus no tax raise no $ for special interest. Vote them out-and vote in those who comit not to raise-but lower tax.

by BooBoo	02/16/07 07:54 AM
The crowd did a slow burn.Did they offer solutions or just rant.Giving huge tax breaks to big biz for opening here should stop.They get enough of break when they pay their employees below standard wages.The need is to cut pork not services.

by Johnny	02/16/07 06:41 AM
Government is out of CONTROLL!

by Steve	02/16/07 05:38 AM
The first rule of real estate is location. Anyone in a desireable area has had tax increases. If they were homesteaded, the 3% annual increase applies. Fast rise of home valuations is due to the greedy speculative investors who don't occupy the homes

by ph	02/16/07 02:18 AM
What I want to know is this: How is it that taxes have increased so much but we still see drastic cuts to schools and such? Gvmt needs a babysitter apparently, I do not see where my money is going when the obvious places are struggling so much.

by squeaky	02/16/07 02:01 AM
I am the one who they all point at, my tax bill was under 2 hundred. You can do it too but you had to of started 30 years ago and bought a small house, stayed there, and been content with it. Mkt value is over 200K with constant unsolicited interest

by Anthony	02/16/07 01:47 AM
You want to lower property taxes? Stop the developers and real estate agencies from buying up property and houses and selling them for extrememly overly inflated prices to people who are stupid enough to buy it.

by rae	02/16/07 12:15 AM
We need ask our representatives to please explain where all of this tax money is going. Who is spending it? The taxes on my empty building lot have tripled in one year. I look around, I see no changes. Am I getting services I don't know about?

by Kris	02/15/07 11:57 PM
If you want lower tax bills drop the prices on your house. Your greed is to blame for this problem as the taxes are a direct result of the prices charged for houses. You have the control to lower taxes!

by grimreaper	02/15/07 11:25 PM
Thoes who want the cap lifted because they don't fall under it and think this will lower taxes will be sadly suprised because most who are under the cap are in older homes that have little value.