State: Crist wide open on property tax fix

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he's not committed to any property tax reform ideas, and even refused to defend his own proposals.

The centerpiece of Crist's reform package, which he also made a campaign promise last year, is a proposal to double the exemption on homesteads - an owner's primary home - from $25,000 to $50,000.

House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, criticized that idea last week, saying it would "wipe out entire counties." Small rural counties, where property values are low, would be hardest hit.

"I'm not in the push-back mood," Crist said Tuesday when asked about Rubio's comments. "My objective is to lower property taxes for the people of Florida, and it doesn't necessarily have to be my idea." He said he was confident that the Legislature would find a consensus among a variety of suggestions. "I'm not wedded to any of those proposals."

The governor's plan also includes proposals that would allow homeowners to take the annual 3 percent property tax cap, provided through the Save Our Homes Amendment, with them when they move and add a similar cap for nonhomestead properties.

Rubio is pushing a different plan that would abolish property tax on homesteads and cap it for nonhomestead real estate. It also would raise the statewide sales tax from 6 percent to 8.5 percent to partly offset the property tax losses to local governments.

The proposals aim to lower property taxes driven up largely by higher real estate values and wide disparities in tax bills caused mainly by Save Our Homes. It has shifted the tax burden from longtime homeowners to new buyers and owners of second homes, rental and commercial properties.

Crist was unfazed by a lawsuit challenging the Save Our Homes Amendment, which took effect in 1994. It was filed Monday in state Circuit Court by a group of Alabama residents who own second homes in the Florida Panhandle and alleges that the amendment unconstitutionally shifts an unfair amount of the tax burden onto them and other owners of nonhomestead property.

Crist agreed that Save Our Homes should be more broadly applied but said, "I think the Legislature is going to come to the rescue."

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Comments on this article

by mark	05/23/07 09:30 PM
I support Rubio's plan. No one loses due to the balance of who's to be taxed. It protects and assists us Floridians who live here all year. It doesn't mean we escaped increase taxation, we still purchase things all year round.

by pat	05/15/07 01:42 PM
right now, our property taxes are unfair increase sales tax no property tax if at a later time, a property tax is needed, a fair across the board tax can be applied

by Joy	05/03/07 05:14 PM
I strongly agree that the property tax should be replaced with a higher sales tax. This would hold ALL FLORIDA RESIDENTS (both homeonwners and renters and even tourists) to share the responsiblity! It shouldn't just be on the shoulders of homeowners!

by Alex	05/01/07 09:48 PM
Some states pay 8% sales tax i think there should be no more property taxes but increase the sales tax even if the tax is raised to 10% and you buy a 20,000 car u pay 2,000 in taxes and it would balance since the government would make more money

by JC	04/27/07 11:08 PM
must work overtime just to pay taxes !

by Geny	04/25/07 06:31 PM
Property tax is too high, do you want we loose our houses? Stop. No more property tax.

by MARIA	04/24/07 11:34 AM
this tax problem is only for gov,expenidng not for services others coutry live we less thant a 1/4 of what we make here this tax is killing ower people stop the property tax for ever please. a suffer cotribuitors

by RAFAEL	04/24/07 11:29 AM
IS THERE A PERSON THAT THINK RIGHT? WHO'S GOINT TO BE AGAIN NO MORE PROPERTY TAX? YOU NOW THAT IF YOU NO PAY YOUR TAXES BY JUNE 1ST THE GOVERMENT PUT YOUR HOME FOR SALES.EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THEY DON'T CARE YOU PEOPLE BETTER THINK.

by jane	04/11/07 07:09 PM
We definitly need something to happen fast. We want to move, no one will buy our house. We are on the west side of 19.We have the menu plan, flood, home owners, and wind, ins. It's out of our control, It's not a good feeling, to be put in this SPOT!!

by andrew	04/09/07 10:56 AM
no more property tax please rather pay sales taxes would be more far

by marta	03/29/07 03:47 PM
No more property taxes is the best solution.My fixed income is less than $10,000 a year,and my property taxes is $2,487 per year....

by Phil	03/01/07 09:02 AM
I dont agree with higher sales tax,as it would be hard to distribute and hurt business'. Better would be a homestead transfer to a 2nd home, a moderate exemption for second homes, or increased homestead exemption. Higher sales tax=internet orders.

by Dale	03/01/07 07:17 AM
After searching for a home for months on a 50K salary I can only afford shacks made in 1940 or 1950 for 130K to 150K, largely because of the taxes & insur. effect on a new mortgage payment. The aver income person needs help NOW to buy anything!

by John	02/28/07 04:27 PM
Eliminating the property tax for a 2.5% sales tax is the best solution. It will solve everything at once. No more homestead, Save our Homes, Save our Businesses, ect.. Taxes are 9% in New Orleans,Seattle = 8.8%,Nashville= 9.25% Chicago=9% NYC = 8.38%

by Scott	02/28/07 01:48 PM
If the State Sales Tax is increased, what guarantee do we (the unincorporated area) have that Pinellas won�019t divert most of the state shared revenues to the Countywide Budget like they are already doing with the Local Government Half-Cent Sale Tax.

by Jim	02/28/07 11:30 AM
Bubba is correct. The problem is the local government spending. In Pinellas County from 2004-2006 taxes/budget increeased 60% to over $800 million. The house plan would hold the local governments to only the amount of sales tax based on spending.

by Barbs	02/28/07 10:42 AM
DO NOT! DO NOT RAISE FL'S SALES TAX! It will hurt everyone!

by Bubba	02/28/07 09:13 AM
As a former county official, co com and prop app, the legislature is about to really mess things up.. there is nothing wrong with the appraisal process. the cap needsd to be on spending.Including school administration positions.

by Tom	02/28/07 04:33 AM
If they do away with property taxes, my mortgage will be $225 LESS each month. Every homeowner in Florida will get a sorely needed break from paying for everything, that should be shared equally with all Floridians and tourists alike.

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Crist wide open on property tax fix