State: The House and Senate property tax plans

The Florida House and Senate recently approved separate plans to lower property taxes. They will begin meeting next week to iron out their differences.

The House plan
Status: Approved Wednesday
Total savings: $35-billion over five years (originally the House estimated $25-billion)
Voters in each county would choose: Either eliminate property tax on primary homes and raises the sales tax 2.5 percent, or roll back tax revenues for cities and counties to 2000-01 levels. Budgets could grow with the population.

The Senate plan
Total savings: $12.3 billion over five years
Status: Approved Thursday
Roll back property tax revenues for cities and counties to 2005 levels, where they would freeze for one year. After that, budgets could grow with the population.

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by Mike	04/27/07 03:22 PM
House plans for sure. Help everyone!

by Ron	04/27/07 02:45 PM
The House plan not only aids Florida's Real Estate problems, but offers a fair solution to save more monies and increase revenues.

by Ron	04/27/07 02:40 PM
I vote to eliminate property taxes and raise the sales tax 2.5%

by Dave	04/27/07 08:49 AM
Both plans are doomed for failure. House plan appeases most voters who can't afford to live here now and the Senate plan is what the lobbyists wrote. I think seniors and fixed income people should be protected not forced to move to Ga.or Al.

by Harry	04/26/07 11:23 AM
The House Plan 100%

by Ron	04/26/07 11:04 AM
Neither plan fixes the problem only puts a band-aid over it. The problem is simple "You cannot continue to assess homes at market value, it is to volatile!" That's what needs to change. Will my taxes drop with the market? NO! Stupid is as stupid does

by Ken	04/26/07 07:26 AM
We vote for these clowns to come up with corrections to the present inequitable tax system they developed - instead all they do is things they hope will get them re-elected. When services taxpayers demand are gone, so will re-election hopes be gone.

by DAN	04/26/07 06:14 AM
WHY DOES EVERY TAX PLAN HAVE TO BE SO RADICAL? WHY NOT ROLL THE TAXES BACK, CAP ALL PROP. TAX AT 3%, CAP ALL SPENDING AND ADD A SMALL SALES TAX INCREASE. THE TAX BURDEN SHOULD BE SHARED BY EVERY ONE, RICH, POOR, MIDDLE CLASS EVEN TOURIST.

by JT	04/25/07 10:51 PM
The only way those with SOH cap will vote to give up that protection is to get a better deal and the only potential plan to do this is the HOUSE PLAN. If you don't want to pay more sales tax then you are not going to get any reform. End of discussion

by AB	04/25/07 10:08 PM
Dan Webster; the gap between the rich and the poor is called property taxes. How much can a median family of four possibly end up paying in sales taxes? Now do the math for the wealthy. They don't stop shopping because sales taxes are too high.

by Ana	04/25/07 10:03 PM
Do the math. Poor and middle income people don't have unlimited discretionary income, thus they will get the most tax relief from the house plan. The wealthy won't stop shopping and the tourists won't stop coming. Second home owners? stay awhile.

by gerald	04/25/07 12:42 PM
The Seanate plan is a joke. Most of the tax increases took place before 2005. Also, Pineallas population grew 0.7% fron 2000 to 2005. The growth for those 18 and under also grew less than 1% for the same period. We should adopt the House plan.

by RRR	04/25/07 08:04 AM
What if your job asked you to take a pay cut to 2001 levels? Would you easily cope? That's what the State is asking local gov to do. Doesn't seem fair to local gov... WHICH IS WHERE YOU LIVE, FOLKS! Some relief is fair, but let's be reasonable!

by RRR	04/25/07 07:53 AM
I bought my home in 1998 and my prop taxes are very reasonable. I have no intentions of selling, so giving me a tax break to 2001 levels doesn't really do much. A 2.5% sales tax, however, could be significant. The Senate plan works best for me.

by Tom	04/24/07 09:57 AM
The House Bill increasing Sales Taxes has not been thought thru. The Senate plan is closer to reality. The real problem is the Insurance Crises caused Lobby of the Insurance Companies. Let's Not increase taxes to offset Insurance Company Profits!

by Kaw	04/24/07 09:44 AM
Eliminate property taxes and rise the sale tax that's what we (on fix income) call fair

by SEJ	04/23/07 03:45 PM
THE HOUSE PLAN AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW WHICH SEEMS TO OFFER RELIEF RIGHT AWAY.SOH CAP SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED PERIOD FOR ALL BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF OUR PROBLEMS NOW-WITH NO TAXES I COULD AFFORD THE 2.5 SALES TAX INCREASE FOR GOODS/SV

by Tom	04/21/07 10:07 PM
The house plan is exciting and will make Florida a leader in property tax reform. It will let people actually own a house. This will attract people from all over the country and the world.

by Sue	04/21/07 03:24 PM
I have property in St. Pete., so I read the St. Pete times everyday. What is the matter with these lawmakers? I have to live on a budget, what their problem?Tax on the value of the home at the date the owner bought the property.

by Patrick	04/21/07 03:20 PM
The House Plan is the way to go, it's true reform.....Rubio get's it. The Senate approved their version so quickly because it doesn't do anything, they put lipstick on a pig. Shame on them.

by Fred McClenan	04/21/07 02:08 PM
I have lived in carrollwood for the past 30 years. In 1977, it made sense to own a big house in a nice family neighborhood so my boys could enjoy their childhood. At 71, I now need to downgrade to a small condo - the senate plan will not help me!

by Jack Brownstein	04/21/07 02:08 PM
I don't want to see my neighbor with the same floorplan who is already struggling to make ends meet have as high a tax bill as I have. I want us both to enjoy the same savings equally. The House plan will eliminate that disparity.

by Richard	04/21/07 01:57 PM
The house plan makes the most sense! It eliminates disparties in the taxing formula. It also acts to spread the costs of mantaining roads, schools, and other public services that we all enjoy evenly amongst all residents.

by KH	04/20/07 08:08 PM
I think the terms should be a bit more clarified. Roll back property tax revenues to 2005 levels. Now it that the assessed values? Or are you talking mileage rates. My mileage rate was higher in '05 than in '06! Watch that tricky wording!

by Bland	04/20/07 03:29 PM
There is a similar poll on the Miami Herald web site. 67% of the participants, over 1,000, are voting for Republican House plan and only 7% said they did not like either plan. I wonder if there is some type of bias? Why the difference????

by Dena	04/20/07 10:09 AM
The House Plan is the only option to save my home. $15,681 tax bill on my home now. I do not have a "Save Our Home" cap, this does nothing to save me. In addition, my insurance bill is $7800. I can not afford over $24k a year to live here.

by Kathleen	04/20/07 10:00 AM
I caution lawmakers and the public to consider the impact on the tax base. While living (renting) in (New) Orleans Paris, I learned the homestead exemption was raised to $75,000 when the parochial schools opened in the 1960s, leaving little revenue.

by Jim	04/20/07 10:00 AM
Why is it fair to ask temporary residents,new owners, and tenants to pay more than their fair share of property taxes? The best way for the county to provide affordable housing is to reduce spending and property taxes.

by Jim	04/20/07 09:51 AM
Why can't we do what's fair and just for once. Eliminate save-our home cap and homestead exemption over 5 years, access accurate values, and everyone pays their fair share. Then, the majority will care how the money is spent and cuts will occur.

by Mark	04/19/07 11:58 PM
Elimination Of Property Tax on Primary Homes is Freedom. And that is what America Is About. Great Idea!

by James	04/19/07 11:49 PM
I like the house plan better, it seams to favor the home owner better then the senate, but portablilty is also very important for those home owner looking to move up. If portibility isn't possible, there are people out there that won't just move up.

by Don	04/19/07 10:53 PM
We are all in trouble now

by Tim Peoples	04/19/07 10:48 PM
The Senate plan is the laziest effort I have ever seen on any issue.

by Amanda Brackett	04/19/07 10:47 PM
A freeze --- and that does what? NOTHING !!!

by John	04/19/07 10:23 PM
The Senate's plan will hardly reduce property taxes for most of Florida's residents. The House's plan will give major tax reduction to almost everyone including renters. It will force local gov't to live within their means-NO QUESTION WHICH IS BETTER

Politics

The House and Senate property tax plans