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Politics
Tax proposals at a glance
By the Times staff
Published April 27, 2007
THE HOUSE PLAN Total savings: at least $47-billion over five years - The plan has two parts. The first part would require voter approval in a statewide referendum to do this: Eliminate property taxes that fund public schools and replace them with a 1 cent sales tax. Then, voters in each county could get rid of all other taxes on primary homes by approving an additional 1.5 cents on the sales tax.
- The second part is a roll back of tax revenues for cities and counties to 2000-01 levels, or 2003 if voters approve the sales tax replacement program above. Either way, budgets could grow with the population.
- Other pieces: Exempt at least the first $25,000 of business equipment from a tax on tangible property. Limit commercial property assessments to current use, not its highest market value.
THE SENATE PLAN Total savings: About $20-billion over five years - Roll back property tax revenues for cities and counties to 2005 levels, where they would freeze for two years. After that, budgets could grow with population and income levels.
- Allow homeowners to carry the Save Our Homes benefit to new dwellings anywhere in the state.
- Give first-time buyers a 25 percent reduction in the taxable value of their new home for the their first year.
- Exempt the first $25,000 of business equipment from a tax on tangible property.
- Limit commercial property assessments to current use, not its highest market value.
THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN Total savings: $34.5-billion over five years - Roll back local government tax revenues to 2003, with an exemption for school districts. Budget growth would be limited to inflation and population, including impact and other fees.
- Double the homestead exemption to $50,000.
- Allow homeowners to carry the accrued savings of the Save Our Homes to new homes.
- Give first-time buyers a 25 percent reduction in the taxable value of their new home for the their first year.
[Last modified April 27, 2007, 19:26:44]
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Comments on this article
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by Gene
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05/22/07 09:12 AM
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Obviously the Governors plan favors only those who can vote for him--forget the millions of tourists & homeowners from out-of-state! We have other ways of voting--wait & see when noone can afford to rent anymore. Wise up, people.
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by joel
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05/17/07 12:34 PM
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i think the 2.5 cent tax is great.Removing the tax on your primary. It will give more people a chance to purchase their first home.
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by Danny & LisaMarie
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05/16/07 03:14 PM
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Quick reality check, another BAD hurricane season, this state will be hurting BIG TIME! Homeowner's insurance has quadgrupled, more and more people are leaving this state everyday. Florida is near the TOP for increased cost of living, DO THE MATH!=0P
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by Johnno
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05/16/07 02:52 PM
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All the plans have major flaws and can't be inacted soon enough. Eliminate all property taxes period. Generate revenue from gambling, sales and tourism, (I thought FL was the #1 tourist destination.) Also, no state income tax, save middle class FL.
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by Mark
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05/16/07 12:19 PM
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I work with people in foreclosure. If this state does not get its act straight, the only home owners left will be the banks. Our slow moving government needs to help all people and make some quick dicisions. WAKE UP and get it done.
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by Cecile
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05/16/07 12:08 PM
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Hey, DM, What constitutes a "long time resident" Are we not all American Citizens, or are Floridians part of a Foreign Country. Try to think rationally. I presume you are of Seminole heritage? Do YOU have more rights than other Americans? BULL
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by Thomas
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05/16/07 09:23 AM
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Roll back taxes for ALL homeowners, not just permanent residents. What does it matter how long a person is physically present in a home? Name any other state which does this. Time to come into the 21st century & treat all homeowners fairly.
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by Armand
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05/15/07 01:26 PM
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Raising the sales tax without eliminating ALL real-estate taxes only further penalizes non homesteaders. We would pay more sales tax and not get a tax cap. VERY FAIR INDEED. If Florida doesn't want seasonals, just say so & quit playing games.
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by Roger
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05/15/07 01:16 PM
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To DM . GET A LIFE and quit thinking only of yourself....there are retirees out there hurting while you have "squatters rights" on your land. How arrogant to assume everyone out-of-state is wealthy.
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by Robert
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05/15/07 01:13 PM
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As a "long time resident" of Florida, I resent the biggoted comments of DM. It is narrow minded persons like this which keep Florida's antiquated laws from joining the 21st century. No wonder Floridians are called FLORIDIOTS in North Carolina.
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by Gene
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05/15/07 01:09 PM
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Sound like DM only cares about "long time residents." How long? Would he be surprised to learn that many snowbirds were one-time Florida residents, moved North temporarily for work, and now want to return to retire. DM would still have dirt roads.
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by tracy
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05/11/07 11:27 AM
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i'm a resident neighbor paying $4ooo/yr and my other resident neighbors are paying @$800/yr.who do you think will have to move out first??how long can i last in florida with these tax and insurance rates?
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by Lew
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05/11/07 09:40 AM
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Treat ALL homeowners equally--what does it matter if someone lives in a house 12 months, or 1 month? What an outdated and unfair system. Distribute the "load" equally-- All retirees are NOT wealthy. Wake up, Florida--time is running out.
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by DM
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05/10/07 08:17 PM
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Sounds like to me we have a bunch of Johnny Come Latelys and big money homebuyers who want a better deal at the expense of long time residents. Hey, go back to some cold place where you came from or pay up just like they made you do there...
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by Bill
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05/09/07 09:49 PM
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Ask any merchant how important seasonal residents are to business. We will leave if tax relief for non-resident owners is not passed.I pay $3,300/yr,
my resident neighbor pays $800/yr. Totally unfair.
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by Don
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05/09/07 08:58 PM
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Ummmmmm, if they get 1/10th as much done as they did in special session for insurance, that leaves ZERO,,such geeks, We need a healthy revolution soon before we loose our own country
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by Charles
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05/09/07 06:37 AM
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Time to bite the bullet and pass a income tax with a cap on the sales tax of 3%
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by Thomas
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05/08/07 10:22 AM
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I have only one thing to say. Tell the people that are spending our money, again OUR MONEY, to stop wasting it or get out of office.
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by Len
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05/08/07 12:02 AM
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the house plan is the only plan that helps the residents and is fair for ALL
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by Rick
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05/07/07 04:29 PM
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None of the plans are any good. A increase in sales tax impacts the low wage earner the most A rollback in rates or change in the Homestead exemption would only reduce taxes a small percentage of ones total bill
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by Tom
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05/07/07 12:00 PM
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The increase in the sales tax is being poo-pooed by the senate as unfair to the poor. If the same essentials that are untaxable now are untaxable then... The reality is most poor rent and pay a higher proportion of property tax through their rent.
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by maria
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05/07/07 11:40 AM
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how does the senate plan help those of us that want to downsize due to unaffordable taxes, it only helps those who want to get in a more expensive tax bracket, the rest of us are completely neglected.
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by Christine
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05/07/07 08:18 AM
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50% of my retirement check now goes to pay taxes and insurance in Florida. I am leaving when I can find a buyer. Does ANYONE care anymore?
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by Sid
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05/07/07 08:11 AM
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Enough is enough. When we are able to sell to an unsuspecting newcomer, we are heading to Murphy, N.C. where our retirement check will get us meals instead of feeding the tax man. Why eat fake Grouper when we can catch fresh trout?
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by Raymond
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05/07/07 08:07 AM
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I do not see any proposal which addresses the situation of the snowbird retirees who have no vote yet pay the most taxes, and spend lots of money in Florida. My neighbor pays $450, I pay $3600. She has a home in Illinois but claims residency. JOKE
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by Steve
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05/06/07 02:07 PM
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For the first time in the recorded history of Florida-we had more people move out of Florida than moved in last year-WHY-Way out of line taxes and insurance. The House plan will go a long way in attracting people back to Florida. Senate plan is bad
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by John
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05/06/07 03:48 AM
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The Florida House plan is the only plan that will provide substantial property tax reduction. Like it or not, Save-our-Home will never get repealed unless we get a plan like the Fl House's. The Senate plan is an absolute joke, hence the Times like it
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by Debbie
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05/05/07 11:26 AM
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I live in Pinellas County. We were just suckered into an additional 1 cent tax- PENNY for Pinellas. I'd still take the House plan for an additional 2.5 cents since I can control my spending but not the politicians who continue to tax us outrageously.
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by Jeanne
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05/04/07 06:48 PM
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As a homeowner, I think it is outrageous what the property taxes went up to. Ours went from $940.00 to $7748.00. If We worked 700 years we couldn't afford that rate. Has what about a state wage tax? a rate as low as 1% would help a catastrophic fund
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by clarence whitley
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05/04/07 11:40 AM
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the senate plan is a joke , i can,t belive that we elected them to repersent our needs. they are more interested in the schools than the people that put them in office, but we also can take that office away from them.
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by clarence whitley
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05/04/07 11:31 AM
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the senate pland does very little for the home owner.my house has increase $331.00 per month do to taxes.We also need relief on home owner,s insurence ours has tripled.We are considering renting if we can sell our home.
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by Joyce
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05/04/07 10:44 AM
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I believe that they should approve gambling for the entire state, most people go to Vegas, or some other location to gamble which causes our state to lose the revenue generated. The momey earned could appropraited to different areas as needed.
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by Mary
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05/03/07 05:54 PM
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Please! The Senate plan amounts to a big zero for EVERYONE concerned! I give the Senate credit for recognizing our property tax system is so broken it can't be fixed or SAVED. Why not make it a "user tax"...why should we be trapped in our homes?
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by Gene
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05/03/07 02:23 PM
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The Florida State Senate is made of of Cowards .The sheer lack of courage to confront taxpayers issues is an affront to all citizens .I SAY THROW THE HACKS OUT .
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by Robert
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05/02/07 10:40 PM
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increasing the sales tax in lieu of property taxes is a fantastic idea which should be adopted look at all the people who could contribute, residents and non-residents everyone could easily adapt to this once it is instituted.
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