Firefighter unions seek to join property tax suit

Two South Florida unions add their support to the mayor of Weston, who filed the lawsuit.

By ALEX LEARY
Published July 14, 2007

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TALLAHASSEE - Unions representing more than 200 firefighters on Friday joined the legal fight against the Legislature's property tax plans.

The Hollywood Professional Firefighters and Coral Gables Professional Firefighters petitioned a circuit court in Tallahassee to become a "friend of the court" in support of the suit, filed Monday by Eric Hersh, mayor of the Broward County city of Weston.

The suit asserts that proposed constitutional ballot language is misleading and should be thrown out.

Without the amendment, which would provide "super" homestead exemptions, the $15-billion rollback and cap of local tax bases is not valid, Hersh argues.

"We really want to show that this is broad-based and now just some maverick city official," said Russ Chard, president of the Hollywood firefighter union.

"If a well informed public wants to make these budget cuts, that's fine," he said. "But we don't think the way it's being offered to them allows them to make an informed decision."

Chard said he expects at least a half-dozen other fire unions and some police organizations also will join the effort.

During last month's special legislative session on property taxes, hundreds of firefighters staged a protest outside the Capitol, saying the budget cuts would trim jobs, lead to longer response times and increased insurance costs.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate dismissed their talk as scare tactics.

Hersh's suit initially was filed with the Florida Supreme Court, but the high court transferred the case to circuit court on Thursday, calling for expedited hearing. As of Friday, the judge had not set a schedule.