Cities unsure of battle plans

Municipal officials fear the super homestead exemption, but hesitate to oppose it.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published August 18, 2007

ORLANDO - If cities are planning to launch an all-out campaign against the Jan. 29 property tax referendum, they're not tipping their hand. At least not yet.

Meeting at the Florida League of Cities annual conference, hundreds of local government leaders gathered for the first time since the Legislature mandated property tax cuts of more than 10 percent in many cities.

And though the budget talks dominated the discussion, city officials were less vocal when it came to whether or not they'll oppose the Jan. 29 referendum.

The decision - to fight or not to fight - will be scrutinized no matter what choice leaders make.

St. Petersburg could lose as much as $40-million in property tax revenue if the referendum that establishes a super homestead exemption passes, one city official estimated.

But cities probably would face a backlash from legislators and tax cut advocates if they speak up. That could be seen as protecting their own.

Local leaders, who almost universally oppose the additional exemption, are split on whether cities should spend tax dollars to fight the proposal.

"I don't know if cities are the ones that want to come out against it," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who believes other groups should lead the campaign.

The super exemption - which needs 60 percent approval in January to pass - would exempt 75 percent of the first $200,000 of property currently with a homestead exemption, and 15 percent of the next $300,000. The new exemption does not include the 3 percent Save Our Homes cap.

Gulfport Mayor Mike Yates said cities need to stick up for their residents by opposing deeper tax cuts. He wants the League of Cities to get involved.

"The Florida League of Cities has to be aggressive," Yates said in between morning sessions Friday. "They have to look out for all of our interests."

Talk about property tax and budget issues has dominated the conference, which ends today. One session centered on union negotiations in a tight budget climate. Another session was entitled "Rethinking public leadership in troubled times."

Dozens of city leaders, including Baker and Largo City Commissioner Gay Gentry, attended a session Friday afternoon entitled, "Determining City Budget Policies in a Cut-Back Era."

The session, led by Palm Bay City Manager Lee Feldman and Haines City Mayor Ron Tyler, included several jabs at legislators.

"I had to make a promise I wasn't going to say anything ugly about the Florida Legislature," Tyler said. About 10 seconds later, he added: "I am continually amazed by someone telling me how to do my job who has never done my job."

One presenter, Palm Bay City Manager Lee Feldman, said his city is opening its own health clinic for employees to hopefully save on health care costs, while also increasing co-payments and premiums.

They are things he would not normally do, Feldman said, but his city has been left little choice. If the Jan. 29 referendum passes, more cuts will have to come.

But how should city leaders communicate that message without sounding like fear mongers?

Gentry, who as a member of the Largo City Commission voted to override the deepest of the state-mandated cuts, said she is wary about governments using tax dollars to spread the word.

She's suggesting a grass roots approach instead.

"I think it's going to be almost like you're running for office," Gentry said. "We need to be going door to door, telling people about this vote and what it means."

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 22:38:38]