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Support for plan to cut taxes erodes
A poll finds nearly third of voters are undecided.
By ALEX LEARY
Published September 12, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Steady cries from cities and counties over planned property tax cuts are eating into support for a proposed constitutional amendment granting large homestead exemptions, a statewide poll shows.
Since the last survey in July, the level of support for the so-called super homestead exemption has dropped 10 points, to 47 percent. To be approved, the amendment would need to gain the support of 60 percent of voters.
Still, the vote is four and a half months away, and almost a third of the electorate remains undecided.
Meanwhile Tuesday, a judge heard competing arguments in a challenge to the legality of the amendment. The mayor of a small city in Broward County wants the referendum thrown out on the basis that the ballot language is misleading. The judge said he will issue a ruling within 10 days.
If anything, the latest poll results released Tuesday show how much uncertainty surrounds the tax plan. Thirty-one percent of those surveyed remain undecided on how they will vote. Almost two-thirds say they need "a lot more" explanation of the details. Only 5 percent say those details have been clearly explained.
Both sides are in the early stages of trying to sway those voters. So far, the opponents are demonstrating success, partly by arguing how the cuts will hurt services.
The poll of 1,141 registered voters was taken Sept. 3-9 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. It shows 27 percent think a valid argument against the plan is that it will hurt the ability of local governments to provide services. That is up 6 percent from July.
Some accuse governments of fear tactics, by cutting back on library hours and other highly visible services as part of tax cuts already ordered by the Legislature. But passage of the amendment would force city and county leaders to cut billions more.
"The opponents have had a good month," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the independent Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, which does surveys in Florida, New York, Ohio and other states and provides results to news outlets at no cost as part of the school's research mission."The proponents need to get working."
But the fight, Brown noted, is not over.
That's because of the large number of people who remain undecided. If only half decide to back the amendment on Jan. 29, then it will pass.
Brown said one man has the ability to lift those numbers: Gov. Charlie Crist, whose approval rating slipped somewhat in the poll, to 65 percent but remains notably high.
"But obviously he has to invest time and effort into it if he wants this to pass," Brown said. "He probably needs to get out front on it and not just say I'm for it."
Crist said Tuesday that he will advocate for the passage but was not specific on what he would do.
"I think it sells itself," he told reporters. "Who doesn't want a property tax cut in Florida? All we have to do is frame it right."
Voters on Jan. 29 will be asked to replace the current $25,000 homestead exemption with a percentage-based system that would knock off up to $195,000 on the first $500,000 of property value.
If the exemption is approved, existing owners of homesteaded homes would have to make a one-time, irrevocable choice whether to take the new exemption or stick with the 3 percent cap on annual property assessments known as Save Our Homes.
House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, had planned to appear today with major business groups to begin a formal push for the plan but scheduling problems put the meeting off until next week.
"We still have a lot of education to do," said Barney Bishop, head of Associated Industries of Florida.
Super homestead exemption poll
For: 47%
Against: 22%
Undecided: 31%
*Quinnipiac Polling Institute survey of 1,141 voters taken Sept. 3-9. Margin of error +/- 2.9%.
[Last modified September 12, 2007, 10:14:41]
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by Wally
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09/15/07 09:20 AM
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If this ammendment does not pass there will be NO relief forthcoming. Voting down the ammendment is telling our legislature we do not need tax changes. Enough of us are perfectly happy with SOH. As to the comment lose SOH if sell, well that is now
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by Betty
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09/13/07 08:52 AM
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I am with you Thomas. The legislators will not ever recognize non-homesteaders because we are too much of a cash cow! More lawsuits need to be brought against the state. The injustices are rampant.
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by Cid
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09/13/07 07:40 AM
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Since Florida no longer wants Seniors and Retirees, why not impose a State Income Tax and join the rest of the Country. But, be sure to continue "screwing" the snowbirds because they can't vote. Ha, Ha, gotcha
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by John
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09/13/07 01:53 AM
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You forget how easily swayed and ill-informed the average Floridian is. Most will likely never really understand the Super Exemption. They need a real simple bill like elimination of property tax for 2.5% in sales tax. Easy & simple to understand.
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by Bob
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09/12/07 11:39 PM
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As usual power brokers are using their clout to scare the the SOH crowd. Your deal is safe people, but newcomers are chocking on the inequity. Fat Gov't. wants to stay fat. It's called survival of the fatest. No relief means no growth or home sales.
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by Jeff
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09/12/07 10:47 PM
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Question? If one chooses to stay with there current cap and then they sell a house can they then choose to take a superhomestead on the next home they buy?
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by wow
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09/12/07 07:36 PM
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When you move for any reason --you lose your 3% tax cap--FOREVER.
..VOTE NO on the super exemption
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by Robert Luciano
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09/12/07 06:21 PM
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I had to leave STPeterburg because it has become so exspense to stay in the area due taxes an insurance what I found here is taxs are fair not like in the state of Florida.St petersburg is going to be like it was in the 80s no one there.
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by Kim
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09/12/07 05:08 PM
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This ammendmend will remove Save Our Homes Protection from any home that takes advantage of it or any new sale. This leads to HIGHER taxes in the long run. Vote it down and find another way that doesn't leave us vunerable to unlimited tax increases.
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by Eric
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09/12/07 03:22 PM
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I agree, NO PROPERTY TAX, Increase SALES TAX. But you should def vote YES FOR this until that happens. It's really not that hard to understand people.
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by Joe
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09/12/07 03:17 PM
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Cuttaxesnow.com has a better plan that voters should be able to vote on in Novermber 2008. The current proposal is a bait and switch carefully orchestrated by the swindling legislature.
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by Dave
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09/12/07 02:36 PM
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It is obvious that people do not understand the Super Exemption. I hear people say they won't vote for it becuase they are better off under SOH. They still don't get it that they have a choice and its a no-loose situation for them...
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by Floyd
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09/12/07 01:29 PM
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I agree with John, a state sales tax would be much better. We can all share in that plan & we can all benefit as well. Wake up Florida!!!!!
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by Floyd
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09/12/07 01:28 PM
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With all the ink this proposal is getting on TV & in the paper it amazes me how many people still don't understand it. We want the state to take some action but when they do a large portion of people seem to not care enough to get the facts straight.
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by jacque
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09/12/07 11:36 AM
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Tax relief would be taxing equally. Which because we don't in this state it finally caught up to the crisis we are in today. Home insurance relief is another big issue. Maybe we should consider another tax to cover this.
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by Ron
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09/12/07 10:28 AM
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The plan does not address the needs of small business, second homeowners or seasonal residents. These are the groups that need relief the most. It also fails to address special districts that receive all of their funding from property taxes.
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by chris
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09/12/07 09:49 AM
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Two words, Income tax. The wealthy would pay more and it taxes a liquid asset rather than real estate. It is also more stable than a sales tax and doesn't hit the poor as hard as a sales tax does.
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by David
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09/12/07 09:45 AM
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Government has always used cutting necessary services to quiet talk of tax reductions. The truth is that they have been putting windfall taxes these past years into personal projects and protecting them by "earmarking" funds so they are not available
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by lynn
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09/12/07 09:40 AM
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the polls could be down because people distrust the people running the govt. they seem to be unwilling to cut their spending and we need to be leary of the verbage at the polls.
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by Roberta
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09/12/07 08:35 AM
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Once this tax plan is understood by the voters, it should pass. I would like to see articles in the St. Pete Times explaining the benefits.
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by Mary
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09/12/07 08:32 AM
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Is there ANYONE in Tallahassee who knows how to speak CLEAR ENGLISH? The problem is too many lawyers and not enought intelligent people deciding our tax system.
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by Thomas
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09/12/07 08:31 AM
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Why, oh Why, do we have to choose how to be taxed? Why not ONE formula for ALL homeowners? Is this too much to ask? When I say ONE formula, I mean for EVERYONG who owns a home INCLUDING "snowbirds" and business owners. Too simple?
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by John
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09/12/07 03:38 AM
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If the amendment does not pass, the FL Legislature will need to work hard in the next session to come up with a better simpler plan. They need to consider the 2.5% sales tax for no property tax plan.
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by John
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09/12/07 03:36 AM
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The poll also says that most want to see more property tax relief & want local government to cut spending.
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