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Todays Letters: Don't reject tax relief because it's not enough

Letters to the Editor
Published December 6, 2007

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Where do people get the idea that if you vote for the property tax amendment in January, you can't continue to push for greater reductions? I've read letters from people who say they are voting against the amendment because they wanted a bigger decrease. Duh! Take what you get now and continue to push for more.

Having portability of the Save Our Homes cap is good for everyone. It is obvious that if you have owned your home for some time, being able to take that accrued savings with you if you move is a great benefit. But it has further advantages.

I have been a mortgage broker in the area for 10 years. During the first seven years, 80 percent of my business involved people moving up or down within the area. During the last three years, these types of buyers made up only about 10 percent of my business. This lack of mobility within the area has put a huge number of potential buyers on the sidelines. People continue to put their homes up for sale, but circumstances have eliminated many of the traditional buyers of those homes. Inventory increases and the value of everyone's property goes down.

This lack of activity also hurts the state coffers. Tallahassee gets 1.25 percent of the purchase price of each transaction in taxes and fees. No home sales, no fees. This shortfall will eventually trickle back down to each of us in either higher taxes or reduced benefits.

So while the tax break didn't go far enough and has very little direct benefit for nonhomestead properties, the passage of this bill should unleash pent-up demand, which should start moving the local real estate market. Homes should begin to sell again, values will stabilize and the state will get its share.

By all means continue to demand more. But at the same time, let's give this first step a chance to reverse the terrible mess our housing markets are in today. If this does not pass, there will be at least another 10 to 12 months of declining values and increased inventory, and nobody can afford that.

Dave Hoyt, Palm Harbor

Save Our Homes is fair Dec. 3, letter

Questionable fairness

I have read many letters from readers justifying the Save Our Homes property tax system. The one on Dec. 3 pushed me over the edge. The letter writer said it was fair that his neighbors paid more taxes, because they "pay for the additional services and facilities required because of the population increase attributable to them." What if that new neighbor has lived in Florida his whole life? How does that cause a population increase?

The letter goes on to make a case that nonhomesteaded "snowbirds" should pay more taxes than he does. He says they cause the need for additional roads, water and sewer lines and other service increases that would otherwise not be required. The fallacy in this argument is that the lion's share of property taxes pays for education and public safety. For the most part, I doubt that "snowbirds" educate their children in Florida. Also, since their property taxes are higher, they end up paying more for police, fire, other public safety costs and other services while living here only part of the year. How is that fair?

Roads are funded principally by federal grants, tolls and fuel taxes. Water and sewer costs are financed by user charges. Thus, only a fraction of these infrastructure costs are funded by the property tax.

The new legislative proposal only makes matters worse. I like the proposal backed by Rep. Marco Rubio to limit property taxes to 1.35 percent of taxable value for all properties. This is fair for renters, "snowbirds," good for businesses and, thus, the state's economy.

Lon Compton, St. Petersburg

Help on the way in mortgage mess Dec. 4, editorial

Aiding the unworthy

Your support for the speculators and gambling homeowners who took out subprime mortgages is way off base. Many of these mortgages also went to those who purchased far more home than they knew they could afford. What about the vast majority of homeowners who worked and saved for a 20 percent down payment, had good credit records and pay their bills on time?

The real sin of bailing out the subprime borrowers is when this mess gets worse and worse the U.S. government will use additional taxes and print more money to solve the problem, which will impact the solid citizens of our country the most. I say let the mortgage speculators, gamblers and the greedy suffer the consequences of their actions. That's what pure market-driven economics would do.

Ken Wright, Palm Harbor

Pinellas Hope

A rewarding experience

Catholic Charities, Pinellas County, the city of St. Petersburg, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and everyone involved in organizing the Pinellas Hope homeless project deserve a great big thank you and congratulations.

Dec. 1 was the first day of this effort. As a volunteer, I was very impressed with how well it has been organized. Transporting about 80 guests with their personal belongings, processing paperwork, distributing tents and supplies, and setting up tents went very smoothly. This organizational effort made for an extremely rewarding volunteer experience. Working with my fellow volunteers and the guests was a community experience that I will never forget.

I strongly encourage faith groups, civic groups and individuals to support and participate in this effort. You will receive in return much more than you give.

Richard Feigel, Clearwater

The homeless attitude

I have been reading about the new tent city called Pinellas Hope. It seems to have all the amenities one would wish for, when homeless. And all for free.

I have been considering my own situation. My home assessment went up 40 percent last year, and my taxes accordingly. I tried to sell my condo, and found that it couldn't be sold for the asking price (which my assessment was based on), since home values have gone down. I'm sure that means my taxes and assessment will go down next year.

But if they don't, I can always put things into foreclosure and head for that tent city. I am sure hundreds of homeless people will be heading there too, when they find out about the living arrangements. They will come from miles around and from other states. How many of our tax dollars will go for this?

I guess if I can't pay my taxes and lose my home, I should march on City Hall and demand my "rights." For some reason I thought people had a right to have a job and pay their bills, but I guess if you choose not to do that you can always say you are being discriminated against. It is the modern thing to do.

James Bardsley, St. Petersburg

Don't fear free trade, immigration Nov. 28, David Brooks column

Pundit out of touch

David Brooks has omitted a few things from his column. He forgot to add that never before have so many retired/elderly people had to go back into the work force because either the cost of living got so high they can no longer live on their savings or they have lost their pensions through having the companies reneging on their promises.

Brooks has never stood on the shipping dock watching his job leave for Mexico on a truck. He has never been turned away from a doctor's office because he could not pay up front. He has never skipped medications because he couldn't afford them. He has never been in the unemployment line while watching an illegal alien working across the street on a construction job.

Lou Dobbs tells it like it is. Too bad there are not more of his type in the world and fewer of the David Brooks type.

Robert Murray, Oldsmar

A corrupt CNN ruins GOP debate Dec. 4

Dobbs deserves respect

It is outrageous that Tim Rutten (whoever he is) should call the CNN/Lou Dobbs team corrupt and incompetent.

I find it hard to believe, as he states, that "Americans think the war in Iraq is the most important issue facing the United States." The ill-conceived war is a sham, and the concern of the people is for us to get the hell out of there as soon as practicable. And, in my opinion, the only ones who really care about the conflict are those profiting from it and those who have relatives actively serving there. The rest of the populace are merely observers.

I for one am thankful that Lou Dobbs has kept the immigration problem in the forefront of his news program, because it is, indeed, a huge problem affecting many aspects of life in the United States.

Not since Walter Cronkite have I respected and admired a TV journalist more. For Tim Rutten to accuse CNN of intentionally directing the Republican debate to advance Dobbs' interests is nonsensical. Rutten evidently is unaware of the popularity of the Lou Dobbs broadcast. Dobbs doesn't need manipulation to advance his popularity.

Orfeo Trombetta, Seminole

[Last modified December 6, 2007, 01:45:29]

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