Politics

Rubio to visit, stump for property tax cap

The House speaker backs a statewide petition drive to cap property taxes at 1.35 percent.

By BARBARA BAHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
Published December 14, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [John Pendygraft | Times] House Speaker Marco Rubio is scheduled to speak in Spring Hill on property tax reductions.

BROOKSVILLE - Local leaders of a movement to slash property taxes have a high-profile ally coming to town next week to back their efforts.

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is scheduled to speak on the statewide citizens' petition drive to cap property taxes at a gathering Thursday at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 10209, 14736 Edward Knoll Drive in Spring Hill, according to the Hernando County Taxpayers Alliance.

The initiative would cap property taxes at 1.35 percent of the taxable value of a property, meaning that the owner of a property valued at, say, $100,000 after exemptions would pay just $1,350 in tax.

Rubio has estimated that the measure could cut almost $8-billion in property taxes.

Rubio's staff confirmed that the speaker would be in the area next week and referred further questions to Brett Doster, spokesman for Floridians for Property Tax Reform and coordinator of the speaker's schedule to talk about tax reform.

Doster said he had been working with local tax reform advocate Linda Hayward on both the 1.35 percent proposal and the upcoming tax change voters will consider on Jan. 29.

He said Floridians for Property Tax Reform is pushing for approval of the Jan. 29 changes but is also pursuing additional constitutional changes "because a lot of our members feel the cap doesn't go far enough."

During Rubio's visit, the speaker will discuss both issues.

Local home builder Blaise Ingoglia, who sponsored the Government Gone Wild seminars last summer, also will speak. He will talk about the 1.35 percent cap petition drive, the steps needed to change the Florida Constitution and how the local group plans to help the cause.

Ingoglia has produced an informational video about the petition drive that is reminiscent of the seminars he presented over the summer to urge people to attend the county budget hearings and lobby for tax reduction.

Ingoglia uses familiar numbers from Hernando County and applies them to the statewide need for property tax reduction. The nine-minute video blames "the government's insatiable appetite for money" and the cites failure of elected officials to rein in "runaway spending."

To view the You Tube video, visit http://www.youtube.com/cutpropertytaxesnow.

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1434.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 20:20:40]