Citizens Rally for Property Tax Reform

When the Speaker of the House and his leadership team of the great state of Florida intiate property tax reform does that mean that it is a done deal? Only if you join in the fight. Marco Rubio, Ray Samson and Dean Cannon, the charismatic legislators out of central casting, have issued the call - come and stand with us in Tallahassee. This trio of leaders have begun a new way of doing the people's business in the capitol, Tallahassee. Less lobbying and more populism are the guideposts.

Their legislation will immediately reduce property taxes by rolling back most property tax rates to 2000-2001 levels plus inflation and population growth for non-homestead homeowners and commercial property owners. (Property taxes for schools, payment of bonds and voter approved property taxes are not rolled back.) The proposal will cap local governments' ability to tax and spend by limiting future increases in all property taxes, including those that fund schools, to inflation and population growth.

The backbone of this proposal is to increase sales tax in Florida from 6% to 8.5%. While this does seem in line with other states such as Nevada, California and New York. these states collect income taxes, unlike Florida, so a direct comparison is not accurate. The total tax burden in Florida will still be less.

Some County Governments are opposing this tax reform, fearing an end to the tax cash cow. When the average Floridian faces a tight budget, they cut back on luxury items first. Local governments should do the same, the reformers argue. Instead, they scare citizens with threats that tax cuts will force cuts in necessities like law enforcement and infrastructure.

The reformers insist that government should not grow beyond people's ability to pay for it. Yet, that is exactly what has happened during the last few years. County and municipal governments tax incomes have grown 99 percent in the last six years while personal income grew by an average of 44 percent. While property values were soaring, local government coffers grew exponentially. Populist sentiment argues that government should work to support Floridians, not Floridians working to support government. Under this new plan, local governments would have to tighten their belts. However, if there is a compelling need, they will still have the ability to override the tax cap with a unanimous vote of the local governing board. Local governments will be able to increase tax collections - they will just have to be transparent about how this is done. Local officials won't be able to hide huge budget increases through normal growth in property values. History shows that when more money is in the pockets of the people and not the government, Florida's economy grows stronger - which in turn provides necessary revenue to sustain local government.

"Property taxes have grown so burdensome that homeowners and business owners fear being forced out of the homes and businesses that they have worked so hard to build. Timid tweaks to the status quo will not do. Our proposal is a bold idea that provides comprehensive reform and meaningful tax relief to all Florida property owners."
-Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

On Tuesday, April 17, 2007, hundreds of Floridians will travel to the Capitol City to rally for relief from their skyrocketing property tax bills. You may visit the website http://www.nomorepropertytax.com for more details about this rally such as time, location and where a bus will be picking-up near your hometown.