Yes we should have the super tax cut.................way to pay for it very easy just pass  abill that allows gambling .....the state like other states would have all the money from gambling taxes that they could spend....I dont want to hear how bad gambling is we have a lottery now.... with tv  advertising please buy lottery tickets....to help schools   SO  PASS a gambling bill to help home owners............WHAT DO YOU THINK

The legislature just want to eliminate the cap. They want to milk the hype home value inflation at the expense of the tax payer. Vote No for sure. only if you are sure your home will never be worth $175,000.00 more than you paid for it can you not get burned by this legislation

only if you belive the home will never be worth more than $200,000.

I find it very interesting, how short sighted the public can be.  When the homeowner need the water line in front of their house fixed, they want it done right away.  When their house floods during a rain event they want the situation corrected before the next storm hits.  The public expects nice parks to relax in, and giant warehouse style libraries, staffed to the point where, when they want something there is no waiting.  I guess local governments are to provide instant free services, and no one has to pay the bill.

 

Our local government provides the security and infrastructure we come to rely on, and they do a grate job at providing those services.  Jeb Bush tried to push a privatization philosophy for getting the system to move faster and cheaper.  Now we can look at his efforts and see that our civil service employees are doing a grate job, and usually cheaper than it can be done in the private sector.  I can’t wait for one of these tax reduction enthusiasts to need service only to find that the local government can’t afford to help them with their situation, due to insufficient funds.

 

This tax cut is not all it is cracked up to be, my husband works for the Pinellas County Government and they have to mandate more budget cuts now because of the suppose "tax relief". What the media and legislature fails to tell the citizens of Florida is services will be cut as well as pay increases for the "working class". We are a family of four and it is hard enough to live paycheck to paycheck. Now we have to look forward to less money for my husband in a raise, yet Governor Crist is not hurting in his pocket just like the rest of the legislature aren't either. The sad part is the TAX PAYING CITIZENS of Florida REALLY have NO idea what effects this "HISTORICAL TAX CUT" will mean in the long run. Where do you think they will cut back? Just look at what Pinellas County provides to the public and you will find the answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are ABSOLUTELY right!!!!

come on wake up you lose the property value cap. If your home value exceeds your current cap value by more than  $170,000 the max exemption after the current 25m exemtion your taxes will go up.Is your home worth more today than the tax base????If so you get a huge tax increase and the sky is the limit on future value increases.SAVE OUR HOMES VOTE NO on this super ripoff bill.

My property tax bill is equal to 45% of my monthly mortgage payment (which we knew and budgeted for); therefore, due to the incredible rate we pay as well as the arbitrary application of values and differential tax bills based on when & where you bought your home, I will be voting yes!

This in no way means that I think it is the perfect plan: far from it, but the time is now or it will be to late as many are simply waiting to see if they stay or leave. This includes residents such as teachers, law enforcement, and healthcare workers. They can no longer afford to live here unless there is a significant change. Look at the rate of college grads & those holding higher degrees searching for jobs in neighboring states. They cannot buy in this market and pay property taxes that increase their mortgage note by 50%.

We need to remember that there is a great disparity amongst property owners, and the best plan would eliminate the unfair taxation and set a rate that remains the same for everyone. It is amazing to me how the assessments vary for homes on my street, which were all built in the same year and sold in the same year (2006). Does that sound fair to you?

Ideally, a 2% state income tax would replace property tax for homeowners, and all other property owners would be capped at 80% of the "fair value". Additionally, tourism dollars would be taxed at a greater amount as the services we pay for are provided for all - visiting or staying.

I hope that each community forms their own lobbying group to get the vote out in January as that is what the unions and local goverments will be doing soon. Let us be the winners this time around and later, when we elect new officials, we tweak the issues associated with the new reductions.

 

They needed to simplify the reduction. Several states have a 20% assessment. Meaning, you pay taxes on 20% of your home's "fair value". If your home is $200,000, then you pay taxes on $40,000. If $300,000, you pay taxes on $60,000, etc. The wording of the amendment is quite confusing for most people, and I fear that was no accident as many will not vote "yes" do to the wording.

I also feel that our legislatures should have taken other proposals into consideration. First, drop the property tax on primary residents and replace with a 3% income tax. Second, cap all other properties to no more than 80% of the "fair value" and cap the millage increases to a vote by the people. Most states allow residents to decide if their millage increases. Next, increase all tourism related taxes as they strain our resources as well such as roads, transportation, emergency services, parks & recreations, waterways, etc. Why should we bear the brunt of the services when it can be shared amongst all?

 

You make some interesting points however I would caution, we should be careful of placing too much of the financial burden for local government into sales tax.  If we have a double digit sales tax, discretionary spending would dry up along with a good deal of our tourism.

What is the actual law that was passed?  I want to read it to understand how the cuts are calculated. Also, how does the Super Homestead actually read and Save Our- the other one to vote on read?

This is pure poop!!

If your house is not valued over 200 grand, you are going to pay more if this tax bill goes through.  This is not helping anyone but the people that can afford to buy a bigger house

I am not going to vote for this.  I want save our homes

The last thing I read said you would have a choice EVEN if it passed on which you wanted to utilize.  If it benefits you to keep save our homes then you would be able to keep that.  If it was better to use superexemption, than you could use that.  Make sure you have all the facts before you vote NO on something that can help MANY people including myself.  We moved here from NY state which was is probably one of the most taxed states ever but I am beginning to realize that FL is getting to be the same way PLUS throw in the ridiculous homeowners insurance.  So much for the insurance cuts.  Everyone I have talked to has had INCREASES AGAIN.  Many people leave NY due to the taxes but we will have people leaving Florida due to taxes and insurance.  This is bad for our economy.  VOTE YES!!!!  We need all the relief we can get.

 

It appears that the "Super Exemption" is off the table and Tallahassee is pursuing additional Band-Aid solutions to a serious problem.  Unfortunately, the Band-Aid is being placed on healthy skin instead of on the wound that continues to bleed.  All taxpayers need some help, but the ones that have been hurt the most will be helped the least by latest proposals. 

Who are the people hurting the most?  See if this sounds familiar? 

-homeowners who bought during the "housing bubble" between 2002 and 2007.

-renters with large rent increases from landlords who had unlimited tax increases.  Rents are becoming unaffordable for some and we wonder why the homeless population is increasing?

-landlords and business owners who must pass unrestrained taxes increases to tenants, customers and tourists.  Higher prices on everything are another hidden tax for all Floridians.  At what point will tourists start taking their business to Cozumel, Bahamas or Mississippii when Florida becomes too expensive?

-snowbirds who maintain a winter residence in Florida.  Like them or not, they add significantly to the Florida economy.

-any Floridian with a home or property he/she ever wants to sell.  Outrageous taxes will continue to put a lid on the real estate market and depress the market value.  When taxes & insurance are higher than mortgages, how are we going to get out of the real estate slump?  Currently, downsizing a home often upsizes the property tax.  Many Floridians are trapped in homes/locations they don't like because they can't afford to leave.

I think the best idea is the grass roots plan for a 1.25% flat tax on all properties. This plan is fair, simple, and helps everyone.  Here is the jist of the plan from the www.CutPropertyTaxesNow.com website.

“Today, Cut Property Taxes Now - a new and separate organization - announced its proposal to amend the state constitution in 11/08 to cut taxes for all Florida Property Owners.  The Key points of the proposal would:

The most recent proposed tax plan is discriminatory against the citizens already affected the most.  Those who bought homes in the past few years get no real relief!!!!!!  They are still paying 50-200% more the taxes of their neighboors with identical properties.  Having to move within Florida within the past 12 months I know first hand.
 
Problem:
Save Our Homes has created a huge gap and has divided citizens into two categories, those that are taxed from outdated values and those who are taxed from the inflated values.   This new plan does not solve the problem for those currently caught in this inequity.   Not everyone sat back and waited for the legislature to fix the problem before moving from one homesteaded property to another (For reasons such as growing their family, retiring, changing jobs, or moving closer to work).
 
Solution:
#1 re-word the Super Exemption Proposal and put it on the ballot. 
 
OR
 
Put a feature into the plan that equalizes taxes for people who purchased in the last five years (or reasonable timeframe) during this property market run up.  These people, including my family, are being FOREVER discriminated against in this most recent proposal!
 
 
Facts:
Save our Homes should be phased out.   Don't take it away from anyone who already has it, but don't use it going forward.
 
Our infrastructure and resources are used by all kinds of tourists.   Raising the sales tax to offset the property tax is not going to impact tourism.   The UK folks coming to Disney are not researching the tax rate and deciding not come if it is 8% instead of 7%.  Renters can be positively impacted by forcing the rental owners to pass part of the savings onto their tenants through rent reductions.  

At least in our city, property taxes are not used to pay for fire & police so don't believe the scare tatics.   Public workers are worried about a few of their jobs but what good is a job if you are trapped in your current house or will never be able to afford a house because of insurance and taxes?  Our children will never be able to afford a home in Florida.

How can we get this so wrong when the answers are so obvious?   Give the voters some options.   Don't rush into this, even if it means postponing its appearance on the ballot.  Let's get it right.