Property Tax Debate

Re: Property Tax Debate.

jcinstpete — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:19:23 GMT

There in NO NEED for MORE taxes of any kind ! Government needs to be made accountable for the money they collect. Billions of tax dollars are lost, stolen, wasted, unaccounted for every year. Social services and Education need a complete revamping.

Re: Property Tax Debate.

rmturkel — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:18:46 GMT

I truly think that we all would be better off if we had lower sales tax and it was replaced by either state income tax or increased sales tax. WHY??

Well when you retire you find your income move lower and your expenditures follow suit. This means that you are not locked into increased property taxes that can easily force you to leave a home that you have loved as you lived in it for years.

This would be a much more favorable way to have floridians pay state taxes and would tie into one age and income. We would be better off and not have people move out of Fla. because our very high property taxes.

I have discussed this with quite a number of people and they feel that this is the BEST way to go. So reduce the property taxes and replace the needed state income with sales taxes or income tax or a combination of both. Think this is the way many other states handle there income needs and it does work.

Thank you

Re: Property Tax Debate.

Elaine — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:00:59 GMT

I would like to vote yes to increasing the homestead property tax rebate; however, I am concerned that many of our services will be cut drastically. Where will the money come from for our fire department, police department, roads, and schools?

Re: Property Tax Debate.

thomasrex — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:24:53 GMT

Schools worried? What was lotto supposed to do for the schools? Where is all the money that was promised?

No worries Charlie Crist

CarmenGoodwin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:53:27 GMT

I emailed Charlie Crist last Monday requesting a meeting. I know it's too soon to hear back from him, but I just wanted to tell him no worries on contacting me back. I am a 26 year old mother of a 1 year old working 72 hours a week (probably a little more) to pay for taxes and insurance. We were going to lose our house, but have it worked out now. My family of 3 is moving into my mom's garage. Thanks for the help. Feel like I should just quit trying and go on welfare.

Carmen

Re: Property Tax Debate.

CarmenGoodwin — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:20:44 GMT

Property taxes are $2400 / year. My husband (30yrs) and I (26yrs) bought a house with an ARM, but it also had a "timely rewards program" (pay on time for 12 months, the interest rate will be lowered). We were tricked. As soon as the 12 months were up, and we had paid on time, we called in, and the guy that made the deal with us "left the company and took our paperwork with him". We live in a two bedroom house in Dunedin, and are packing this week to move out and try to sell. Our payments are now $2300/month! I am working 72 hours / week. I have a 1 year old son. I have written to Charlie Crist. I requested a meeting with him. So far, I have not heard back. Florida has one of the worst school systems (I think we are #48 out of 50) so just where is all this money going anyways? Does anyone have any advice for me? I am contemplating just filing bankruptcy, or letting my house get taken and going on welfare. I would get free groceries, free college and not really have to work any, let alone 4 jobs!

Carmen Goodwin

Carmen81@tampabay.rr.com

Re: Property Tax Debate. - Contact your Representatives!!!!!

dmyer — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:34:21 GMT

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.

Re: Property Tax Debate.

cattales — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:15:34 GMT

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:

1. Tax all property at no more than 1.25% of its taxable value.
2. Keep the effect of the Save Our Homes cap – permanently.
3. Provide strong tax relief to homestead and non-homestead property owners.
4. Cut local government property tax revenue by about 25% across the state.
5. Takes effect in January 2009.

To put it more simply, here are the taxes that would be paid on all property based on its taxable value (the value on your Trim notice after Save Our Homes and exemptions). This applies to homesteaders and non-homesteaders:

Taxable Value           Property Tax
$100,000                     $1,250
$200,000                     $2,500
$300,000                     $3,750
$500,000                     $6,250
$750,000                     $9,375
$1,000,000                  $12,500"

This plan reduces revenues by about 25%, but considering that property tax has gone up almost 100% in the last 6 yrs it is fair to county/city governments who received "windfall profits" from the housing bubble.

If you like this plan, please go to the website and print out their petition and send it in. If they get the 600,000 petitions needed, they will put this proposal on the ballot as a contstituional ammendment. I mailed mine today!

Re: Property Tax Debate.

CHOPS36 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:11:20 GMT

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.

Re: Property Tax Debate.

jackiet2000 — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:07:55 GMT

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

Re: Property Tax Debate.

tperilla — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:16:07 GMT

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?

Re: Property Tax Debate.

Aquaserpent — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:39:47 GMT

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.

Re: Property Tax Debate.

kristimc25 — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:53:18 GMT

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?

Re: Property Tax Debate.

grtgrk — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:57:59 GMT

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.

Re: Property Tax Debate.

Lawmom — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:36:59 GMT

You are ABSOLUTELY right!!!!