League Urges Voters to Reject Unfair Tax Plan
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January 29 tax inequality plan would benefit average homeowners little, punish young families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 14, 2007
CONTACT: Sharon Berrian
(850) 222-9684
TALLAHASSEE – Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis, president of the Florida League of Cities, condemned the Legislature’s property tax plan today as an “unequal, unfair tax shift that will punish young families, punish our schools and make it more likely that many will pay higher taxes than their neighbors to live in the same-size home.”
According to an analysis by Florida TaxWatch, the proposed amendment “gives relief to those who need it the least, while giving virtually nothing to those that have seen their taxes rise the most.” TaxWatch also noted that the plan will “perpetuate and exacerbate the current system that shifts tax burden from homestead to non-homestead property” – which will punish small business owners and first-time homebuyers.
The January 29 tax amendment would give brand new tax benefits and tax caps to landlords and owners of vacation homes, condos and beach-front villas – even if they don’t live in Florida. The average Florida family is expected to receive only $240 from the January 29 proposal, or less than 67 cents a day.
Ortis noted that the trade-off for that 67 cents a day is to worsen inequality in the property tax system and punish young families who have not had time to accrue tax benefits from Save Our Homes. Thus, the amendment will further shift the property tax burden from longtime homeowners to first-time homebuyers – whether it’s a family relocating from Ohio, or whether it’s a young couple trying to buy their first home. Small business owners will also be forced to pick up more of the tab.
“For 67 cents a day, you’ll create a system that allows someone who moves into your neighborhood, right next door, buys a bigger more expensive home than you – and you still get socked unfairly with a higher tax bill than your neighbor,” Ortis said.
For 67 cents a day, the amendment will also cut funding for Florida schools by nearly $3 billion. Today, Florida ranks just 40th in per-pupil education funding, and it spends $1,500 less per student each year than the federal average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“How can we support this inequity – punishing families who live and work here; forcing them to pay more than their neighbors; starving our public schools – just to give ourselves 67 cents a day?” Ortis said. “Florida should reject this flawed proposal and VOTE NO on January 29.”
Paid Political Advertisement sponsored and paid for in-kind by the Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough Street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301.
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