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The Governor comes to town. Is property tax relief in sight?

Last Friday, Governor Crist conducted a press conference in Orlando regarding the upcoming property tax amendment vote on January 29, 2008. I was fortunate enough to be invited and got a chance to meet briefly with the Governor. He comes across as a very stand up guy even though in my opinion he hasn't been as tough a bulldog with things as his predecessor. He appears to be as dis-satisfied with the Florida Senate and the local governments as most of us Realtors and property owners are. I don't know if this amendment will be as big a spark to the real estate market as he thinks it will, but at least he is optimistic. Hopefully it will at least help solidify the bottoming out of the market cycle.

Details about the proposed amendment from my blog.

Here is a video clip of the event.

Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Full service and investor friendly Realtor, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

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Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor ® in Orlando and Central Florida.

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com

We sell foreclosure, short sale, and bank owned REO house home throughout Central Florida, metro Orlando, and the Space Coast. We sell and list Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Free list of foreclosure and short sale houses available. Our firm also provides flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Florida including Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, Sanford, Lake Mary, and Deltona.

Posted by Rob Arnold, metro Orlando full service, investor friendly & foreclosure Realtor on 12/17/2007 04:40 PM

Comments (11)

florida property tax amendment, property taxes, realtor, central florida realtor

Originally posted at: Central Florida & metro Orlando real estate services: The Governor comes to town. Is property tax relief in sight?

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11 Comments on The Governor comes to town. Is property tax relief in sight?

DEC

2007

Rob - my take on this is to vote "no". The amendment doesn't come even close to delivering what this State needs and if Floridians pass it then the legislature is likely to be done with it. If we reject it, then they have to go back and try much much harder.

To play Devil's Advocate, something I believe Bill Donegan, Orange County Property Appraiser, said (I believe it was him, if not it was one of the officials at the conference). If this amendment doesn't pass, that will send a message to the legislature and the local governments that the people had their chance and voted down tax relief so why do anything more. I heard Senate President, Ken Pruitt say something to the effect that Florida is just destined to become a high tax state like New York and California.

I do agree that the tax cuts need to go much much farther than what is proposed. I would like to see them get rolled back to 2001 levels and then adjusted for inflation and growth.

Rob - I have a radio show and I have an on-air commitment from State Rep Dean Cannon that this goes back to the floor of the Legislature in March in the regular session. I also have State Senator Mike Haridopolos committed to the eventual abolition of property taxes in the State of Florida. Pass this and that might all go away.

I hear you. I haven't fully made up my mind yet on the amendment. Marco Rubio, House Speaker, has endorsed this amendment - he has also endorsed www.cutpropertytaxesnow.com . Marco Rubio was also in favor of increases in the sales tax to abolish the property taxes on homestead, but that did not get very far in 07.

I guess the point I am making Rob is that there isn't much here in terms of relief. The Governor is kidding himself if he truly believes this will have an impact on the economy of Florida and so why pass it? Especially now that there is yet another legal challenge.

DEC

2007

Yes I see there is a new legal challenge, maybe 2 to this proposal. I was planning on blogging about that shortly. That legal challenge could actually help our cause. That would force the legislature to come up with something better if the amendment gets thrown out.

I am blogging about that too. Should be fun, but I don't think that will help. The deadline has passed for January so the earliest relief will now be presented to the voters next November.

Simon, thanks for your stimulating thoughts on this controversial subject. It should be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully we get some serious tax relief in 2008.

Rob - I've enjoyed this conversation. I have been very close to the whole thing. Even had a controversial Op ed in the last edition of Orlando Realtor Magazine (the big one!). I've had three State reps on my radio show (one twice) and Senator Haridopolos on twice as well. I am hoping for Rubio after Christmas.

DEC

2007

I read your article in the Orlando Realtor Magazine. I am glad you are being proactive and helping to do something about these taxes. It is very critical to our businesses and investments to get this problem fixed ASAP.

I agree with you 100%. My real problem is that FAR just agrees with everything that comes out of Tallahassee even when it makes no sense - the super exemption being a prime example of that. And then they go and spend OUR money to support it. I think that gives us all a credibility problem apart from anything else.

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