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Vote - Yes on 1?, Then What Next?

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty

Happy New Year to all real estate professionals!!  With less than 4 weeks until the Florida Vote on Property Taxes, I'm curious how others feel about the Property Tax Issue.

I believe our customers and the tax payers/property owners of Florida have been short changed in regards to the property tax vote.  When the market was good you take the taxes that go along with rise in property values.  Now, with property values over the last year or two "DROPPING LIKE A ROCK", I hope our government can step up to the plate with an equal and appropriate revision in taxes on properties and find an equitable solution to ALL taxpayers.  However, our jobs are continuing to fall along with the economy around us.  While I agree that the "Proposed" tax reductions are a start, I believe we need to send a message to our Congressional & Senate Representatives that we need to take a more serious approach to our property taxes.

While I think a vote "For" the proposed property tax change is a step in the right direction, we need to continue to give more feedback to the legislature.  Please let me know how you feel about the Florida Tax Issue!!

ALL THE BEST,

Bruce Henry

 

Show All Comments
Chris Frantz
EDU Real Estate Group - Indianapolis, IN

1 is a good start but we need more tax relief.  Doubling the homestead was not enough

Jan 02, 2008 03:35 AM
Richard C. Decker,P.A.-Realtor Broward County FL
RE/MAX Partners - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Bruce - glad that you started this. IMO the 2.5% increase in Sales Tax and doing away with Real Estate Tax was the best yet to be offered. I acknowledge that Florida is very divided into what I think is almost 6 areas and one shoe does not fit all. Northern , Central , and South Florida are different in what drives the local economy in each and the demographics.  West Florida has the feed of I-75 and the midwest filling that side and I-95 has the feed from the NorthEast and the Atlantic states. In South Florida, which has a heavy influence of visitors, I feel that the sales tax would be good. When people visit here from other countries and are having a good time they tend to spend the vacation money and would help to support the infrastructure necessary to support the crowds. People will spend when they are happy and feel good, more so than when depressed and concerned about the family budget.

In the regions of Central Florida where cattle and agriculture are more the economic support I have no idea how the increase of sales tax would impact.  Is there enough spending in those areas to offset the withdrawal of real estate taxes?

Food in grocery stores and basic items ( i know there is a list somewhere ) are not taxed and would not affect the poor. If there is a need to offset those below a certain economic threshold, then a tax relief or a rebate of $200, or an agreed upon amount, could be instituted to offset whatever hardship was caused by the 2.5% sales tax increase.

The Panhandle and the Capital are in the areas where the military is predominately located, because of the bases.

Jacksonville is located closer to the I-95 feed and people passing thru that area. Jacksonville is also a major city in the state and would have manufacturing, banking, and other economic hubs that other areas don't have in the state.

As I write this I can see that the legislature does have a big word COMPROMISE to contend with in order to satisfy such a diverse large state as Florida.

Jan 02, 2008 04:02 AM
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