Florida Senate Vote on Super Homestead Exemption (Dems say voters shouldn't choose tax cuts!)

Florida State Senate ^ | 06/15/07

[Recovering_Democrat]

Bill Number ....: SJR 4B                                        Date: 6/14/2007
Amendment Number:                                               Time: 12:27PM
Reading Number .: 3                                        Roll Call: 3
Floor Actions ..:

Yeas - 25 Nays - 12 Not Voting - 2
VA VO MEMBER VA VO MEMBER VA VO MEMBER _ Y Alexander _ Y Gaetz _ Y Posey _ N Aronberg _ Y Garcia _ Y Pruitt _ Y Atwater _ N Geller _ N Rich _ Y Baker _ Y Haridopolos _ N Ring _ Y Bennett _ N Hill _ Y Saunders _ N Bullard _ Y Jones _ N Siplin _ Y Carlton _ N Joyner _ Y Storms _ Y Constantine _ N Justice _ Y Villalobos _ Y Crist _ Y King _ Y Webster _ EX Dawson _ N Lawson _ EX Wilson _ N Deutch _ Y Lynn _ Y Wise _ Y Diaz de la Portilla _ N Margolis _ Y Dockery _ Y Oelrich _ Y Fasano _ Y Peaden
Presiding: Pruitt President: Ken Pruitt
'VA'=Vote After Roll Call 'VO'=Chamber Vote

[Recovering_Democrat]

The amendment to the bill was to allow the VOTERS of the state of Florida decide whether permanent residents of the state should be allowed to take a SUPER-HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION on their property tax (of $195,000, I believe!).

Property owners have seen their taxes increase by about 80% in the past 5 years. Ridiculous.

Now, who votes AGAINST this amendment?

Dave Aronberg, Democrat

Larcenia Bullard, Democrat

Ted Deutch, Democrat

Steve Geller, Democrat

Tony Hill, Democrat

Arthenia Joyner, Democrat

Charlie Justice, Democrat

Al Lawson, Democrat

Gwen Margolis, Democrat

Nan Rich, Democrat

Jeremy Ring, Democrat

Gary Siplin, Democrat

Two Democrats did not vote: Mandy Wilson and Frederica Wilson (Never get between Frederica Wilson and a television camera).

EVERY REPUBLICAN SAID "YES" TO LETTING VOTERS CHOOSE TO CUT THEIR TAXES FURTHER...EVERY DEMOCRAT VOTED NO!

There is a difference between the Republicans and Democrats.

Now, on the bill as a WHOLE, every Senator--Democrat and Republican--voted "YES". But don't let the media trick you into thinking this was "bipartisan"....and don't let Charlie Crist's "inclusive language" do that either!

The fact of the matter is the Democrats detested cutting taxes--their government employee labor union pals and their "we can spend your money better than you can" delusion is going to work overtime between now and January 29, when the voters will have their say!

A 60% voter approval is needed to put the Super Homestead Exemption into effect.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Florida info.

[darkwing104]

Sierra Hotel!

[italianquaker]

I have been following this closely and am not sure if this is a way to get rid of the SOH ammendment(I benefit from it). That being said why is it that tax cuts always equal teachers, fireman, police layoffs and school cuts(school cuts would be a good thing anyway)

[Recovering_Democrat]

I have been following this closely and am not sure if this is a way to get rid of the SOH ammendment...

I thought the option would be open to the homeowner...either take the Super exemption or do the SOH....doesn't the SOH keep increases at 3%? I think that is an excellent rule.

[Moonman62]

I think it will pass because nobody has seen an increase in services to go along with the huge tax increase the past few years.

[italianquaker]

you have an option but if you leave soh, you lose the 3pct cap and thats scary, bumberg in nyc raised my prop taxes 37pct when i live there

[RightFighter]

The trouble is that anyone who has moved has lost the Save Our Homes cap anyway. My parents lived in the same house for 37 years - then they moved last year. Now their taxes have more than tripled because they are subject to taxation at the full value of the new house. Plus, because they still have the old house, the taxes on that will bump up to the current assessed value as well.

Without portability, Save Our Homes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be unless you plan on staying in the same home forever.

[italianquaker]

your right but that cap is a nice security blanket against the tax and spend officials

[Recovering_Democrat]

Right...you lose the 3% cap...and that does suck. Of course, if you have a crooked appraiser that $195K homestead exemption will be eaten up REAL fast, right?

[Recovering_Democrat]

good point.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[Caipirabob]

Thank you for the ping, good sir!

[ExSES]

Of course, if you have a crooked appraiser that $195K homestead exemption will be eaten up REAL fast, right?

Inflation alone makes the "Super Exemption" a loser after 4 to 5 years according to analyses I have seen. I am certain that there will be a great deal of analysis before the vote. I predict that the proposed constitutional amendment will fail and property tax reform will continue to be a topic in Tallahassee for years to come...

[MedNole]

After reading the bill, I think the super exemption will be almost as good as SOH in terms of a cap. It will cap local revenue at the rate of personal income growth, which historically has been ~3.5%/yr over the past 20 years. It’s not as good as the SOH 3% cap, but close. In addition, local governments can raise revenue an additional 3% with a super majority vote or 5% with a unanimous vote. This is where the super exemption is more risky than SOH. However, it’s important to note that the revenue caps do not reset each year. So, once a municipality raises revenue 5% over the personal income growth cap ONE TIME, they are stuck at that level FOREVER, unless a voter referendum allows increased revenue.

I’ll admit, I was lukewarm about the bill when I first heard about it. However, after they added the ability to choose between SOH and the super exemption, I think it will pass easily in January. Remember that 5 of 7 constitutional amendments last year met the new required 60% threshold.

[floriduh voter]

That's where the parties have a clear break. DEMS HATE TAX RELIEF. It's our money! The super homestead sounds like the way to go. The cap is 3% a year but Floridians are already paying too much. They didn't address portability yet though did they?

Super Homestead means counties and cities will have to budget like the rest of us and stop hiring their entire families to work in govt. The waste is by a lot of administrative CHAIR WARMERS who aren't even qualified! (Pinellas Cty for one).

[George from New England]

The “Save Our Homes”, over time has created much apathy in Florida. The long-time residences who pay 1/3 or 1/4 of the newbies taxes don’t care about govt waste - hey they’re not really paying for it anymore. The county spenders get away with unchecked spending.

It used to be that the masses would go out and vote to control expenses. You always had the govt employee base that would vote to increase their own pay but that at least in Florida would be a minority. Today, those on the public payroll just have to outnumber the newbies that vote as the many long-time residents don’t bother to vote as the don’t really pay.