There

Al’s
Loupe

There’s
karma in Florida’s property tax vote

By
Alvaro F. Fernandez                                                             Read Spanish Version
alfernandez@the-beach.net

If
Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida legislature really wanted to
lower taxes in Florida, they could. The money to cover the cut and
actually add to services and education exists. But these legislators
want us to forget that more sales taxes are exempted than collected
in this state. And they refuse to pick the pockets of those they’ve
made richer and hold the state’s reins.

Instead,
republican legislators are playing a shell game with taxes, again.
The difference in 2007, though, is that Floridians seem to have
learned their lesson and are not buying the new property tax scheme
scheduled for next year’s January 29 ballot. The law of karma also
seems to be catching up to these folks in Tallahassee. As a young man
I was warned that everything one does in life catches up to you
sooner or later. In the case of Florida’s republican state
legislators, it seems to be happening sooner.

This
story dates back to several years ago when the Florida legislature,
then under Governor Jeb Bush, tired of citizens taking government
into their own hands, wrote language approved (going against their
own interest) by Florida voters that upped the requirement for
passage of a state initiative or referendum from a simple majority to
60 percent of the vote. Probably the most interesting fact behind the
passage of this constitutional amendment is that it passed with a
simple majority – a little over 50 percent. It would have failed if
the 60 percent now required because of that vote had been in the
books at the time.

Sixty
percent was chosen because it’s not easy to convince such a large
number of voters on any issue. And republicans, noting that Florida
voters were showing a propensity to do what the legislature lacked
the will and fortitude to do, decided to put up a barrier to
government by the people. In other words, Florida politics — like
most everywhere else — has become one led by special interests. And
the only recourse the voters had was to impose their will by way of
the referendum. The legislature and Governor Bush made sure to put a
damper on that.

Fast
forward — 2007 legislative session(s)

In
November 2006 republicans took a beating everywhere around the
country. Congress went democrat; there was a gain of two seats in
Florida. The Florida state legislature, which has a substantial
republican majority in both houses, also saw the loss of several
seats to democrats — the first time that had happened in almost 20
years. 2007 did not look any better for republicans. Something had to
be done.

Charlie
Crist was the new governor. A moderate republican (if there is such a
thing), Crist came in promising tax cuts and insurance reform. There
was also a new Speaker of the House from south Florida. Marco Rubio
was the first Cuban American to hold the second or third most
powerful position in state politics. Rubio, an eloquent and telegenic
young man, promised to rid the state of property taxes altogether.

2007
in Florida would be the year republicans took back control of the
state’s destiny. Who among us would not want to see their taxes
rolled back — or eliminated — and insurance companies put in their
place?

In
the end Rubio looked bad because he promised — but couldn’t
deliver. The new governor showed he was exactly what we saw during
election season: a smooth talker and likable person with an easy
smile. But people are already asking if there is any substance to the
governor’s plans.

What
would we get?

Not
much… After all the grandstanding that has gone on during 2007,
Floridians will vote next year on an initiative which will double
one’s homestead exemption (except for school taxes) plus create a
10 percent cap on non-homestead assessments among other provisions.
Few will benefit, mostly homestead property owners. And even then
experts say the average savings will be $240 annually, or $20 a
month.

And
at whose expense?

Municipalities,
counties, school districts and social service agencies and people
representing them, along with others from around the state screamed
holy murder when they found out that money that would normally go to
them would be lost due to the new plan. Specifically, $2 billion
would be cut from school budgets over five years.

Polls
now show that voters in Florida are not in favor of the property tax
plan. Fifty-three percent of registered voters said they support the
tax package — that’s seven percentage points short of the 60
needed to pass.

Sorry
Charlie. Blame republican legislators if this tax proposal of yours
doesn’t pass.