By Colleen

July 2, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

I bought a condo 3 years ago in a gated community, my property taxes are about $2,500.00 a year. My neighbor, who bought a year before me pays $1,600.00 a year. Another pays $600.00 a year. Aside from the fact that I overpaid for my unit…..as so many other people did at that time, I just don’t understand how property taxes are so high……..I am a single mother with child who works 7 days a week to make it work….and it barely does. Between gas, food, taxes I don’t see how our economy can be doing better. I know I am not the only one feeling the pain. As far as taxes again, this would not be a tax break and no-one who works for the county should lose their job, because our taxes have been over inflated for 3 years now…..where did all the money go, there should be plenty, before taxes were raised sooooooo much no-one was in jeopardy of losing anything. So many people are just struggling to feed their children and have nothing. And what about our retirements and backup money. What is really going on?????????????

By Save Our Homes Phases Out

June 27, 2007 11:58 PM | Link to this

TWO CHOICES: 1) KEEP SAVE OUR HOMES

2) CHOOSE THE SUPER EXEMPTION. IF YOU HAVE SAVE OUR HOMES NOW, IT WILL BE GRANDFATHERED. BUT WHEN YOU SELL, IT GOES AWAY FOREVER. SAVE OUR HOMES WILL PHASE OUT OVER TIME.

GO TO WWW.PROPERTYTAXREFORMNOW.COM AND DOWNLOAD THE CITIZEN’S PETITION CALLED 30-40-50. IT IS THE TAX PLAN THAT TALLAHASSEE SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH, BUT DIDN’T. IT IS THE TAX PLAN THAT LET’S YOU KEEP SAVE OUR HOMES FOREVER, AND GIVES TAX BREAKS TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER.

By Save Our Homes Fades Away

June 27, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

HELLO PEOPLE, READ THE FINE PRINT. TWO CHOICES: 1) KEEP SAVE OUR HOMES 2) SUPER EXEMPTION SAVE OUR HOMES IS “GRANFATHERED” UNTIL YOU SELL.

THE STATE WANTS IT TO PHASE OUT AND GO AWAY!!!

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

By sherry

June 27, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

Getting to choose between SOH or the new plan yes. But read the fine print people. You will hoose the super exemption and that will allow you to keep SOH as long as you don’t move. Once you move, it goes away forever. THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET ABOUT THE SUPER EXEMPTION, IS THAT SAVE OUR HOMES WILL BE PHASED OUT OVER TIME AS PEOPLE SELL AND MOVE. THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. BUT IS IT WHAT YOU WANT???

By The Slanted Post

June 27, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

CONSEQUENCES…Did you just wake up from a 20 year snooze! You can keep your SOH taxes under the new plan! If the new plan is approved homeowners CAN CHOOSE to keep their current SOH or the new SUPER EXEMPTION of $195,000. You can have either one you want. Whats’ not to like. A $195,000 exemption cuts your taxes by $4,600 a year.

By Consequences

June 26, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

using the pb post calculator our taxes would go sky high…we will not vote for the crist amendment. we will be better off the way we are..

By The Slanted Post

June 26, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut for a $200,000 home! Their so-called EXPERT is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they slant a $2600 tax cut to “a MERE $219 A MONTH” which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman. How about the fact that this new tax plan ($195K X 2.4%) cuts taxes $4600 a year on a $500,000 house. What a slanted POS this newspaper has become!

By Greg Piper

June 25, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

What! What kind writers are employed by your paper? Factoring in interest rates with the tax rates savings make no sense, it’s like the old saying about the price of eggs in China? The last time I did the math a $2600 tax savings is still a large saving even if interest rate go to 10% you still are saving $2600, keep to the fact and quit with the voodoo economics.

By rob

June 25, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

Hey idiot, what do you think will happen if the tax base decreases by 33% … the millage rate has to go to 150% to make up for it!!!!

By You Keep SOH

June 25, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

NOBODY’S TAXES WILL INCREASE because current homeowners KEEP THEIR SOH under the new tax plan. The previous poster (3X) is an idiot.

By rob

June 25, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this

The 5 plus year homesteaded people who are dumb enough to vote for this are going to see their taxes double or triple. They will be screwed whether they take the new or old assessment calculation. The investors, landlords, and second home owners will also get massive increases. Remember, the SOH only applies to the assessment, not the taxes. What we really need is a Proposition 13 type of amendment. Something where the max tax amount is 1% of your property value per year!

By rob

June 25, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this

The 5 plus year homesteaded people who are dumb enough to vote for this are going to see their taxes double or triple. They will be screwed whether they take the new or old assessment calculation. The investors, landlords, and second home owners will also get massive increases. Remember, the SOH only applies to the assessment, not the taxes. What we really need is a Proposition 13 type of amendment. Something where the max tax amount is 1% of your property value per year!

By rob

June 25, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this

The 5 plus year homesteaded people who are dumb enough to vote for this are going to see their taxes double or triple. They will be screwed whether they take the new or old assessment calculation. The investors, landlords, and second home owners will also get massive increases. Remember, the SOH only applies to the assessment, not the taxes. What we really need is a Proposition 13 type of amendment. Something where the max tax amount is 1% of your property value per year!

By THE SLANTED POST

June 25, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut for a $200,000 home! Their so-called EXPERT is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they slant a $2600 tax cut to “a MERE $219 A MONTH” which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman. How about the fact that this new tax plan ($195K X 2.4%) cuts taxes $4600 a year on a $500,000 house. What a slanted POS this newspaper has become!

By Mario

June 25, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

Susan:

Welcome!!! Now there’s 2 of us here making sense!!!

FYI…. If they made it a felony to hire an illegal immigrant, most would leave on their own w/o the need to deport them. That and solid border security would fix most of the problem. Then come back with a guest worker program that makes sense and requires the worker to apply IN THEIR COUNTRY… this will fix the rest.

I mentioned in another post that I’m “mostly a Republican”, but this whole immigration issue is where Bush & Co. has lost me 1000%. The current bill under consideration SUCKS from both sides!!

By Mario

June 25, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this

Stu:

Wow! ” fringe element of the Libertarian party ” That’s intersting…

Just for the record… I am not anti-government, or anti-tax — see my other post where I advocated a 200% tax-hike for non-FL-resident property owners…. and certainly NOT anti-people — in the same post I advocated distributing the proceeds from said tax hike to what? the PEOPLE!

I guess all one has to do is cheer a tax cut and speak up against government waste and one gets labeled a ” fringe element of the Libertarian party “

This is a simple fact, not Libertarian ranting: The government at all levels has balooned WAY past the original intent of the framers of the Constitution. Also a fact: A good portion of this balooning is PURE wastefulsness that does NOONE, rich or poor any good….

And BTW, I’m mostly a Republican, although I don’t agree with any politcal party’s platform anywhere near 100%.

By susan

June 25, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

now that we have this huge influx of illegal aliens in our country with huge families we as honest taxpayers have to pay extra.i think its times the law abiding tax payers are reimbursed by our federal goverment,since they will not deport the law breakers,or secure our borders.

By Mario

June 25, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

Ted:

I am quite well-read and not angry at all — disgusted with some of the commentary here is more the word.

As for what the goverment’s role is (or should be) one only has to read the Constitution… I don’t think there is a single passage in there that says anything about taxing the “wealthy” (whatever your definition of that term may be) to insure the “less-fortunate” can lead better lives. That’s a comparatively recent invention inspired by the more benign Marxist ideals of the late 19th century.

Pray tell… what is this “grat patriot” you speak of? Lyndon Johnson? LOL!!!

Of, course I “put up” my cash… I pay taxes like everyone else. I am a homeowner and do not consider myself “wealthy”… although I work hard and make a good living.. Without discussing actual numbers, I have a mortgage on a 3,000 sq ft home, and don’t own any Italian cars…

I never advocated the “elimination” of local government… and if roads, fire stations. parks, libraries, schools, police that fight crime (versus collecting revenue via ridiculous traffic enforcement, etc.), and the like were the extent of it all, I would not be complaining about high taxes… BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE SO HIGH!!!

By Stu

June 25, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

Ted: Don’t worry too much about Mario, he sounds like a fringe element of the Libertarian party who hates government and people in general. For some reason, boards like these attract them and you’ll end up having to wade through their “anti-tax, anti-government, anti-people, anti-liberal” rants. The only reason you need a government is to fend off the swarms of invading armies and as for everything else, it’s every man for himself!

By Ted

June 25, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this

Mario, Bottom line is, government exists to provide services for the population. It’s never going to be perfect. But, if you don’t collect the necessary revenue from the priveliged who have benefited the most from society. Then, where do roads, public schools, parks, and libraries come from. Judging by your attitude, you’re not putting up any of your cash.
PS the carrying of society’s burden quote is not communist. It’s actually from a repected patriot. How well read are you? Or, are you only angry?

By The Slanted Post

June 25, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut for a $200,000 home! Their so-called EXPERT is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they slant a $2600 tax cut to “a MERE $219 A MONTH” which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman. How about the fact that this new tax plan ($195K X 2.4%) cuts taxes $4600 a year on a $500,000 house. What a slanted POS this newspaper has become!

By Mario

June 25, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

To Ted, The Communist: Yeah, right. Why don’t you move to a country where they’ve tried this. Hint: They’re all economically stagnant crapholes where 95% of the people suffer equally. The other 5% ARE the government. But hey, its equal.

To Gail, The Socialist: 1) Anyone that can do math will see that this tax cut benefits new (and newer) home buyers — are you sayine anyone that buys a home is by definition, wealthy? Gimme a break! and 2) If someone is stupid enough not to understand the math behind the “gimmick” mortgages, AND stupid enough to sign onto something they don’t understand, they deserve to be foreclosed. I don’t feel sorry for them ONE BIT. 3) Seniors and other long-time homesteaders can choose to keep their taxes AS-IS with Save Our Homes. This bill does NOT affect them at all unless they sell and move. In that case it BENEFITS them because Save Our Homes is NOT portable.

By Gail

June 25, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

Once again, only the wealthy will see a benefit to this tax proposal. Anyone with a brain can see that this tax cut gives new homebuyers a false sense reality - this works the same as an interest-only mortgage which balloons in five years or re-adjusts to the current market rates. At the end of the 3 years, what are these new homebuyers going to do when the taxes go up and they cannot claim homestead? That’s right - foreclosure time once again. Why can’t they come up with a bill that will assist both new homebuyers as well as our Senior Citizens. This tax bill is a joke!

By Ted

June 25, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

There is plenty of wealth here to pay for basic services and then some. The priveliged in a society must carry society’s burden. Or, that society ceases to be civilized. Maybe a big tax on private golf clubs? A robust inheritance tax? A tax system that targets and effectively collects revenue from those who have benefited the most from society and can truly afford the burden.

By Ted

June 25, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

There is plenty of wealth here to pay for basic services and then some. The priveliged in a society must carry society’s burden. Or, that society ceases to be civilized. Maybe a big tax on pirvate golf clubs? A robust inheritance tax? A tax system that targets and effectively collects revenue from those who have benefited the most from society and can truly afford the burden.

By Mario

June 25, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

Here’s a tax plan:

100% tax exemption for the house you live in full time. (obviously you’re a Florida resident) — Yes, ZERO tax on this one.

75% exemption for any rental or investment properties that a full-time Florida resident owns.

200% Tax increase for out-of-state residents that own property in Florida.

Take the surplus from the 200% tax hike and distribute evenly among the full-time residents.

By Mario

June 25, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah… I forgot…

SCREW THE SNOWBIRDS!!

Florida existed long before they showed up with their oddball Yankee values (gun control anyone? — how about 50 year old guys in Speedos — yeah, I’ll miss that!!) and will exist long after they’ve found their next unspoiled paradise to trash.

Anyone working in the tourism industry should see the hardwriting on the wall and chose another career path before its too late.

Go Home, Yankee!

By Mario

June 25, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

Paul: While you ARE absolutely correct that government will be wasteful regardless of whatever budget cuts are forced upon it…. the answer to this problem is STILL to give them less money. As close to ZERO as possible. The local govenment bureaucracy has reached ridiculous levels…. We don’t need most of the so-called services — like the guy driving around looking for people watering their yards on the wrong days — FIRE HIS A*S!! — or the ridiculous number of cops- acting-as-revenue-collectors looking for people going barely over the speed limit. Send them to Riviera Beach where there is actually crimes going on…. I could go on forever on this..

Cut taxes, cut services, reduce staff…. LEAVE MY MONEY WHERE IT BELONGS — IN MY POCKET!!!!

By The Slanted Post

June 25, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut for a $200,000 home! Their so-called EXPERT is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they slant a $2600 tax cut to “a MERE $219 A MONTH” which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman. How about the fact that this new tax plan ($195K X 2.4%) cuts taxes $4600 a year on a $500,000 house. What a slanted POS this newspaper has become!

By joe E

June 25, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

Things will continue to get worse in south Florida unless you give some relief to the snow birds in their real estate tax they wont be coming in the numbers they use to because its just to expensive.I know most of the locals are happy about this but when you start seeing people let go from their jobs both county and service people may start changing their minds and treat them a little more fairley

By mike

June 25, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Pravda is starting to sound like a communist paper? This paper is one of the biggest leftist commie propaganda papers in the country, they haven’t started, they have always been very far to the left.

By Paul

June 25, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

I am all for cutting taxes, although I do benefit from the current system. But what right does the state have to tell a county how much its budget should be? Shouldn’t the taxpayers in Palm Beach County set the budget and then millage be calculated to obtain the funds?

Its funny that people think that cutting money out of the budget will mean that less money is wasted. Perhaps you are naive, but the goverment will waste just as much money regardless of budget. Thats what goverment knows how to do. They will just deliver less services back to us.

By CJM

June 25, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Does anyone think this Florida economy can even withstand 7 more months of housing foreclousures and loss of tax revenue from the unsold homes. I have 16 houses in my development for sale and one just sold for $20k less than I purchased my home for three years ago. This is the tip of the ICEBURG. I think it will take two years for this State Legislature’s mistake to begin to repair the housing problem they created. Meanwhile the number of forclosed homes will increase rapidly causing a depressed economy for all the people of the great state of Florida. Does the bank pay tax’s on the property they take back???? Have a special vote to to expidite the new law.

By CJM

June 25, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Does anyone think this Florida economy can even withstand 7 more months of housing foreclousures and loss of tax revenue from the unsold homes. I have 16 houses in my development for sale and one just sold for $20k less than I purchased my home for three years ago. This is the tip of the ICEBURG. I think it will take two years for this State Legislature’s mistake to begin to repair the housing problem they created. Meanwhile the number of forclosed homes will increase rapidly causing a depressed economy for all the people of the great state of Florida. Does the bank pay tax’s on the property they take back???? Have a special vote to to expidite the new law.

By Mario

June 25, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

A big FU to YOU, Palm Beach Post….

There is NO such thing as a BAD tax cut!!!!

Stop the spin-mongering so support your leftie nanny-state agenda. The government at all levems needs to shrink even more. I absolutely DO NOT get my money’s worth out of the taxes I pay… In other words.. if I were to BUY all the so-called “services” I get from the state/local government, I would spend less and get more. And yes, this does include police protection (which I do not need, thank you)…..

By Sam Morris

June 25, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

I had no Mortgage but the Taxes and Insurance were more than My Social Security Income. I bought the House for $80,000 cash in 1986. Today the Assessment is for $300,000. My Taxes are $458 per Month. My Insurance is $500 per Month. My Social Security is $850 [per Month. When I bought the House the Tax was $50 per Month. The Insurance was $40 per Month. My Social Security was $600 per Month. I had $510 left over. I could not stay in the House so I took out a Reverse Mortgage. Now I get $1000 per Month from the Mortgage to pay the Tax and Insurance. Now I have all of My Social Security Income to live on.

By mike

June 25, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

this tax cut buys you 2-5 years to sell your house and leave the state

By NO TRUTH HERE

June 25, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut! Their so-called EXPERT is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they slant a $2600 tax cut to * “a MERE $219 A MONTH” which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman.* How about calling a $2600 a year tax cut…A TAX CUT! You won’t get the truth from this newspaper.

By TM

June 25, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

PALM BEACH POST IS A DAMN COMMIE PAPER. NOT ONE GOOD THING TO SAY ABOUT THE TAX CUT, AND THEIR TAX CALC. IS A COMPLETE BUNCH OF BS. IT’S A LIE AND THEY KNOW IT DONT BELIVE ANYTHING YOU READ HERE. THEY ARE ANTI-PEOPLE AND PRO-BIGGOV. IT’S BEEN TAKEN TO NEW HIGHTS WITH THE CONSTANT LIES ABOUT THE TAX CUT

By Michelle

June 25, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

IN the end is this tax cut going to help as much as the so called insurance cut has? Of course..What most don’t understand is that if this amendment is passed and you accept the new system you are now foregoing any kind of cap on your homes value and will become at the mercy of the comparables in your area. Also my understanding is that if you buy a new home after Jan 1 you CANNOT chose the SOH exemption and that exemption will be phased out..So if you bought at $400K and within 2 years the other homes in your area are now selling at $500K, well your taxes will go up based on that $100K increase..I think in the beginning it will save and in the long run it will cost more..

By Bill Boyd

June 25, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

Snowbird choices* Much has been made of the adverse tax discrimination faced by non-homsteaded snow birds. As in all other aspects of life we make decisions based upon our individual interests and circumstances. Ten years ago my wife and I elected to become Florida residents when we entered retirement and purchased a home. At the same time we kept our northern residence where we spend approximately five months a year. We have benefited greatly from our homestead generated property tax savings in Florida. At the same time our property tax up north has skyrocketed (doubling this last year). This reinforces the adage that you can’t have your cheesecake and eat it to. When those northern clime expenses become too burdensome we will have to fish or cut bait-ie, make a brand new decision based on our current circumstances and interests. Isn’t that what life is all about?

By Harry James

June 25, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

THE PALM BEACH POST is beginning to sound like a socialist paper! they never have anything good to print about any cuts in taxes.. the rollback to the highest tax has ever been in FLA. 2006 iz a JOKE! And the ONLY saving would be found IF in JAN. it is voted for but THE POST obviously does not want tax cuts!

By Louie

June 25, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

To the PB Post.

You talk about buying a $150,000 house here.

Where is this house ? Does it have walls and plumbing ?

We’ve been bvllsh1tted once again by our politicians.

This whole scenario seems to have been a ploy to spark some sales and boost the Real Estate industry a bit.

We the taxpayers are at best, an afterthought.

By No Truth Here

June 25, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this

The Palm Beach Post puts a NEGATIVE SPIN on a $2600 tax cut! Their expert is just another shill for local government lobbyists and high taxes. See how they craft the $2600 tax cut to a MERE $219 A MONTH which sounds like a used car sleazman, opps! I meant salesman. How about $2600 a year does that sound better!

By james alsip

June 25, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

I have seen nothing as to what the effect would be by the individual homeowner sitting tight, and using his property tax savings for alternative forms of investment—like utilities maybe.

By Sheep

June 25, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

Charlie Crist reminds me of a pastor. He states what he wants, and waits to see if it is divinely granted. Charlie you are the Governor. You need to make it happen, not pray for it.The cliche’s are getting old.

By Mike

June 25, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

Well if the media found another “EXPERT” it must be true, ‘cause the media has “EXPERTS” for every possible story. I am an EXPERT on these things so I know.

By PBC Resident

June 25, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

z

What does the citizen do when her costs increase or economy slows? She learns to do with less. She cuts her budget. She ends up going out less to the movies. She buys less at the store. She skips that fancy meal and buys a burger instead.

The government needs to learn this. Just provide us BASIC services. We can do without the fancy schools and road medians. It’s time they spend less and give us our money back via less taxes. And they need to stop acting like speculators, depending on home sales for revenue.

To the poster who mentioned increasing costs the government is dealing with….What do you think the average citizen is dealing with? We don’t get a 20% raise each year, but the government sure claims theirs…

z

By Bob

June 25, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this

The Governor is mistaken; his handlers must be leading him in the wrong direction by feeding him misinformation. 1.8 billion from education and all we get is “trust us”. If a fire district has to cut a few million out of its budget what do they cut, the firefighters, the trucks that get them to the fires, the equipment that allows them to fight the fires or the training that keeps them alive to fight more fires?

By John DeLisa

June 25, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

What about the tax cut for commercial properties and 2nd homes and the snowbirds? Are their taxes going to skyrocket to make up for the homesteader tax cuts?

By John DeLisa

June 25, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

What about the tax cut for commercial properties and 2nd homes and the snowbirds? Are their taxes going to skyrocket to make up for the homesteader tax cuts?

By Leonard Axelrod

June 25, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this

The opponents of a tax cut are using a false premise, that it will effect education,fire and police protection. The only real victim of the cut is the public be dammed atituded of our local government personel. Get rid of the waste in our local budgets and we’ll have a surplus. We don’t need public building and schools to be built like palaces. We do need the best teachers.

By NoMorePropertyTax

June 25, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this

The flawed premise of this article is that the local governments have a god-given right to make up for every red cent of tax cuts. Yes, their costs have gone up but they haven’t doubled, tripled, quadrupled, or quintupled like what they’ve been collecting during the real estate boom. The taxes on my property have tripled within the last 3 years and yet the level of services I get is the same. The municipalities will just have to stop spending our money like drunken sailors. (My apologies to all of the good drunken sailors out there… ;-)

By RJ

June 25, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this

Economy doing well? The article mentioned our economy is doing well. Home sales are down across the nation. High price items: Appliances, cars (especially the auto market-US and foriegn) are down. Luxury purchases, personal services are down. People are watching their money very carefully. THe stock market is one gauge of the economy and that is goinng down lately. I would love to hear why economists are saying the economy is doing good. When housing sales go back up and stay there consistantly and auto sales go back up and stay there consistantly, then the economy is good. When unemployment goes down and stays down the economy is good. Unemployment is at an all time high. How is the economy good?

By RJ

June 25, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this

Economy doing well? The article mentioned our economy is doing well. Home sales are down across the nation. High price items: Appliances, cars (especially the auto market-US and foriegn) are down. Luxury purchases, personal services are down. People are watching their money very carefully. THe stock market is one gauge of the economy and that is goinng down lately. I would love to hear why economists are saying the economy is doing good. When housing sales go back up and stay there consistantly and auto sales go back up and stay there consistantly, then the economy is good. When unemployment goes down and stays down the economy is good. Unemployment is at an all time high. How is the economy good?

By Sharon

June 25, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

Mike: What has gone up for local govts far beyond inflation are insurance, health insurance, gas, electricity, chemicals, pensions (thanks to the legislature which keeps improving pensions and passing the bill to locals) and the cost of personnel, which has gone up because local public safety workers need to be able to live here.

By Sharon

June 25, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

Mike: What has gone up for local govts far beyond inflation are insurance, health insurance, gas, electricity, chemicals, pensions (thanks to the legislature which keeps improving pensions and passing the bill to locals) and the cost of personnel, which has gone up because local public safety workers need to be able to live here.

By Sharon

June 25, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

Mike: What has gone up for local govts far beyond inflation are insurance, health insurance, gas, electricity, chemicals, pensions (thanks to the legislature which keeps improving pensions and passing the bill to locals) and the cost of personnel, which has gone up because local public safety workers need to be able to live here.

By Mike

June 25, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this

The property tax reform proposals are based on drastic budget cuts in education and other areas. My question is the increase in property taxes occurred within a 3 year period What got so expensive in three years that the budget increased as much as property taxes did and now it can not be revised? Back to 2006 or 2005 levels.

Also, this supposed tax reform of $174 a year savings and possibly another $1200 in Jan. Property Taxes is not where the problem is The problem is with home owners insurance. My home owners insurance cost be $3000 a year. Plus when we had the hurricane I had to pay $4000 As a deducible. What they should do is in Florida is create a state income tax for a state run insurance program. This way homeowners can deduct the State tax on there federal Returns and thereby create a tax benefit for paying home owners insurance.

By Mike Sanders

June 25, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this

The property tax reform proposals are based on drastic budget cuts in education and other areas. My question is the increase in property taxes occurred within a 3 year period What got so expensive in three years that the budget increased as much as property taxes did and now it can not be revised? Back to 2006 or 2005 levels.

Also, this supposed tax reform of $174 a year savings and possibly another $1200 in Jan. Property Taxes is not where the problem is The problem is with home owners insurance. My home owners insurance cost be $3000 a year. Plus when we had the hurricane I had to pay $4000 As a deducible. What they should do is in Florida is create a state income tax for a state run insurance program. This way homeowners can deduct the State tax on there federal Returns and thereby create a tax benefit for paying home owners insurance.

By Mike Sanders

June 25, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this

The property tax reform proposals are based on drastic budget cuts in education and other areas. My question is the increase in property taxes occurred within a 3 year period What got so expensive in three years that the budget increased as much as property taxes did and now it can not be revised? Back to 2006 or 2005 levels.

Also, this supposed tax reform of $174 a year savings and possibly another $1200 in Jan. Property Taxes is not where the problem is The problem is with home owners insurance. My home owners insurance cost be $3000 a year. Plus when we had the hurricane I had to pay $4000 As a deducible. What they should do is in Florida is create a state income tax for a state run insurance program. This way homeowners can deduct the State tax on there federal Returns and thereby create a tax benefit for paying home owners insurance.

By Alan

June 25, 2007 6:53 AM | Link to this

This is a laughable and typical assessment from these so called “experts”. I fear for the quality of education our kids are getting from these people. They said nothing about the impact of a revived housing / real estate industry and the “trickle down” affect it has on everything from sales of appliances, furniture, autos, home improvement items, legal services and on and on. To discount a huge part of the Florida economy with statements like ” aside from housing the economy is doing well”, is like saying aside from having their heart missing, the patient is doing well. The gov can not do anything about prices and mortgage rates. That is hardly a reason to not support this bill. Is it perfect? Nope, but it certainly is better than the status quo.

By Bobby Mac

June 25, 2007 6:44 AM | Link to this

Crist is again telling people what they want to hear, not reality.

The phase II helps newer current SOH and new home buyers for the first years, but the old SOH is the way to go.

I think phase II may not pass. They used smoke and mirrors and threw a bad one at us.

By The Professor

June 25, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this

With all due to respect to professor Holcombe, but his comments regarding house prices, property taxes, and insurance in south Florida are not correct. I purchased a house in WPB last year for 375K. I put down my life savings of 75K. My mortgage is 1,960 per month. My taxes are 6,600 and insurance with high deductible is almost 3k per year. That is a total of 800 dollars per month. With my insurance and taxes representing 40 percent of my mortgage, do you still think that is not a problem? Helloooooo.

Thank you,