College Tax On November Ballot

AVON PARK - Norm Stephens knows that in a recessionary economy, voters aren't likely to approve any suggestion of a tax increase.

And in November, there will be nine ballot issues to confuse voters, including a one-cent sales tax which that would replace school property taxes.

And furthermore, the 10-mill college property tax is No. 8 on the list, after the amendments prohibiting gay marriage and illegal aliens owning land. So its chances of passing may be small.

But if voters approve in November, the Legislature would be required to allow the commissioners in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties to hold a election which would generate property taxes to support South Florida Community College.

"It's a four-step process," said Stephens, SFCC president. "It has to be approved by 60 percent of the voters in November. That allows the Legislature to develop rules. Then the counties can place it on the ballot, and the voters would have to approve again."

Approval, Stephens added, must come from all three counties. If it passes only in two, the tax can't be imposed in any of the three counties.

Finally, the tax would be taken off the rolls every five years, so voters would have to reauthorize the 10-mill tax if they want to keep paying it.

It would be several years before the tax could be collected, Stephens said.

"Our board hasn't even discussed it yet, and they probably won't discuss it until this summer," Stephens said.

The issue arose after Miami Dade College, with an enrollment of 124,000 students, eight campuses and limited funding from the state, pushed for legislation that would allow Miami-Dade County to vote on a half-cent sales increase for the college. The bill never made it though the Legislature.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which meets once every 20 years, was convinced to put the measure on the November ballot.