Early voting for the Florida primary starts today. This election has important issues not just for registered Democrats and Republicans but also Independents. For partisan voters, from today until Jan. 29, is the opportunity to decide the party nominee for president. While registered Independents in Florida bypass that option, this year, they will have the chance –– like other voters –– to cast their ballot on whether the state should adopt property tax changes to address runaway ad valorem taxes. The property tax referendum seeks to double existing $25,000 homestead exemption for homes valued at more than $50,000 but only for non-school taxes. It also would let homeowners take their Save Our Homes benefits along with they move. Other provisions would give businesses a break on taxes they pay on equipment and other personal property, and put a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties. The ballot provision is more far-reaching than just the doubling of the homestead exemption for some voters. If passed, homeowners will be able to use their existing 3 percent cap on the appraised value of their home, on a new house they might buy. There are also benefits for businesses along with a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties, although average increases in taxable value of such homes have been less than 10 percent. ...more

January 14, 2008

The tax changes on the ballot with the presidential primary are a stew of legislative leftovers sure to give the state heartburn. ...more

January 14, 2008

Pay-As-You-Go System Of Taxation The Fairest Save Our Homes is an unfair system and is probably unconstitutional. Whereas the milder unfairness of yesteryears didn't have the momentum or visibility to bring this fact to light, there is now ample evidence of this. ...more

January 9, 2008

Unions representing government employees are ratcheting up their campaign against the Jan. 29 property tax referendum, but local governments, for the most part, are staying on the sidelines. ...more

January 1, 2008

Before heading to that New Year's Eve party Monday, don't forget: Dec. 31 also is the deadline to register to vote in January's presidential primaries. ...more

December 27, 2007

House Speaker Marco Rubio came to town Friday with a Christmas wish of sorts. The Republican from West Miami stood in the hall of the brand-new VFW Post 10209 and implored an audience of more than 100 do more than just sign a petition to get a property tax amendment on the November ballot. ...more

December 21, 2007

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio comes to town today to talk taxes. ...more

December 20, 2007

Now that one of Florida's top politicians is coming here next week to rally residents around a new tax plan, some might want to do a little homework beforehand. ...more

December 14, 2007

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is set for a visit next week to rally residents around a new tax amendment proposal. ...more

December 12, 2007

TAMPA - The city council inched forward Thursday with a proposal to tax waterfront property owners for canal dredging in their South Tampa neighborhoods. ...more

November 16, 2007