Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) said today he will support legislation, including a constitutional amendment, to limit property tax increases.
Gaetz said the combination of skyrocketing property insurance and dramatic increases in ad valorem taxes has created “a triple digit misery index†slowing the economy and hurting homeowners, renters, small businesspeople, and investors.
In the last six years personal income has grown by 39 percent in our state, the rate of inflation plus population growth has grown by 32 percent, but property taxes have soared by 80 percent,†the Senator said. “It’s time for property taxes to bear some relationship to the realities that families and business owners face in everyday life.â€
On Thursday, January 25, Gaetz will host a bi-partisan group of House and Senate members at a Panama City town hall meeting to hear citizen input on tax issues. Time and place will be announced next week, but Gaetz says it is likely to be an evening session. The Bay County meeting is the first of several such open forums being held across the state to gather grassroots suggestions for changing the property tax system.
“I want lawmakers to hear firsthand from people who pay property taxes,†Gaetz said. “The best ideas for reform will come from taxpayers, not from Tallahassee.â€
Joining Gaetz at the Panama City session and in pursuing the tax reform issue are Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-Indialantic), Chairman of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee, Representative Frank Attkisson (R-Kissimmee), Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Senator Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach), Senator Ted Deutch (D-Delray Beach), Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller (D-Hallandale Beach), Senator Ronda Storms (R-Valrico), Representative Carolos Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami), Representative Stan Mayfield (R-Vero Beach), Representative Dave Murzin (R-Pensacola), representative Frank Peterman (D-St. Petersburg), Representative Ron Saunders (D-Tavernier) and Representative Dick Kravitz (R-Jacksonville).
“All ideas will be considered,†Haridopolos said at a Tallahassee news conference announcing the property tax reform effort, “including increasing the homestead exemption, portability of ‘save our homes’, and capping ad valorem property tax increases overall. Not every concerned citizen can come to the Legislature – so we are bringing the Legislature to them. We are looking forward to traveling the state and working with everyday Floridians on this issue.â€
Emphasizing the bi-partisan nature of the issue, Gaetz said, “Reforming the current property tax system is an issue that should unite common sense people of both parties.â€>
Chris Clark
Senior Legislative Assistant to
Senator Don Gaetz
(850) 855-1572