Gov. Crist’s idea of doubling homestead exemptions has a heavy price tag for local governments – $608.6 BILLION. He has already backtracked some and said that it won’t apply to education budgets, but Crist is overlooking the impact on police, fire and health services that all depend on property tax revenues, too.
Also his proposal to let homeowners keep their property assessments as they move around the state – known as portability – may also be unconstitutional.
In 1983, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that it’s constitutionally prohibited for this state to impose different taxes on its citizens based solely on their length of permanent residence.
The best way to deal with the property tax issue to pressure local governments to rollback taxes and operate more efficiently. If they don’t, elect new leaders.