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Economic Pressure On Politicians Is Mounting

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

Pressure from property owners to lower their taxes is running headlong into economic challenges posed by the state's sputtering economy.

Seen both as relief to homeowners and a stimulus for the economy, tax cuts also mean cuts to education and other services unless lawmakers come up with other sources of money. According to state economic analysts, state revenues could come up $2.5 billion short this fiscal year and next, even without additional tax cuts.

With no real economic rebound expected before 2009, even fiscal conservatives are talking about alternative revenue sources. But as time has proven, simple-sounding proposals like swapping more of one tax for less of another carry political risks and procedural difficulties that have quashed them in the past. Even collecting taxes that are already on the state's books has proven to be easier said than done.

Will today's mounting economic pressures force state leaders into action?

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