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Your Chance To Sway Taxes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

If you're dissatisfied with state or local taxes, today's your opportunity to vent. The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will listen to the public from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the 26th floor of the County Center in Tampa.

If you're happy with your tax bill, you also have a reason to show up and say so. State lawmakers are trying to change tax laws but go into special session later this month with no consensus on what to do. Their disagreements shift the leadership burden to the 25-member tax commission.

By two-thirds vote the panel can put proposed changes directly on the ballot.

Today citizens get three minutes to speak. We urge commissioners to extend the time limit for those offering specific plans. Among those with good ideas is Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner.

Last year he suggested a consistent package of property-tax reforms. The governor and Legislature were in too big a rush to consider his plan, and they ended up with a change so confusing a judge took it off the ballot. We urge the tax panel to move slower and give Turner at least 10 minutes.

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