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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

More Cuts On The Way

Regarding "A Sigh Of Property Tax Relief" (front page, Jan. 30):

The people have spoken. Everyone voted for what would help them the most, and that is why the amendment passed. Yes, the government will now be forced to run more efficiently. We have voted not just for a tax cut for ourselves, but voted for our elected officials to plan on even more tax cuts.

The fight for lower taxes is far from finished. The next amendments must address the people, entities and problems that this first amendment did not deal with until everyone is fairly taxed. It is time for government everywhere to become lean and more efficient before the new tax cuts come - and they will come.

BRIAN MacKAY

Riverview

We're In This Together

Reading the comments in the Trib of voters exiting the polls, I was struck by the shortsightedness of those who voted for Amendment One - almost all made comments about how they personally would benefit, even while complaining it is not enough relief. Those who voted against it were concerned about the greater good of their communities and schools, as well as the fairness component.

It is this same shortsightedness that has led our beautiful state to overdevelopment and urban sprawl, destruction of wetlands and allowing more and more building without adequate water for the projected population growth.

Wake up, Floridians! We are all in this together and we must not be complacent while such grave inequities continue to exist. Love thy neighbor as thyself!

ANITA JIMENEZ

Ruskin

Cut Costs, Not Services

Now that the property tax bill has passed, I believe it is time for the powers that be to look at their budgets and learn where to cut costs rather than cut services.

As a taxpayer, when my income goes down I have to adjust my expenses.

In the past seven or eight years the tax base has tremendously increased and what has happened to all that increase in gained revenue? The idea that anyone can simply increase spending every time they have an extra dollar is absurd. Whatever happened to fiscal responsibility?

We entrust our hard-earned dollars to our leaders and should expect prudent use of that money.

JAY A. FILIPPONE

Brandon

Penchant To Approve

Once again the Florida voters have indicated their penchant to approve just about any amendment put on the ballot, without knowing or caring about the flaws and eventual repercussions that may lurk therein.

To this end I am starting a petition to add an amendment to the November ballot requiring the state of Florida to issue me an annual check in the amount of $1 million.

ROBERT G. OMARK

Apollo Beach

Won't Fix Problem

I am very sorry that the property tax amendment passed. I did not vote for it because it will not fix the problem of property taxes being shared equally among all homeowners. My only hope is that the Legislature will use its passage as a first step in really fixing the problem. We only placed a Band-Aid on an infection.

The only fair solution to the tax problem in Florida is an income tax and a tax on all goods and services. That would allow the property tax situation to be fairly and equally applied to all homeowners.

DAN S. ROSENTHAL

Temple Terrace

Possible Shopping List

Congratulations! If you are an average homeowner in Florida, next year you will have an extra, whopping $240 to spend as you see fit. I will offer Floridians, and especially those that voted yes and approved Amendment One, some help with their shopping list.

• Handgun and ammunition. You could use this when your local law enforcement officer is delayed in response to your home invasion. First, learn to handle it safely and keep it locked, please.

• Tutor. Unless you are a school teacher yourself, of course, because your grade school-age child now may not get the attention they need and deserve.

• Fire extinguisher. You may need this, when the firemen are delayed in responding to your burning home - but at least your taxes on it are lower.

• New 40-gallon trash can and clothes pins for your nose. In the event your trash collection is scaled back to once per week.

Again, congratulations!

DOUG ZARAGOZA

Tampa

A Gloomy Forecast

Now that the property tax amendment has passed, we can speculate on what really will occur:

• Millage rates will go up. Services will be lost or taxes need to go up to pay for them.

• Florida residents who rent will pay more. The tangible property exemption on the first $25,000 will help landlords, but not near enough to offset recent property tax increases.

•The potential for property values to go down has increased or, at best, property values will not increase as much as they could have if the amendment had been defeated.

• The disparity in home ownership will continue to widen between the haves and the have-nots.

• The net Florida population increase on a year-to-year basis will continue to decrease, leaving more of a tax burden for those of us still remaining here.

I heard a Realtor on TV say that if you saw a $100 bill on the ground, you should pick it up. In the same over simplistic terms, if you had continued your journey, you could very well have found 10 $100 bills.

CHUCK KREPSHAW

Spring Hill

Blame It On Taxpayers

The people of Florida have played right into the hands of politicians, including Gov. Crist. Wanting taxpayers to do their job, we let them off the hook. By approving the property tax amendment we have ensured that in a short period of time local politicians will begin raising our taxes in other areas to make up for the shortages this amendment will cause. The best part is the tax increases will be blamed on us, not them.

STEVEN LOPEZ

Tampa

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