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Unions Take On Tax Cut Issue

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

Updated: 01/01/2008 11:45 pm

TAMPA - Unions representing government employees are ratcheting up their campaign against the Jan. 29 property tax referendum, but local governments, for the most part, are staying on the sidelines.

At public meetings, city, county and school district officials talk bluntly about the effects of property tax cuts, which they say would lead to more layoffs and service cuts. But they say they are not going to spend taxpayer money to sway voters.

The property tax referendum is the outgrowth of months of legislative wrangling over what many consider to be Florida's broken property tax system. If approved, the constitutional amendment would double the homestead exemption, allow homeowners to transfer up to $500,000 of their Save Our Homes benefit if they move, create a $25,000 exemption on tangible property and cap increases on non-homestead property's taxable value.

Budget directors for Tampa and Hillsborough County say the passage of the amendment could have devastating effects. Hillsborough Budget Director Eric Johnson estimates a $60 million to $70 million blow to the county's budget; in Tampa, the estimated bite would be about $10 million.

The school district could take a hit of almost $180 million over five years.

Elected leaders of those governments don't plan any campaigns geared at influencing voters, though.

City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said lobbying voters is not the council's role. Instead, she said, the council's job is to figure out how to adjust the budget if the referendum passes.

"I know people are really slammed by property taxes," Mulhern said. "I'm not going to tell people how to vote on it."

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio did not respond to an e-mail request for comment for this story, but she previously has said voters need to decide for themselves on the issue. The city, she has said, has no plans to spend money fighting the amendment's passage.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe said the Board of County Commissioners has not discussed taking a formal position on the referendum.

"We recognize citizens are feeling the impact of the significant tax increases," he said. "Arguing against tax cuts really isn't the answer. What we need to argue for is tax reform."

Ads Tout County Services

However, the county is spending about $5,000 on television public service announcements designed to tell people the value of county services.

The idea for the 30-second television spots came up more than a year ago; the goal was to educate viewers on services in an effort to boost customer satisfaction. A deal with Bright House was struck in April. The spots will continue to air this year but will not mention the property tax referendum.

Deputy County Administrator Wally Hill acknowledged the spots could affect voters' views.

"Might that influence them on how they vote for those propositions? Certainly they could," Hill said. "The message that is carried in the PSAs, which is Hillsborough County gives a good value for its tax services, may be useful for those considering these propositions."

Nancy Riley is president of the Florida Association of Realtors, a group that has contributed $1 million to the "Yes On 1" campaign. Though government officials might say they're not spending money on the referendum, Riley noted many cities and counties had lobbyists weighing in on property tax reform during the legislative sessions.

Unions Rallying

The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association is not taking a public opinion poll or spending money on the issue, said Kevin Durkin, the group's president.

"Let's see what the community has to say about it," Durkin said.

The police union is the exception, however. Most labor, education and fire unions are mailing out fliers, organizing telephone banks and planning to distribute literature on Election Day.

"This is a statewide effort," said Josh Anijar, zone coordinator for the Florida AFL-CIO and West Central Florida Federation of Labor. "We calculated it's a $20 a month savings. It won't even come near what you'll have to spend extra to pay for this."

Anijar said his groups plan to start telephone banks this month. Local union members will call other union members.

"There's nothing better than rank-and-file calling other rank-and-file," Anijar said.

Tampa's Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents about 2,300 city employees, has mailed letters to its members on the issue.

The letter asks, "What is $20 worth to you?" It lists potential effects of the referendum, such as layoffs and increased service fees, and describes the amendment as a "tax scam."

Martha Stevens, the union's president, said her group so far has mailed about 750 fliers. The group also might call members this month.

George Sucarichi, president of Hillsborough County Firefighters Local 2294, said the union might put members at poll sites on voting days. The union also might distribute fliers explaining why firefighters oppose the ballot measure.

"I don't think that minimal savings is worth the additional risk of our ability to provide public safety in Hillsborough County," he said. "The most powerful message is if we can stand out there and reach out."

Larry Parker, president of Tampa's fire union, said his group also plans to make phone calls to members and perhaps stand outside polling places on Election Day.

"We don't oppose the cuts," Parker said. "We just feel it needs to be done in a comprehensive manner."

The effort to fight the amendment is a statewide one for the firefighters. Bob Carver, president of Florida Professional Firefighters, said the organization is spending $500,000 to campaign against the referendum.

Some of the money is going to Florida Is Our Home, a recently formed consortium of labor, teachers, firefighters and other groups opposing the ballot measure. The group plans to mail fliers to early and absentee voters, make phone calls and do door-to-door canvassing on the issue, said Karen Woodall, chairwoman of the organization.

Educators Join The Fight

Educators also are on board.

The Florida Education Association has joined the League of Women Voters, the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union to fight the amendment, said Mark Pudlow, FEA spokesman.

Over the next five years, passage of the amendment could mean more than $3 billion lost for K-12 education in the state, he said.

Pudlow would not say how much the group is spending on its campaign but said plans include targeted mailing and radio ads. He said a problem is "just getting people to vote."

Like the city council and the county commission, the Hillsborough school board has not taken a position. The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association has, in association with the Florida Education Association.

"We are going to try to defeat it," said Yvonne Lyons, HCTA executive director. The local union can't use the district's e-mail or resources for political purposes, but did notify teachers through district e-mail that information was being mailed to them from the FEA, she said.

Jim Hamilton, who retired from the district last summer and is now a paid consultant, estimated the district could get about $178.4 million less than it would have received during the next five years if the referendum passes.

Legislators have said they intend to replace that revenue from other sources, he noted. "As a practical as well as a political reality, they will have to do that," he said.

Reporter Marilyn Brown contributed to this story. Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at egedalius@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7679.

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