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Realtors Work Phones To Push Amendment 1

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - If you get a telephone call from a real estate broker today, don't get excited, they're not looking to sell or buy your home; they just want your vote.

The West Pasco Board of Realtors has enlisted a small army of volunteers to work the phones today, part of a million-dollar countywide public relations campaign aimed at generating support for the proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday's ballot.

"Our goal is to make 1,000 calls," said Greg Armstrong, the board's president.

The board, which represents local real estate agencies, has been waging a passionate crusade to convince voters across the county that they will benefit from the changes.

They've planted hundreds of pro-Amendment 1 signs across the county, many of them in front of houses that have been on the troubled residential market for several months.

If passed, the amendment would double the homestead exemption, allow homeowners to transfer up to $500,000 of their Save Our Homes, create a new $25,000 exemption on tangible property and cap increases on non-homestead property's taxable value.

Armstrong admits that the legislation isn't perfect, but argues that it is needed.

"It's a Band-Aid," he said recently. "But it's either a Band-Aid or continue bleeding."

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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