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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2008

She'll Take The Savings

Your letters page has carried many complaints about the average savings of $240 on property taxes being insignificant and not worth the effort to vote on the proposed amendment.

Not so! On the heaviest use month of August, my utility bills totaled $247 for phone, electric, water and garbage collection services. If I can save $240 on my taxes, that will pay for one month's utility bills.

This may come as a surprise to many, but to a retiree on a limited income it is a help, albeit not a huge one. We'll take whatever we can get.

EVELYN ALVAREZ

Tampa

Portability A Plus

Why do all of the local newspaper articles about the property tax amendment seem to focus on the potential of reduced government services? Why don't we see a comparison of the total property tax revenue in local counties collected in 2002, '04 and '06? The increase is incredible. Imagine if an individual's salary quadrupled and his expenses doubled. Wouldn't he still be way ahead if his salary went back to just triple the original?

It seems like a "yes" on the amendment is obvious. It provides portability for families like mine still stuck in their first house and more exemption for those who want to stay put.

ERIC BLOMQUIST

Valrico

Floridians Are Lucky

I was amused by a letter stating that the most important issue for a majority of Florida residents is "our crushing tax burden, specifically property taxes." Florida actually has a very low tax burden compared to most states. If he hates taxes, he already lives in the right state.

I live in Wisconsin and come to the Tampa area every year for a few weeks visiting my mom and sister. My sister's house is worth about the same as mine, but her property taxes are less than half of mine. We pay about 6 percent state income tax, whereas Florida has none.

Home insurance is very high here compared to most states, but that is not a "tax burden." Appreciate the low taxes you have here!

MARCIA COLSMITH

Caledonia, Wisc.

Won't Fix Inequities

As much I appreciate the effort in changing the property tax law within our state, I don't see any provisions in the law that are going to prevent two citizens who live side by side in very similar homes working at the same company, each with two kids in school from paying hugely different amounts of tax.

The new tax changes as I see them will lower both our tax bills by a small percent - most likely resulting in lost county and state jobs - but if we both move to new, bigger houses then he will again pay much less than me regardless of the changes.

DANIEL COOPER

Valrico

Sorry, Charlie

If Amendment One passes, it becomes law! In effect, by voting "yes," Amendment One becomes a permanent, temporary fix. The amendment was so hastily cobbled together, so poorly thought out, the benefits so paltry and the beneficiaries so few that it deserves a resounding defeat.

Remember the slogan: "Sorry, Charlie, only the best tuna goes into Starkist"? The taxpayers of Florida deserve a better tuna! Toss this trash fish back into the sea. Sorry, Charlie, try again.

DAN HOLMER

Brandon

No Relief For Renters

The proposed amendment does little to help renters, who are probably as large a group as homesteaders.

As a landlord, I pay property taxes from rents collected from tenants. These taxes have increased over 300 percent in the last two years due to valuations assessed by the property appraiser based on assumed fantasy "market value" and "highest and best use," whatever that is.

A simple solution is to extend the 3 percent homestead cap to all real property with at least a three-year rollback of valuations, based on current use and indexed for inflation, thus affording relief for renters and small businesses.

WAYNE KEENE

Temple Terrace

At Least It's A Start

I have been a licensed real estate broker/Realtor in the state of Florida since March 1980. During the past 28 years I have worked through good and bad economies. Throughout the last decade, I have noted that we are no longer recommended as an affordable place to live and folks instead are relocating to Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, etc.

Yes, Amendment One is not the answer to everything, but it is a start and a very important start. Some will tell you that it is only a Band-Aid and is not the ultimate answer. Please go to the polls tomorrow. Make your vote count and vote "yes" for Amendment One.

CAROL A. KEMP

Holiday

A Step Forward

Opposition to the property tax amendment seems to be more centered on what it does not do rather than what it does do. Admittedly, much remains that needs to be done, but that is no reason to reject reforms that are at least a step forward.

The Save Our Homes 3 percent property tax cap was a fine piece of legislation. The provision that allows homeowners to change residences without losing that protection is badly needed. It could very well be a boost to the state's economy as more homeowners are able to change residences to meet changed conditions, without having to face ruinous tax increases.

Since those responsible don't seem capable of controlling their appetites, perhaps what we really need is a "cap" on expenditures.

SYDNEY K. POTTER

Tampa

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