TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Hosting Cows For Tax Shelter Political Liability For Elections Boss
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Published: March 19, 2008
Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson has every right to seek a "greenbelt" tax reduction on nearly 20 acres he owns off Thonotosassa Road near Plant City, but the huge tax break he wants for the property raises questions about his political acumen.
Johnson faces a seasoned rival this year in Phyllis Busansky, a former county commissioner and Democratic congressional candidate. Why would he seek a questionable tax break in an election year and at a time when property taxes are a potent issue statewide?
For his part, Johnson expresses consternation that his application for the agricultural tax exemption has raised eyebrows. It could save him more than $12,000 in taxes on the $614,000 tract.
Historically, he says, the property has had an agricultural use, and even though he has subdivided it into six lots, he currently has no plans to develop it. He lives in a small house at the back of the land he calls Oak Creek Estates.
Johnson's problem is that the greenbelt law has often been abused, in many cases by developers who graze a few cows or plant some trees to get the lower tax rate until they're ready to develop the property.
When Hillsborough Property Appraiser Rob Turner took office in 1997, there were 10,000 parcels in the county with greenbelt protection. Turner had all of the owners reapply and investigated whether they were using their land of legitimate farming operations. The probe ended up with about 3,000 plots losing their standing.
The St. Petersburg Times has reported that Johnson took on $1.32 million in debt last year when he bought the land and a condominium in Sarasota, and that he sold grazing rights for $20 a year. Johnson says he intended for the land to have an agricultural use and that he leased it almost simultaneously with the purchase to a man who needed a place to run a few head of cattle. The small cattle operation, Johnson says, has a legitimate, for-profit purpose.
The supervisor also says he sought the advice of Turner's office before he had the land platted. The property appraiser must decide by July 1 whether to grant the exemption.
The key to Johnson's request is whether running a few cows is a bona fide agricultural use with a reasonable expectation of making a profit or merely a gimmick to get the tax break. It wouldn't be an issue if Johnson were a legitimate rancher. In this case, there are only a few cows on a few acres. It looks suspicious.
Johnson doesn't shy away from spending taxpayer's money. He recently hired a communications director to handle voter education but who is also adept at promoting the supervisor.
Johnson should be as careful with the people's money as he is with his own.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( JackNelsonSteward ) on March 19, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
We now have "Voter ID's" that can't be used at the precinct for identification. An employee leaves the elections office and is paid a sum of money that is nearly a year's wages for some of us, apparently to remain quiet, raising the question: What is happening at our Supervisor of Elections office that must be witheld from the public?
Now the it looks like the Sup hosts a few cows on his mini ranch so he can claim some sort of tax dodge.
Can you spell
T I N
E A R ???
Politically tone deaf, you could say.
Personally, I'm tired of it.
ANY buddy but BUDDY!!!
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Posted by ( genewells ) on March 19, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Nightbiker ) on March 19, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I LIKE that, Jack. With permission, I'm going to use the slogan to campaign against 'buddy'.
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Posted by ( FLCRACKER ) on March 20, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
it's strange -- about every other day i get an email from the Sup. of Elections' office touting what Buddy Johnson is doing and where he is speaking...yesterday's email bragged (informed) that he was speaking at PLANT HIGH SCHOOL...like i CARE. like i need to KNOW. this is politicing at the public's expense, seems like. are these emails coming from the recently hired communications director? (a.k.a. campaign worker?) this is bizarre...
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Posted by ( ad ) on March 20, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Tiko ) on March 24, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
johnson will face nelson. nelson will beat busansky in the dem primary. nice bias there Tampa Trib.
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