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Turner, Ayers Focus On Tax Rates

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN

sackerman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

Property Appraiser Rob Turner likes to remind residents: He doesn't set taxes.

Still, it doesn't keep critics like Democratic challenger Ken Ayers from accusing the three-term Republican incumbent of taxing people out of their homes.

"He's the man who sets the prices on property," said Ayers, a retired business owner and one-time Tampa fire chief. "For 12 years this man has done nothing but raise taxes. They crush the working person."

Turner, who earns $155,000 a year overseeing 147 employees and a $13 million budget, says his property appraisals are based on transactions from the prior year, as required by law. He produces an annual tax roll for the office, which is audited by the Florida Department of Revenue.

Hillsborough's county commission, school board, cities and special board such as the Tampa Port Authority are the agencies that ultimately decide the tax rate, Turner said. Then that rate is multiplied by the appraised value minus any exemptions.

"I have recognized the need for reform," said Turner, who plans to meet with lawmakers this year about how the tax system needs to better reflect the current economic system.

For instance, Turner suggests changing the state's "recapture" rule, which allows assessed values to continue to rise even if market values have dropped.

"We could do a better job responding to market values," he said.

Ayers, a Korean War veteran who started an insurance and real estate investment business more than 30 years ago, supports putting a cap on the amount of property tax levied against a homeowner.

"We've got to find other ways to get government revenue," said Ayers, who suggested looking at the port or its ships as possible sources.

Turner agrees.

"If there is a way that we can make adjustments to other sources of revenue and offset a significant portion of property tax burden, we should do it," he said.

But only if other entities, such as schools, get the resources they need to function properly, Turner said.

KEN AYERS
AGE: 78

EDUCATION: Graduated from Jefferson High School in 1948; attended University of Tampa for one year after military service

FAMILY: Widowed

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Korean War veteran, Air Force; Tampa firefighter for 22 years, fire chief 1963-1966; owned and operated real estate and insurance companies for more than 20 years; active in real estate investment
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1962 and 1982

ROB TURNER

AGE: 57

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in business administration, University of Central Florida

FAMILY: Married, four children

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 12 years as Hillsborough County property appraiser; served on the Property Tax Reform Committee in 2006; state certified general appraiser; former senior vice president of Bank of America overseeing real estate division; 23 years in banking and commercial lending

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Hillsborough County property appraiser, 1996-present

Researchers Melanie Coon and Stephanie Pincus contributed to this report.

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