A poll to gauge residents' support of a program that buys land for conservation will go forward with the blessing of the Hillsborough County Commission. ...more

April 17, 2008

SEBRING — Suspending impact fees is just one of the ideas Highlands County Commissioner Guy Maxcy will propose for a "stimulus package" to jump-start the county's stalled economy. Since Maxcy first proposed suspending both impact fees and building permit fees to get the struggling construction industry going again, people have been giving him additional ideas. At least four of those ideas will be added to Maxcy's plans to suspend impact and building permit fees when he officially presents his "stimulus package" to the county commission. Maxcy said Monday he will ask Edgar Stokes, the chairman of the county commissioners, to schedule his proposed stimulus package as a discussion item at the March 4 commissioners meeting. ...more

February 25, 2008

Perhaps some of the economic stimulus local folks are looking for will come from Amendment One, which passed in January. Everyone knew it would double the homestead exemption, but it's the portability factor that might give our area an economic boost. Portability gives homeowners with the Save Our Homes property tax cap the opportunity to take that protection with them to the next home they buy. That wasn't possible before Amendment One. All of a sudden, homeowners on either Florida coast can sell their $750,000 home, move here and buy the same house for $250,000, and with portability, pay little property tax. We won't claim that hundreds of people are lining up to do this, but the numbers are growing. Residents already living here also are moving within the county due to portability. We hope all of this bodes well for the real estate market. Getting some movement – any movement – will make a big difference. ...more

February 22, 2008

I would like to start with a simple equation. Government spending equals government taxes. When government taxes are not enough, then red ink is applied. There is much ado about taxes being too high, unfair etc. but we rarely get excited over government spending. The reason being, is that we are recipients of government spending in one form or another, such as: welfare, housing subsidies, farm subsidies, food stamps, subsidies for colleges and tuition, building stadiums for high priced athletes, and the infamous congressional earmarks and many more. ...more

February 18, 2008

Now that Florida voters have overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, city and county governments are finding themselves faced with a double-whammy: Amendment 1 will cut property taxes next year while many of the other sources that fund their budgets also are falling. ...more

February 9, 2008

Increase in the homestead exemption will only help the rich who own $100,000-plus homes. Those who rent will lose. The retirees on low fixed incomes, most of whom live in retirement mobile home parks on rented lots, will lose greatly. They will end up paying double property taxes on their addition rooms, their porches and sheds even though they do not own the land. ...more

February 7, 2008

What Did Crist Win? Regarding "Experts Say Crist Now in Catbird Seat" (front page, Jan. 31): ...more

February 5, 2008

Government workers were bracing for layoffs Wednesday and local officials were looking at which public services to cut after voters overwhelmingly passed a property tax amendment that will slice city and county revenue by tens of millions of dollars. ...more

January 31, 2008

Vote 'Yes' On Amendment 1 It is important to Vote "Yes" on Amendment 1 today. This is our first step as taxpayers towards tax reform. This is the tax relief we taxpayers need while working towards real reform. I hear opponents say that this amendment is not enough. Then I hear opponents say it's too much and government will be unable to provide services. Which is it? Don't ask the opponents of Amendment 1 because they don't know. I can tell you that this is the first step and we must vote "Yes' on 1!" ...more

January 28, 2008

Last year saw the city plan for growth in a large sector mostly north of Interstate 4 and an 85-acre area south of historical downtown, and officials braced for the lower revenues that the state's property tax reforms would bring. ...more

January 28, 2008