SEBRING — In 2005, when Gilbert Santavenere moved to Sebring from Connecticut, the taxes on his house were $2,200 a year. Since the previous owner had a homestead exemption, Santavenere expected the taxes to go up to $2,800. "It ended up being $3,500 a year," Santavenere said. In a nutshell, that's the problem with Florida's property tax system, something the Florida Legislature tried to correct Monday when it passed a constitutional amendment that will lower ad valorem taxes an average of $240 per homeowner. Voters can grant final approval of the bill on Jan. 29, at the same time they cast ballots in the presidential primary. The measure includes variations of two planks in Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign platform last year: doubling the $25,000 exemption for homeowners and letting them take the 3 percent Save Our Homes cap when they move. ...more

October 31, 2007

A new property tax-cutting plan offered Sunday by Senate leaders is simpler, would provide less relief to some taxpayers and includes a scaled-down version of the House's assessment cap for businesses, snowbirds and landlords. ...more

October 29, 2007

The House and Senate, although still at odds over property tax relief, will reconvene a special session Monday, just one day before the deadline to get a proposal on the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot. ...more

October 28, 2007

Legislative leaders insist the game isn't over, but the special session on property taxes officially ground to a halt Wednesday with the Capitol clearing out and lawmakers waiting to hear whether they will return for Monday's scheduled final day. ...more

October 25, 2007

The state House approved a proposal Monday to lower property taxes, but the plan will have to be reconciled with a bill the Senate voted on last week. And the Senate isn't in session. ...more

October 23, 2007

State House members approved a new rendition of their property tax proposal Monday, while the chamber across the Capitol remained dark without a guarantee of reopening this session. ...more

October 23, 2007

State lawmakers return to Tallahassee today to continue the special session on property tax reform. Last week, instead of nearing a consensus, the House and Senate grew even further apart, with House members overhauling their plan on Friday. ...more

October 22, 2007

Lawmakers abruptly left Tallahassee yesterday with no agreement on how to cut property taxes. They should end the charade. They are searching for a fix that can't be found in a week. ...more

October 19, 2007

A new plan to cut property taxes fails to address the inequities in Florida's tax structure and does nothing to help those who have the most reason to complain - Floridians who recently purchased their homes at inflated prices and are taxed at or near market value. ...more

October 12, 2007

They pitched the total elimination of the Florida property tax system as we know it. They tried to clamp down on local government spending. They offered a 'super' homestead exemption that could have slashed tax bills. ...more

October 11, 2007