As an independent, Nancy Cross had less to do when voting at New Tampa Precinct 351 than others.

Voters can cast a ballot only for candidates in their registered party, so Cross had no candidate to vote for.

“I feel as an independent I want the choice among all of them,” the 43-year-old said.

But as a Realtor, she had reasons to vote in favor of Amendment 1.

One reason is to bring some relief from tax bills, including the $7,100 she pays for the New Tampa home she’s had for more than seven years.

The other reason is to help her business. The ability to take the Save Our Homes tax cap from house to house could help the real estate market by not trapping people in their homes because of high taxes on new places.

Nearly identical houses are facing tax bills that differ by thousands of dollars.

“That’s got to change,” she said.

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