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Fresh Squeezed Politics - March On Politics Blog

Senator Wants Panel to Reconsider Tax Proposal

Posted Mar 19, 2008 by Catherine Dolinski, Tribune Tallahassee Bureau

Updated Mar 19, 2008 at 04:21 PM

Sen Mike Haridopolos isn’t happy with the property tax reduction amendment the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission voted Monday to put on the state’s November ballot.

Haridopolos thinks the state Legislature wouldn’t be able to make up the school funding the amendment would eliminate—some $11 billion a year by 2011. Even though he’s a non-voting member of the commission, he says he’s going to try to convince them to revise the proposal.

That plan would eliminate the schools portion of property taxes, effectively slashing property tax bills by 25 percent. Lawmakers would have to make up the difference, using alternatives specified in the amendment.

The commission has yet to take its final vote on the proposal, but that’s been expected to be a formality.

The proposal was changed in last-minute compromises on the commission, and Haridopolos said members may not realize the amendment could trigger a sales tax hike of up to a 2.5 cents. He also says the full commission didn’t hear an analysis warning the proposal would cost jobs.

Haridopolos said he hopes the commission will “at least take a second look. They can still amend.”


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