Tax Increase?

FF2:

Would you please tell me which "Tax Cuts" you are referring to?

1.No taxing authority in Walton County cut taxes this budget cycle. Two actually gave you a tax increase.

2 The state of florida did not cut taxes

That leaves the fed and i am unaware of any tax cuts made.

Help me out - who cut taxes?

ala the quotes. Nice to hear from you IG.

Don't worry, your government is currently cutting a deal with the Chinese to offlay all the debt on your kids. Alternatively we could cut non-essential and wasteful spending... ahh naa, what the heck. Put it on the PRC credit card.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...TE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-01-07-04-01-18

FF2:

Would you please tell me which "Tax Cuts" you are referring to?

1.No taxing authority in Walton County cut taxes this budget cycle. Two actually gave you a tax increase.

2 The state of florida did not cut taxes

That leaves the fed and i am unaware of any tax cuts made.

Help me out - who cut taxes?

Don't you remember Sorry Charlie with his NAR groupies in tow buzzing through the state on their "Vote #1 Bus?"



"Gov. Charlie Crist urged real estate agents during a speech to rally support for a January ballot measure that will cut property taxes.

......and he predicted agents will see significant results when he, lawmakers and voters work to bring down homeowners' costs.

"Florida's going to have a sonic boom when this happens. You're going to be busier than you've been in your life," Crist told 550 agents at the Florida Association of Realtors' annual convention. "Get ready, get your rest, make sure your license is up to date." <What a tool!>

The governor predicted that boom will take place after the Jan. 29 election, when voters will vote on a property tax constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot.

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Well, it did get voted in...didn't you hear the sonic boom? ...I'd say, more like sonic flatulence.

Can't say no one warned this was coming.

As I asked in another thread, what has Gov Crist done really and why he is so popular? I just don't see it!

Don't you remember Sorry Charlie with his NAR groupies in tow buzzing through the state on their "Vote #1 Bus?"



"Gov. Charlie Crist urged real estate agents during a speech to rally support for a January ballot measure that will cut property taxes.

......and he predicted agents will see significant results when he, lawmakers and voters work to bring down homeowners' costs.

"Florida's going to have a sonic boom when this happens. You're going to be busier than you've been in your life," Crist told 550 agents at the Florida Association of Realtors' annual convention. "Get ready, get your rest, make sure your license is up to date." <What a tool!>

The governor predicted that boom will take place after the Jan. 29 election, when voters will vote on a property tax constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot.

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Well, it did get voted in...didn't you hear the sonic boom? ...I'd say, more like sonic flatulence.

Can't say no one warned this was coming.

I'm not exactly sure how the governor passed amendment one - those are passed by the people. Also, if I remember correctly the new homestead exemption did not apply to school district taxes. Further, the property tax increase cap hasn't even been applied yet as property taxes are currently decreasing under normal market conditions. Shelly correct me if you think I'm wrong but AFAICT, Amendment One has had absolutely no effect on education funding at all, since it was passed.

you should really learn about the recapture provision's of the property tax code.

You should really learn about the recapture provision's of the property tax code.

you should really learn about the recapture provision's of the property tax code.

Was that a response to my post? If so I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Was that a response to my post? If so I'd be interested in hearing about it.

The property appraiser's office issues two values: market value and assessed value.

If you have been under the SOH cap for awhile as a homesteader, the assessed value generally is well under what the appraiser deems as market value.

For example:
2007 $545000 market value 420,000 assessed value

Say market values decline 10 percent, down to $490,500.

Under state law, "assessed value" can still go UP up to 3 percent, which means taxes go up too -- despite the fact that values dropped. That is the recapture.

Those who don't homestead are not affected. In SoWal, many if not most non-homesteaders -- who had to ride the property taxes all the way up as values rose -- did end up receiving a tax cut. Ours was significant.

We received one on the bussiness property as the property value went down and the tax breaks helped.

I would have liked them to keep the tax breaks so the schools would not be hurt and they could pave my roads.

In this county the tax rate was one of the lowest in the state. Look at Holmes county where the tax rate for the BCC is something like 9mills..

Holmes county isn't exactly home to "prime" property. What's the tax bill on a $10,000 lot and a $20,000 trailer at 9mills?

The property appraiser's office issues two values: market value and assessed value.

If you have been under the SOH cap for awhile as a homesteader, the assessed value generally is well under what the appraiser deems as market value.

For example:
2007 $545000 market value 420,000 assessed value

Say market values decline 10 percent, down to $490,500.

Under state law, "assessed value" can still go UP up to 3 percent, which means taxes go up too -- despite the fact that values dropped. That is the recapture.

Those who don't homestead are not affected. In SoWal, many if not most non-homesteaders -- who had to ride the property taxes all the way up as values rose -- did end up receiving a tax cut. Ours was significant.

Does any of this negatively effect property taxes collections as they relate to education funding? Sounds like recapture actually help increase education funding at times when housing is in a downturn.

No impact on School funding. It was excluded from Amendment 1, but the impact on a taxpayer with a homestead on her property is significant when market values are in free fall.

Holmes county isn't exactly home to "prime" property. What's the tax bill on a $10,000 lot and a $20,000 trailer at 9mills?

They would get more for it if they would take into account the 'cash crop' that is also present.

They would get more for it if they would take into account the 'cash crop' that is also present.

That would be...

That would be...

http://www.fl-aglaw.com/pdf/2007_Outdoor_DME_Annual_Report.pdf

Holmes county isn't exactly home to "prime" property. What's the tax bill on a $10,000 lot and a $20,000 trailer at 9mills?

What an elitist thing to say. These people probably pay more of a percentage of their income in taxes than those who own million dollar condos.

http://www.fl-aglaw.com/pdf/2007_Outdoor_DME_Annual_Report.pdf

What a great report. Funny that Walton County spent almost twice as much to eradicate 1/4 of the plants.

What an elitist thing to say. These people probably pay more of a percentage of their income in taxes than those who own million dollar condos.

Could you show me one of those million dollar condos in Holmes county you are referring to?

http://www.fl-aglaw.com/pdf/2007_Outdoor_DME_Annual_Report.pdf

What a waste of money!! Just let them grow the stuff!!

What a great report. Funny that Walton County spent almost twice as much to eradicate 1/4 of the plants.



Could you show me one of those million dollar condos in Holmes county you are referring to?

I was refering to the one you live in in Walton County. And the others just like it.

You know a 100,000.00 home in Holmes County to the owner is just like your million dollar home. And when you charge them tax on their mone and they only make about 15000.00 a year to them it is the same as you paying tax on your home.

Read this morning that there may be a reduction of $140 per student from the State. Just in case anyone is mistaken, that $140 will more than likely have to be made up locally. Because of mandates that we as the voting public has endorsed, ie class size amendment, I think our local school board will have no choice but increase taxes to offset the shortfall, IMO. There was also mentioned in the article that 550 people who provide services to our mentally handicapped population may be cut. Wonder where those services are going to come from. There was talk in raising the tax on cigarettes. Also saw the folks who are on food stamps increased by 43% in the State of Florida. I think I read this on WJHG website, but am not sure. Although I realize the taxpayer is hurting so are those losing their jobs, homes, needed services. At sometime I think the "TAX CUTS" that are happening , don't seem to be spurring the economy to the recovery we all hope that it would.

To try to reply to the original post.....

The Legislature was in special session this past week and will continue to remain in special session the next week to again balance the State budget. As you know, tax collections (especially sales tax) have been far lower than was estimated when the budget was put together in March/April 2007. When there is a revenue shortfall, the legislature must come back and adjust the budget to reflect the correct revenue numbers.

This is the first special session, but, the Governor's office has, during the budget year, withheld funds to keep the budget balanced. Walton County school district has taken a hit from the first "hold back" and we anticipate a second hit from the special session, although we do not know the numbers yet. The speculation has been, to put it kindly, rampant. We have heard number from an 8 million dollar cut for Walton County to $19,000.00.

Obviously, as a School Board member, I hope it is closer to the latter figure than the former figure.

Our school district is in better shape than most to absorb the cut. The voters allowed us to transfer a half mil to operations (where these cuts from the legislature) from our capital millage. This allowed us to build a significant fund balance. We have absorbed the first budget "hold back" without having to lay off any employees. That first hold back was somewhere in the one million dollar range. We made some cuts, cost savings and absorbed that with little blood on the floor. In fact, we have given small 1.5% raises to our teachers and non-instructional personnel. That fund balance was also ravaged by higher medical insurance costs and other increases not anticipated at the time the budget was made. After the raises and other costs, my memory is that the fund balance is in the neighborhood of $5.0 million.

When we get the other cut, we will make the necessary budget amendments. Again, hopefully we can do so without laying anyone off, but, if the number is at the higher end of that spectrum, lay offs would be necessary. Heck if the number is closer two to four million, lay offs would be necessary.

We are having a workshop on Thursday, January 20, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. in DFS to review the final revenue numbers from the State and our proposals to cut the budget to reflect those numbers. When I have the number, I will post it.

As for increasing taxes, I agree that the required local effort (mandated by the State) will go up significanly next year. I hope we can offset that number with our discretionaru millage, but, I am not optimistic. Thanks, guys....

Mr. Davis:

Will local taxpayers be allowed to offer ideas for budget savings?

Thank you for your reply Mr. Davis. I understand what the State has done and appreciate the School Districts foresight, I personally don't want the children of Walton County to suffer. How will this affect the mandate of the class size amendment?