How are you going to Vote on Amendment 1?

lol. Even when others were fully disagreeing with Shelly, back in 2005, I agreed with some things he said. This is just another one of those things. Our area has and will continue to grow exponentially over the years. That should mean that many people will be new buyers in the future. It is probably more likely that new buyers will enter the market, than current owners will buy another primary resident. If FAR is in favor of the Bill, they might not be looking at the full picture. For years, FAR has been talking about the number of people expected to move to the State. I can understand their wanting some caps on commercial property and second homes, but they need to open their eyes to the many new buyers who will be punished by the passing of this law.

I was catching up with my Sunday paper and I just read about the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Committee, which I had forgotten was active right now. The state gets a committee together every 20 years. They did a tax "listening-tour" type jaunt around the state last fall and they are in the process of submitting their individual proposals. (I was confused -- I thought the listening tour was about the legislature's property tax reform, but it was not.)

This committee has the power to get amendments to the state constitution directly onto to the ballot this November. I realize I am idealistic, but I would think anything they come up with as a group would have to be better than the ridiculous legislative non-solutions that resulted in Amendment 1.

And with this committee, they have the freedom to put everything tax-related on the table -- Save Our Homes, income tax ideas, anything to make the system better. This seems like a good time to do it as the state heads rapidly toward recession. So I say vote no on 1 and let these people do their work.

More info here:

http://www.floridatbrc.org/

I can understand their wanting some caps on commercial property and second homes, but they need to open their eyes to the many new buyers who will be punished by the passing of this law.

What new punishment will be created by the passing of this law? We already have SOH? Just relieving the second home owners who rent of the tangible personal property tax offers an amount of relief that they have never had before.

I'm not suggesting that reducing the tangible tax is not a good thing for second home owners. What I'm saying is that if State is hoping for its population to grow exponentially over the next 20 years, the passing of this Bill as written, will penalize the very people we are trying to attract. In 2007, FL lost a net number of people living here. California had a net gain. I think FL needs to create a little more fairness in its tax laws. As for new PUNISHMENT, it is not. It is additional punishment, to new BUYERS.

additional punishment to new buyers???

The forum in DeFuniak Springs was very well attended by the public. Approximately 150 residents showed up and several did voice concerns about spending levels of local government. Things that were learned at the forum:

During the property tax run-up of the last four years, Walton County BCC also has incurred an additional 20 million dollars in debt they we now must pay.

The tax run-up was used to catch up with all the buildings that we now have in both the north and south end. No other major buildings are planned but there is a need for the money that will be found as time progresses.

Amendment 1 will affect the school district approximately $400K per year. But we transfer more than $4 million per year from capital outlay taxes into the general operating fund. This $400k will, according to school officials, severely impact teacher salaries over the next four years.

No one in the north end understands how the SWFD is funded.

Some NO advocates repeatedly claimed that if this passes that we will see closures of fire stations and layoffs of emergency personell. County officials disagreed this would occur.

State Representative Don Brown personally supports the amendment.

Oh yeah, and the class size amendment is bad, very, very bad. I never really could understand what this had to do with amendment 1, but a lot of time was spent discussing how bad it was.

Overall, a very good session. Now to see if the citizens of south Walton are going to participate to the same degree when they do this in south Walton.

additional punishment to new buyers???

Currently, buyers, looking to relocate to FL are paying some of the taxes, which are not being paid by the people who have already claimed homesteaded property. If the new bill passes into law, those people moving to Florida who buy their home, will now have to pay even more, because homestead deduction will be at double what it is now, plus, taxes will have to be made up on the $25,000 tangible property taxes for businesses and second homes, as well as that money being lost from the commercial caps. So, yes, there will be additional punishment to new buyers.

Currently, buyers, looking to relocate to FL are paying some of the taxes, which are not being paid by the people who have already claimed homesteaded property. If the new bill passes into law, those people moving to Florida who buy their home, will now have to pay even more, because homestead deduction will be at double what it is now, plus, taxes will have to be made up on the $25,000 tangible property taxes for businesses and second homes, as well as that money being lost from the commercial caps. So, yes, there will be additional punishment to new buyers.

Or government could just reduce spending.

Or government could just reduce spending.

When the American people stop asking for more than they can afford, then pressure will be off the government officials to cut back on spending.

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before in this thread or even if I have all of my info right, but, isn't the millage rate allowed to go back up after two years if this is passed? So it would only possibly offer small relief to some for the next two years?

That was my understanding when I listened to Mr. Pilcher during his visit to the DFS City council in Dec.

Or government could just reduce spending.

Do you honestly see that as a real alternative? It's about as real to happen as amendment 1 is to actually help anyone.

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before in this thread or even if I have all of my info right, but, isn't the millage rate allowed to go back up after two years if this is passed? So it would only possibly offer small relief to some for the next two years?

That was my understanding when I listened to Mr. Pilcher during his visit to the DFS City council in Dec.

It is a Constitutional amendment and nothing like that is in the language. The millage can be raised several ways, but if they go over the statutory revenue caps the ways are more restricted. A small increase over requires a 4/5ths vote, a large increase requires a referendum.

When the American people stop asking for more than they can afford, then pressure will be off the government officials to cut back on spending.

People are never going to stop trying to live at the expense of others. Government leaders need to learn that they can get just as many votes and just as much respect by saying no, imho.

Do you honestly see that as a real alternative? It's about as real to happen as amendment 1 is to actually help anyone.

Just to give out more information, it was presented last night that based upon current Walton County millage rates, the maximum savings that you could get in Walton County would be $98. Substantially less than the $240 average being presented. We are very fortunate that tax rates are as low as they are in Walton County. But still, that is my $98, and I would much rather have it to do what I want to instead of others making that decision for me.

It is a Constitutional amendment and nothing like that is in the language. The millage can be raised several ways, but if they go over the statutory revenue caps the ways are more restricted. A small increase over requires a 4/5ths vote, a large increase requires a referendum.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. It was a bit of confusion for me where this was concerned

WaltonGOP, thanks for posting your report on the meeting in DFS.

I am voting Yes on Amendment 1, to make the County governments accountable for what they spend.

Under the current system, local residents who have owned their homes more than three years or so (which should mean most of the voters) are not affected in the least when the BCC increases the budget by 40-50%, which they have done. Indeed, sometimes the voters get a tax cut via a rollback of the millage rate (don't even get me started on how BCC violates the spirit of the intended budget process).

I've attended the budget hearings, and there are a handful of local residents who also own rental properties who are there to protest. This is the long-term effect of SOH - we've created an entire class of voters who have no skin in the budget game. They are protected from their own County Commission.

The Walton BCC has been raising their own budget by astronomical amounts with very little outcry from their voting base. The amount of homesteaded (i.e, subject to SOH) tax base in this county is something like 25%. The other 75%, for the most part, is funded by non-voters.

Under Amendment 1, the other 75% will now have a cap, also. This means that if the county wants a 50% increase in their budget, they will have to increase the millage rate, and the voters will have to sit up and take notice, since their taxes will be affected.

I want to see the true effect of any budget increases to be seen, heard and felt by the voting population. Amendment 1 will really only pass a small part of these increases along to the voters, since everyone gets to keep SOH, and take it to their next property, but it will at least insure that budget increases look, act, smell and feel like budget increases.

No more headlines that say that the BCC has rolled back the millage rate (which under the state mandated budget process, they are OBLIGATED to do) and are waiting for applause from the populace.

I am voting Yes on Amendment 1, to make the County governments accountable for what they spend.

Ahhhh....finally someone who gets it. You are so correct. I have sat in on budget hearings and it seems that taxing authorities tend to do it backwards around here. First they calculate how much money they would get if they held the millage rate the same with the newly increased values on all the property. Then they take that pot of money and see what all they can buy with it. Thus causing most property taxes to go up, but the actual voter's taxes to fall or slightly decrease.

The right way to do it, is to calculate the millage rate based on bringing in the same amount of revenue as last year. Then see what added costs and new projects need to be accomplished in the coming year, then see what you would have to do to the millage to accomplish that task. And then actually get the project done in the coming year or two. Remember the courthouse expansion in DeFuniak Springs--10 years. New jail in DeFuniak Springs--8+ years. New animal control facility in DeFuniak Springs--8+ years and counting.

The longer government takes, the more it costs the taxpayer. I understand the new animal control facility is now over $2 million dollars and going up everytime it is discussed. Something has to be done to stem the flow of dollars into the treasury.

Also here is a link to the first portability calculator I have been able to find.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-tax1708jan17,0,1785631.story
I am sure the tax rates are for Orange County so your actual tax bill and savings would be proportionately lower. But it does give you some idea as to why portability is an issue, and why FAR seems to believe that it will help start the housing market back up again.

Ahhhh....finally someone who gets it. You are so correct.

I think we get what you are saying, but in my opinion changing state law because of problems specific to Walton County makes no sense. Do you not care about how other parts of Florida are affected?

I think we get what you are saying, but in my opinion changing state law because of problems specific to Walton County makes no sense. Do you not care about how other parts of Florida are affected?

I don't think this problem is specific to Walton County. I do think that only the counties which want huge budget increases are the ones which will have to
increase millage.

I think we get what you are saying, but in my opinion changing state law because of problems specific to Walton County makes no sense. Do you not care about how other parts of Florida are affected?

It is not specific to Walton County. In fact, it will actually affect Walton County the least of just about any other county in the State according to Department of Revenue estimates.

Do take the time to go and try out the portability calculator. The savings reflected are going to be closer to actual for your area, and see if you think that savings of that amount might influence the decision of people to move from their homes.

PLEASE... before making a decision log onto FLORIDATAXWATCH.org and read up on 'the other side'... This group is a non-profit that watches tax dollars and tries to keep the 'pork' away... ALSO, when political heads start asking you to pass an amendment, i believe it deserves a CLOSE second look...

PLEASE... before making a decision log onto FLORIDATAXWATCH.org and read up on 'the other side'... This group is a non-profit that watches tax dollars and tries to keep the 'pork' away... ALSO, when political heads start asking you to pass an amendment, i believe it deserves a CLOSE second look...

This is an excellent analysis of the situation, and I agree with most of their points.

However; we have had this "legislated" millage cap in place for years, and the BCC (and other counties) have ignored it. Where is the state when this happens? I know of no agency I can call and report my county commission for violating state law. If there were such an agency, we would need a branch office in Walton County.

The only power we have over local spending is who we elect to the county commission.

I wish that there was a way to vote "No; now go back and do it right" instead of just yes or no.

http://emeraldcoastrealtors.com/videos/2008/01-03 COMF Gaetz.wmv

Here is a short video worth watching...

However; we have had this "legislated" millage cap in place for years, and the BCC (and other counties) have ignored it. Where is the state when this happens? I know of no agency I can call and report my county commission for violating state law. If there were such an agency, we would need a branch office in Walton County.

I don't understand your point. It is my understanding that the millage rate in Walton County has decreased each year for at least the past two year.

I don't understand your point. It is my understanding that the millage rate in Walton County has decreased each year for at least the past two year.

Read WaltonGOP's post on the correct budget process, and how Walton County does it instead. Walton County does not START from last year's budget, roll back the millage to what it would take to collect that amount, and then justify any increases. With the increase in the tax base, we should have had large reductions in the millage.

I understand. I've been yelling for a long time about the @ssbackward way the BCC sets the budget, based on the property valuations and current tax rates, rather than setting the budget for needs, then setting the millage based on the needs.

Remember that Early Voting has started in Florida. I voted this morning, and it took all of two minutes, including the time to read the entire ballot.