Save Our Homes - Florida RE Tax Reform
Posted Jun 8, 2007 @ 11:21 am, Viewed by 2347 Visitors, Read 2381 Times.The governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, set up a Board known as the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to search for answers to provide real estate tax relief for Floridians. Real Estate Tax Reform is a true issue for both new, and current, residents of the state. Every registered voter in our State should pay close attention to this measure and the relief it will afford us for moving "up or down" from an existing residence, as should new residents purchasing homes in our state.
For the past few months we've been working with the Honorable Ken Wilkinson, the Lee County Property Appraiser, regarding legislative action to permit homesteaded owners to take up to $400,000 of their current homesteaded tax value with them when they purchase "upwards" and 50% of the difference between the assessed value and market value of their home when downsizing.
Ken is the father of the Save Our Homes amendment passed in 1992 and is one of the 11 members appointed by the Governor to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. He feels that the biggest reason why many homeowners cannot move and our real estate sales are suffering is because of the huge increase in real estate taxes. Many homesteaded residents could pay cash for a property but NOT be able to afford the new homes taxes, therefore, they can't move "up" or "down" under the current tax law.
To this end, you may have received a mailing from Ken, or from one of the other ten members of the Board with their Petition for legislative action to reform our property tax laws. We encourage you to sign and return this petition. If you did not receive one, the link to the website to print it out is below.
Please forward this information onto your friends and family members here in Florida - this Petition drive is sponsored state-wide and any change to existing law will require the passing of a Constitutional Amendment. Please Note: In order for you to participate you must be a permanent resident and a registered voter of Florida.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of further assistance on this issue at 239-948-3955.
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Social Bookmarking2 Responses to “Save Our Homes - Florida RE Tax Reform”
Jeffrey S. Bickford
Once again, Florida needs the Honorable Ken Wilkinson, the father of the Save Our Homes amendment passed in 1992. The property tax reform package voted June 14, 2007 may be regarded as a "mini-me" version of the Federal tax code. Those levgislators should have taken more time to prepare an amendment of the 1992 "Save Our Homes" to include all properties, not just Homestead. There should be just two questions and simple solutions before Florida's legislators: 1. Elimination of property tax, versus increased sales tax? (Sales tax is equitable because it is paid by all users of public services while property tax is not paid by all users of public services.) Instead, Florida's legislators voted for more inequity, of property ownership paying for public services, enjoyed by all, including tourists and illegal aliens. 2. Save Our Homes qualification should be applied to all properties? (Roll-back assessed property values to the origination of "Save Our Homes" and calculate current value for all properties by rolling forward, the assessed values at same [CPI or less] annual rate as "Save Our Homes.") Florida's property tax reform needs a refreshed approach, with renewed vigor and focus. The January 29, 2008 ballot amendment is not meaningful tax reform. Honorable Ken Wilkinson, where are you?
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Gulf Coast Associates is a private real estate firm specializing in SW Florida Real Estate. Benjamin Dona is the Broker-Owner. He and his wife Terry, an underwriter with 20 years experience, also own a federally-regulated mortgage banking firm, Metro Mortgage Company.
Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri we've lived and worked from our base in Bonita Springs since 1997. Read More
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Thank you for the information. I'll be sure to sign this one!