| It looks like the proposal going on the November | | | | to charge a hefty fee to drivers for any accident |
| ballot has a chance to pass, now that Gov. Charlie | | | | occurring on its territory, and many other |
| Crist said he will strongly endorse it. | | | | municipalities quickly jumping on the wagon. Many |
| I have already written about this subject. Let's | | | | other charges and fees are subtly sneaked in to |
| recap. | | | | replace the lost revenue. Increasing millage |
| Basically, it will eliminate the schools part in | | | | (percentage applied on assessed values to |
| property taxes. That would reduce everybody's | | | | calculate taxes) is also been used by some cities |
| tax bill by more than 25% including snowbirds, | | | | to compensate for reduced assessed values. With |
| businesses, real estate investors. How would the | | | | some exceptions, they have mostly chosen the |
| schools funding come from? Partially by adding | | | | easy way out. |
| 1% on Florida Sales tax. | | | | I am 100% for property tax reduction. It is a |
| That would leave a 8 billion gap which will have to | | | | screaming necessity. It must be done now, |
| be covered by additional sales tax on some | | | | because it's hurting the ability of all layers of our |
| services, budget reduction, and a few more things | | | | society to buy and keep a home. It is a strong |
| to be figured out by our legislators. | | | | deterrent to out-of-state buyers of vacation |
| Against the plan are teachers, bus drivers, and | | | | homes and investors. Home building is a major |
| other education-related workers, and many | | | | job-creating industry in Florida, and many builders |
| business groups, as well as legislators from both | | | | are all but bankrupt. So, there is no doubt that it |
| parties. | | | | is a priority. |
| The fact is the magic of tax swaps have proved | | | | On the other hand, I also think that the only way |
| illusory and just to cover up the lack of vision in | | | | to accomplish this tax reduction is to live within |
| addressing a problem with common sense and | | | | our means. I do not believe in economic "stimulus" |
| realism. | | | | packages and other gimmicks and tax-swapping |
| I see with apprehension a centralizing of schools | | | | solutions. |
| funding that will leave them under the complete | | | | That brings the question: OK, my friend, what |
| economic control of state's authorities, instead of | | | | would you do if you were in the Governor's |
| their traditional funding through real estate taxes. | | | | shoes? |
| On the other hand, the money has to come from | | | | I am not an economist. But I have a grain of |
| somewhere. In the end, the tax payer will be | | | | common sense. The same sense that allows me |
| stuck with the bill, up to the last penny. That's the | | | | to survive when my personal income is down. |
| essence of "Tax Swapping". Will it hit harder | | | | The only answer that comes to my mind is: I'll |
| certain sectors of our population? Possibly. | | | | just reduce the local governments' income |
| Perhaps those who don't own a home and would | | | | through reduced property taxes and let them deal |
| just suffer increased sales taxes and nothing in | | | | with it. They will find the answer. |
| compensation. | | | | They were living with much less just a few years |
| That brings me back to my eternal predicament. | | | | ago. If they can't deliver, perhaps we will have to |
| Why can't we just cut the fat? Bureaucracy, | | | | find somebody else to do the job. That's what |
| mismanagement, and waste are eating up a large | | | | elections are for. |
| part of our cities and counties' budgets. Luxurious | | | | In the meantime, people are losing jobs in Florida |
| city halls, generous pension plans, unnecessary | | | | while outsourcing is ever flourishing. Salaries are |
| duplication of services, you name it. Did you ever | | | | shrinking, middle class is receding, and population |
| ask yourself why, in South Florida, we have | | | | growth is negative. |
| dozens of police departments, fire departments, | | | | I don't think that the present recession will just |
| code compliance departments, water | | | | end by itself some time in 2009 or 2010, as they |
| departments, administrators, sub-administrators, | | | | want to make me believe. However, I am |
| commissioners, city managers, and so forth, | | | | confident that, at some point, common sense will |
| ad-nauseam? | | | | prevail and we will avoid falling into a major |
| And that brings me again to something that's | | | | depression. Helping the development of our real |
| going on in our cities now. Forced to reduce a | | | | economy and putting people to work should be |
| minimal percentage of their budgets by voters' | | | | the preferential vision of our elected authorities. |
| mandate, they have chosen to start charging for | | | | Meanwhile, our local governments are selfishly |
| services that were always free. An ingenious | | | | trying to maintain privileges and avoiding bold |
| alternative to "tax-swapping", mind you. | | | | decisions. |
| The last one I heard about is some city starting | | | | |