Florida AFL-CIO
We want RESPONSIBLE tax reform!

They Are At it Again

After eight years and billions of dollars of tax cuts for wealthy special interests, the Florida Legislature is using the property tax crisis to do it again. The Florida Legislature is currently debating property tax changes that they want you to believe will provide tax relief for all of Florida's homeowners without diminishing education, local services and our quality of life.This is simply not true. There are clear winners and losers: unfortunately Florida's working families will be the losers once again.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please pass RESPONSIBLE Tax Reform

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to express my serious concern over the Legislature's push for property tax reform. I am well aware that there are serious problems with Florida's skyrocketing property taxes and that action is needed, but I am very worried about the proposals currently being considered. It is clear to me that the major plans on the table will do little to help the average homeowner, renters and small businesses. Rather, wealthy homeowners, part-time residents with second and third homes and real estate speculators will get the lion's share of the benefit. I want to encourage you to consider modest proposals that will target relief to those who need it most and leave any sweeping changes to the Budget and Tax Reform Commission, which has the constitutional authority to carefully look at Florida's overall tax structure and make the necessary systemic changes. There have been billions in tax cuts over the past few years that benefit Florida's wealthy citizen?s and biggest corporations and these tax cuts should be reexamined as part of an overall tax reform plan. I also want to encourage you to carefully look at the millions of dollars in special interest sales tax exemptions as a possible source of revenues to fund tax cuts for homesteaded property owners. Florida homeowners need relief, but that relief should not come at the expense of local services that contribute to our quality of life. Florida has plenty of revenue sources to draw from. What we need is courage and political will from our elected leaders to responsibly address tax reform, not simple knee jerk reactions that may temporarily appease the voters, but will have devastating long-term consequences.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 01, 2007


Background Information

There is no question that Florida has seen skyrocketing property taxes over the past four years and that many working families and retirees are being forced to make difficult, if not impossible choices. Some are even being forced to give up their homes. The Legislature needs to act. Unfortunately, many legislative leaders are using this crisis to rashly push through radical new policies that will turn the current problem into an unmitigated disaster. One of the main reasons for the current problem is the eight years of tax cuts for big corporations and wealthy individuals. These dramatic reductions in state revenue have forced the state to cut budgets, forcing local governments to pick up the slack. The proposals currently being considered are designed to give these same groups even more tax cuts and do nothing to address the ways in which critical services are suffering.

The Florida AFL-CIO is working to ensure that any tax reform plan conforms to the following principles:

  • Florida's overall economy and both state and local government budgets are all interconnected. Any major changes to fiscal policy must be approached holistically to avoid potentially devastating unintended consequences.
  • The development and implementation of new fiscal policies must take place in the sunshine with full disclosures as to the costs and benefits of each proposal so that the people can truly make informed choices. All reasonable policy alternatives must be given a full, fair and open hearing.
  • Discussions about revenue and spending must acknowledge that Florida has many unmet needs in the areas of social services, education, growth management and responsible economic development. State and local governments must be given the resources they need to meet these needs and polices to ensure that everyone pays their fair share.
  • Local governments are the closest to the people and are best suited to make decisions on what is best for their communities. Florida's tradition of home rule must be respected and state mandates imposed by the Legislature must be kept to a minimum.
  • State government must meet its funding responsibilities for programs that should be state wide and reverse the current trend of shifting these responsibilities to local governments.

In addition to the above general principles, the Florida AFL-CIO also recommends the following drawn specifically to the current debate regarding property tax relief.

  • There are serious problems with Florida?s current property tax policies and families need immediate relief. The first steps should provide immediate relief and involve statutory solutions. Major constitutional changes should be reserved for the Budget and Tax Reform Commission, Interim Legislative Committee work and Citizen Initiatives.
  • Prevent increases in the property tax from unduly burdening resident households.
  • Focus efforts on providing relief to permanent residential renters and first time homeowners as well as long-term homesteaders.
  • Avoid the inequities that an assessment limit such as Save Our Homes creates; that grow greater over time and weaken tax fairness.