[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The general sentiment of Floridians is that they don't WANT to pay more taxes. They're not willing to pay a penny more than they have to, especially if that penny goes to "those people."

So we have a lot of unemployable people in this state, who aren't in the "unemployed" category because they're not collecting unemployment and not actively seeking employment, because they've given up trying since they know no one will hire them.

Those are the truly homeless, the people who live in the Ocala National Forest. There are also a bunch there who are intentionally "off the grid" for whatever reason - but those folks don't go out begging. They are primarily self-sufficient and rely on bartering to get goods and services that they can't make or grow on their own.

A 1% surtax on services won't do any good, since we already have so many "handyman" grebbers who do all kinds of work here, and take cash or checks only, so they don't have to pay any tax or get insurance or be licensed.

And there are plenty of Villagers who are happy to get that discount and the convenience of immediate availability, in exchange for the risk of shoddy work or outright burglary.

We got suckered into that mentality our first year here. So when it came time to take the dead trees down because they shouldn't have simply been badly pruned by a couple of dolts with chainsaws, we went with the guys with the actual license, insurance, new equipment, and a truck with the painted logo rather than the crappy magnetic one they could slap on any personal vehicle to make themselves look legit.

We paid extra because of it but we had the peace of mind. And we don't mind paying taxes for services, if it means getting that peace of mind and an actual guarantee of professional service.

I agree with Warren Buffet's statement, "I want to be taxed more" - by the income bracket method. Sales tax is a flat tax that disadvantages the poor and lower-middle-class. Same with a 1% local tax - it IS not a PROGRESSIVE tax - it IS REGRESSIVE! That's why Florida relies on Sales tax - it helps out the wealthy class. It does have the benefit of hitting the tourist harder than the resident. And tourists from abroad and the north make bigger wages and salaries so they can afford it better than retired seniors.