Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainger99
I just got the November 8 ballot in the mail. I was aware of the Fire District referendum (still don't understand it) but I was not aware of a proposed amended to the Florida Constitution.
The ballot states:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.
Does anyone have any idea how many "classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members" live in Sumter County and what the impact will be on tax revenue?
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There are about 550 public school teachers. The Sumter sheriff has "over" 150 police, plus there are localities with their own force. Coleman prison is a very large complex, I cannot find a number of correction officers but there are over 2000 inmates, so many hundred guards. The Villages Fire Dept has 150 full time fire fighters, again the county and some cities have their own staffs.
Complete guess, 1 to 2 thousand total positions. It is unclear how many would live in Sumter and own a home, but whatever their location, some county will be losing money.
Obviously if you cut taxes for a group of people, to continue to provide services you need to increase taxes for everyone else. How did the legislature pick the winners, and losers in this amendment that came not from a citizen initiative but from our legislature? Did the suggestion of special treatment of groups result in increased campaign contributions? Is this amendment really likely to help hire or retain preferred employees? Why not nurses, preschool teachers, or blue collar workers?
The millage (dollars of tax per 1000 of assessed value) is $10 for every thousand but half of that is school levy. So a 50,000 reduced assessment saves the homeowner $250/yr.