[Aces4]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Florida does not have a state income tax.

There’s a salary increase right there.

[virtue51]

The amendment does not consider the household income. For example, a teacher married to an individual with an annual salary of $80,000. Why would the household receive a homestead tax exemption?

Also, it identifies only select professions. Why these professions and not other professions?

It is obvious that the lawmakers did not consider the impact of the amendment upon all taxpayers.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Jerseybob

Interesting wording in the amendment. Because of the wording I offer these questions:
1. " ..... to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for non-school levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property ..."

2.Currently, a single person that qualifies with a $25,000 exemption would then receive an additional $50,000 for a total of $75,000?

3. A couple can earn $50,000 at this time, would that bring the number to $100,000 for them?

4. The language is noticeably absent further definition in a particularly key area. There is no language that addresses if the qualifying people would maintain the exemption under the proposed amendment. What occurs in the event of regular retirement, suspension of service for any reason including disabilities, family caretaking, or injury during the career? Do they lose the exemption?

5. Would retired veterans of those services (police, fire, military, etc.) also be provided with this tax exemption due to their completed service?

Note the bolded/underlined. It looks to me that they'd get an additional exemption, but the maximum additional wouldn't be higher than $50k. So - if they own a $500k house, maybe they /would/ get that $75k exemption. but if their house is only worth $50k, then no - they wouldn't be 100% exempt.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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?

I don't know how many. But I'm seeing a lot of people wondering WHY. Why are they singling out this group of people to get additional homestead exemptions? A look at the bigger picture might be helpful. Maybe expanding your resource base to see "what's going on" in the great State of Florida beyond the bubble or even the county you live in. Florida needs a higher quality and greater quantity of classroom teachers, law enforcement/correctional officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, and more National Guardsmen.

Right now, there are lots of people working in lots of jobs. Unemployment is down. That means employees can afford to be a little more picky about where they work. Florida is, for the above list of jobholders, a really lousy place to work. The people working in those jobs are underpaid, have fewer benefits, with fewer rights and more responsibility than similar jobs in other states. The state has attracted some of the worst of the worst, or not enough of even mediocre quality employees to these jobs.

What high-quality person in *those specific fields* would WANT to move to Florida and buy a home here? Answer: not enough. So give them some kind of incentive to do that. Tenants can move without much worry at all. Homeowners though - they have a vested interest in their community. And not just any homeowners - they have to actually live in those homes, to qualify. That's also why veterans aren't included in this: veterans are people who are no longer serving the military. But if they become teachers - and then buy a home here - well. Then they can get that sweet extra exemption. Hm - isn't there some kind of new legislation about that in Florida? Why yes - yes I think there is.

I'm not decided on whether or not I will vote yes for this. I think it's a political ploy, just like the 25-cent gas tax reduction in October was a political ploy. Every tax break the state gives to specific groups of people ends up costing ALL the people in the end. The gasoline tax reduction didn't affect a lot of people who live in cities, where they walk to work or take mass transit. The price of bus fare to get from State Road 7 in Plantation to the A1A in Ft. Lauderdale didn't go up. Only people who drive gas-powered vehicles benefit /directly/ from this tax reduction. By the start of the next fiscal year you'll see that the state has not earned what they should have, because of it. And SOMEONE will have to pay for it.

That someone will likely be homeowners. And the circle goes round and round.

[Babubhat]

Someone else’s exemption is your tax increase.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don't know the number of people but at a 5.59mil rate for 2023 the impact would be $278 per eligible household.

this is the only focus???? you leave out the fire dept that costs each household more. the "owner" has billions, it should be part of the provided amenities and paid for by them It's a write off anyway for them but apparently they aren't well versed in this.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by midiwiz

this is the only focus???? you leave out the fire dept that costs each household more. the "owner" has billions, it should be part of the provided amenities and paid for by them It's a write off anyway for them but apparently they aren't well versed in this.

You're kidding, right? At least I hope so. If not, why on God's green Earth should the "developer" pay for YOU to have protection on YOUR home against fire???? Because he has "billions"????? Another Robin Hood philosophy????
I'm sure most of us have more assets than a homeless drug addict-----let's give it away to them. Oh wait, we do---it's called charity and it is VOLUNTARY. So why not make it REQUIRED like you propose for "the developer"? A little different when the shoe is on the other foot?

[Chee-Chee]

Teachers from the northeast Have good retirements not Fla.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don't know the number of people but at a 5.59mil rate for 2023 the impact would be $278 per eligible household.

Originally Posted by midiwiz

this is the only focus???? you leave out the fire dept that costs each household more. the "owner" has billions, it should be part of the provided amenities and paid for by them It's a write off anyway for them but apparently they aren't well versed in this.

The question was about the impact on taxes from the particular amendment and the answer is $278 per eligible household. What other "focus" is there for an answer to that question?

The fire dept. should cost each Villager less but there are already multiple threads for that discussion.

[Ash Marwah]

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?

The Amendment 1 says not to include Flood Walls or Sea Walls as part of the Assessed value of the property. That simply means that oceanfront mansions which use the Sea Walls will pay less tax and we will end up making up the difference.

Amendment 3 says to allow Teachers and First Responders to get an extra Homestead Exemption. That only means you and I will end up paying more in taxes to make up the difference. Why not use the State Budget Surplus to raise Teachers and First Responders salaries. Teachers' pay is miserable in Florida. We are losing our children, our future to poor education system. See attached Editorial from Sumter Sun Times.

[Ash Marwah]

Fire District Referendum:
CS/HB 995: Sumter County
LOCAL BILL by Local Administration and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee ; Hage
Sumter County; Creates The Village's Independent Fire Control & Rescue District; provides boundaries; provides for district board of commissioners & membership, officers, & meetings thereof; provides powers & duties of district & board & appointment & terms of office; provides for modification of district boundaries & for amendment of charter by special act of Legislature; requires referendum.
Effective Date: only upon its approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors residing within the district voting in a referendum to be held no later than December 31, 2023
THIS IS THE WORST LAW ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR WHO HAVE NO IDEA OF EMS & FIRE PROTECTION NEEDS OF THE VILLAGES. WHAT DO THE LEGISLATORS IN MIAMI, TAMPA, JACKSONVILLE OR LEVY COUNTY KNOW ABOUT OUR NEEDS, YET THEY VOTED ON THE THIS BILL TO RAM IT DOWN OUR THROATS. THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY NONE OTHER THAN OUR OWN REP. BRETT HAGE, WHO WILL PROBABLY GET A FAT PAYCHECK IF IT IS APPROVED, JUST LIKE HIS $350,000 PAYCHECK LAST YEAR AFTER THE IMPACT FEE LAW WAS APPROVED.
I HOPE THIS NONSENSE FLORIDA LAW IS DEFEATED BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGES RESOUNDINGLY.
See the current Bulletin of POA for more details: POA4us.org/bulletin/

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Ash Marwah

The Amendment 1 says not to include Flood Walls or Sea Walls as part of the Assessed value of the property. That simply means that oceanfront mansions which use the Sea Walls will pay less tax and we will end up making up the difference.

Amendment 3 says to allow Teachers and First Responders to get an extra Homestead Exemption. That only means you and I will end up paying more in taxes to make up the difference. Why not use the State Budget Surplus to raise Teachers and First Responders salaries. Teachers' pay is miserable in Florida. We are losing our children, our future to poor education system. See attached Editorial from Sumter Sun Times.

Amendment 1 does not affect the current tax base at all. There is no loss of tax revenue so there is no difference for us to make up.

Amendment 3 does affect the tax base but does so in order to provide a limited benefit to a particular group of people. Is it what we want? The voters will soon decide.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Amendment 1 does not affect the current tax base at all. There is no loss of tax revenue so there is no difference for us to make up.

Amendment 3 does affect the tax base but does so in order to provide a limited benefit to a particular group of people. Is it what we want? The voters will soon decide.

There is some discussion that seawalls cause erosion of beaches and other unprotected properties. Making seawalls cheaper to have would not be a good thing.

[RickyLee]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Florida does not have a state income tax.

I think that was the point being made

[ron32162]

Vote NO!