Attacking home rule?

UPDATE: An amendment to remove the language failed 14-16 on mostly party lines. It failed in the Senate as well. House Democrats also failed to advance an amendment that would have made the low-income senior tax break (which will cost $2.6-billion over four years and cut into school budgets) a local option.

-----

A provision of the tax proposal that would allow the Legislature to limit the taxing authority of local government is drawing bipartisan fire in the House this morning.

"It's demeaning and in some ways insulting to our legislative partners," said Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville, a former city council member. Said Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors: "I am amazed by our arrogance in doing this ... This flies in the face of home rule."

The clause states, "By general law, the legislature shall limit the authority of counties, municipalities and special districts to increase ad valorem taxes." Similar language was inserted into the previous amendment, drawing complaints from cities and counties that it violates a constitutional authority over establishing millage rates.

Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park defended the measure. Limits imposed under the rollback in June worked to cut more than $2-billion in taxes at a local level, he said. The dispute arose in the lawsuit over the previous constitutional amendment, but a circuit judge ruled against Weston Mayor Eric Hersh on that score. Hersh is considering an appeal.

Comments

I have absolutely no problem with this. The FL Legislature is there to pass state laws. If the citizens of Florida want state to limit the outlandish drunken spending of local government, so be it. This part has already passed court muster twice too.

Local governments had their chance to really reduce spending, but refused. Now they reap what they sow.

HOW DARE YOU EXPECT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTROL MEASURES?

WE’RE DRUNK SAILORS, AND WE’RE PROUD OF IT. SCREW THE TAX PAYERS; WE NEED OUR CRACK (TAXES)! … hic’up, hey, is that a new condo development over there?

[Omega83]

10:22

do you not see the utter hypocrisy in a GOP Legislature - who professes to be the party of limited government - in even supporting this?

10:22, get a clue. It was the LEGISLATURE that increased local school property taxes by half a billion dollars THIS YEAR.

that is disappointing from Rep. Cannon. I was hopeful he would be less of a "Rubio style" leader.

I bet if the judge had sided with Hersh, they'd label him an "activist"

I am disappointed in Cannon too. I have always known him to be a limited government conservative.

This is Tallahassee Big Brother