Attacking a tax plan 'that just doesn't add up'

Gov. Charlie Crist is eager to use his bully pulpit to promote January’s property tax measure. His opponents have their own weapon: a pipeline to Florida's public school teachers.

The Florida Education Association is mailing its 137,000 members a splashy color flier that ridicules the size of the tax cut while sounding alarms about the impact on school budgets. (click here and here for rest of flier)

“Amendment #1 - A bad deal for schools, students and YOU,” the flier reads, next to a photograph of a teacher banging his head on a chalkboard. The mailer includes postcards people can send to request absentee ballots to vote “from the comfort of your own home.”

The flier, which was coupled with a recorded message to teachers, represents the first push in an anticipated effort to defeat the plan, which will appear on the Jan. 29 ballot.

Next week, the teachers union will join forces with the Florida AFL-CIO, firefighters and others to announce further steps, which could include a Web site, radio ads and targeted mail.

For his part, Crist is gearing up for a high-profile campaign that will include stops around the state — on Friday, he goes to Orlando — and television ads, provided proponents can raise requisite millions.

The plan calls for increasing the $25,000 homestead exemption to about $40,000, allowing people to transfer their accrued Save Our Homes benefit when they move to a new home and providing a 10 percent annual assessment cap for businesses and second homes.

It would cut about $9.2-billion in taxes over five years, according to the latest estimate. (The previous total was $12.4-billion, but a worsening housing market is expected to translate into fewer people moving. That included about $2.8-billion in cuts to school budgets; the revised number is $1.5-billion.)

Either way the aggregate cut is immense. But the teachers union notes that an average person who does not intend to move would save $240 from the higher homestead exemption.

“An average middle class Florida homeowner will get less than $20 a month while facing drastic cuts in our local fire services, law enforcement and our schools,” the flier states.

It seeks to catch teachers, bus drivers, aides and secretaries where it hurts most -- asserting that under the cuts “raises will be wiped out..school services eliminated...jobs will be cut.”

The FEA had previously announced its opposition to the property tax plan but had held off on doing anything in deference to Crist.

The governor had met with FEA President Andy Ford and said he would take steps to ensure the money would be replaced. Crist, however, can only urge the Legislature to act; it is up to lawmakers to form the budget.

Republican leaders have pledged to hold schools “harmless” but the worsening economy has already forced them to cut $1.1-billion from the state budget, and they face an additional $1.4-billion shortfall.

“The governor believes this is a good idea and will spur the economy and we’ll find money somewhere,” FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s real hard for us to believe.”

Comments

Is that a photo of a young Charlie Crist trying to figure out his popularity rating after this amendment fails miserably?

Pretty weak. Most teachers will just toss it.

Weak is charitable. The inside of this mail piece reads like the user manual for the Space Shuttle.

Amateurs.

The other side will eat these guys alive.

here's what i don't understand -- if it's so bad for education funding, then why did so many democrats and even moderate republicans vote for this thing?

can someone please explain?

Ya, but Amendment 1 is GOOD for taxpayers-- you know, the people who foot the bill.

I like the use of 1980s stock art!

Taxpayers, go to this link to see how you will benefit:

www.yeson1florida.com/

I want my $240!

That kid must attend a public school.

7:22, I went to that website. It is not very good. It does not say anywhere how much the average Floridian will save. Also, if this plan is so good, how come only 2,152 people have signed up for it? Looks superficial and weak.

That kid must be taught by a dues-paying FEA member.

[Lee]

The inside of the brochure makes the teacher look pitiful. I don't know how it can ever be good for a teachers' organization to cast a teacher in such a negative light. Teachers are strong, vital and capable.

At least they didn't use a little old lady.

[terminator]

I agree with Andy Ford and FEA that Amendment One needs to be defeated but not for the same reason.

Charlie and Ken's plan (and Geller's) is weak and won't do anything to kick start Florida's economy.

If that's the best they can do then they're pathetic.

Marco's plan is a lot better. Wait till the CBRC gets done. We'll at least have a couple of good amendments to push.

In the meantime....cutpropertytaxesnow.com

[Florida Democrat]

Pretty compelling campaign by the FEA, and definitely a worthy one.

[Timbo]

Although Floridians need tax relief, there are things in this bill that most people don't know about. For example, it eliminates the $25,000 additional exemption for qualifying seniors (under the assumption that doubling the HX is a reasonable replacement). It also requires an annual application for the 10% cap on non-HX properties which is major hassle. The devils in the details.

the 10% cap for biz is an insult

[Omega83]

BUSINESS BEWARE!!!!

Under SOH 3%, in lean years where assessment growth is >3%, property tax appraisers can raise taxes UP TO the 3% level...It happened in 1994 and 1995.

WHAT IN THIS AMENDMENT PREVENTS THEM FROM DOING THE SAME, ONLY UP TO 10%??!!

Can terminator assist me in understanding how Proposal #1 hurts public schools more than the Rubio backed 1.35% plan. My estimates suggest that the Rubio amendment would cost schools well over $10 billon over the same five year period that Proposal #1 is supposed to cost $2.8 billion. Can he answer any questions honestly and without insults? The most honest answer about most questions for him would be that he doesn't have a single clue . . . but we'll see if he even takes a weak shot at a NUMBER for this one.

[hlvb]

terminal,

your small-brained thoughts appear yet again.

crist has more allies than all opponents combined. you have under-estimated him twice before.

thrice is the charm; may your sub-prime mortgage do you harm.

hasta

[HELLO NEIGHBOR]

TERMINATOR LIVES IN SOUTHWOOD. HIS UNLUCKY GIRLFRIEND PAYS THE BILLS.

Hello Neighbor, are you trying to suggest that George Lemieux is the Terminator, and Charlie Crist pays all his bills?

[Wiseguy]

I'm not ready to vote "yes" on this thing.

[Boo Boo]

It will be all smoke & mirrors anyway. By the time it comes up for vote everyone will be so confused it wont matter.

This does not go far enough - revenue from property taxes in Tallahassee doubled in the past 6 years... and we are no better off for it.

Vote yes on this amendment AND support the 1.35 cap, AND support any other initiative that reigns in local government waste.

If it "doesn't add up"; if it is soooo bad, why are all these groups fighting so hard against it? Wouldn't it be obvious if it were so bad?

Isn't it more like the plan will stop the gravy train cold for some and those are the people attacking it.

[terminator]

it seems some individuals are fearful of Marco and cutpropertytaxesnow.com!

Hasta: we'll see come January 29th!
the good Mr. Crist may have some explaining to do on January 30th.
I don't think the "people" will be amused.

10:22
you and I both know the large school districts have a lot of fat to be cut.
no more six figure jobs for friends of friends and money pissed away on useless gimmicky programs that benefit cronies.
c'mon, you're not kidding anybody.

Termie..."Marco's plan"? It is not HIS plan...the Amendment 1 was passed by him...and he voted for it..that is HIS plan. As for the 1.35 solution..it SUX! It would necessarily require that we do away with Save Our Homes and it would not provide meaningful relief to everyone. Amendment 1 is here...it is real...portability would be huge for the real estate market....don't put your hopes in to a useless plan that won't be effective (if ever passed) until 2011...

[CHRISTIE]

everyone seems to be forgetting that none of these tax plans were created and voted on because people really believe in them, no matter what anyone says. They were created to provide a quick fix and shut up screaming voters. All of these are about politics and nothing else. All of the plans do more harm than good. Lawmakers voted on them because they knew not passing something would be political suicide.

Whether you like it or not, taxes are a necessity. Blaming taxpaying teachers and other government workers does not solve the fact that we need money to pay for services that are critical to the survival of the state. There are problems with the system, plenty of built-in inequities. But a quick fix ten years ago is how we got into this mess. No quick fix will get us out. Say no to any tax plan and wait for the tax and budget reform commission to release its findings.

[John]

Although, the current Amendment 1 (supported by Gov Crist) does not do enough for relief, I will still vote YES. Let's get it passed and work to get much more meaningful relief.

The 1.35% tax plan is a great amendment that is similiar to Prop 13 in California that revolutionalized property tax relief.

VOTE YES on 1
VOTE YES on 1.35% plan
VOTE YES on all property tax relief.

Always vote the opposite of what unions supports!

Thus I support Governor Crist & Amendment 1

Local governments are spending money like DRUNKEN SAILORS on shoreleave!!

It's time to really reign in their spending. Their budgets have literally gone up near 100% in only a few years at taxpayer's expense.
That is just insane!! Taxpayers are fed up.

the kid in the ad can't add because he's taught by the pathetic FEA teachers who ran the ad. duh

Since terminator won't answer the question posted above, will anyone who supports the 1.35% proposal provide a number for how much the proposal would cost the public schools over a five year period after it passes. The FEA is opposed to Proposition #1 because it costs the schools too much money. I don't agree with their analysis, but I saw that terminator suggested that the 1.35% amendment was better for schools. I think that this is either a lie or a boldfaced lie, but because I couldn't find a reliable fiscal analysis, I am not 100% sure. I am sure that if Marco is supporting the amendment that he has surely seen hard numbers showing its impact (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha).

[Tired and Taxed]

More money does not mean better education. I am tired of out of control government spending at all levels. The issue is not a reduction of their money....it is me keeping my money!

The teachers union would do good to promote what they have done to be more fiscally responsible with the money that is provided to them... then, and only then, they might be taken a little more seriously about their positions.

[Dave]

I am voting No on this. We need tax reform, not reduced revenue. We need to quit shifting the tax burden on new and future home owners. The only way to do this is a 1.35% tax cap. There is no reason for people that have been on SOH for many years to get tax relief! They all ready got it!

[Debbie]

Way to go CHRISTIE at 11:30 a.m. You are soooooooo correct and I agree 100%

[terminator]

2:18
No money is provided to the teacher's unions.
The money is appropriated by the legislature to the school districts.
That's where the real waste and bureaucracy lies.
The union collects dues from members who have voluntarily (Florida is a right to work state) decided to belong and contribute said dues.
That money does not finance schools, teachers, salaries, benefits, etc.
Where do you get your information from?

12:54
You know the waste is there. You must work for one of the large school districts or special interest group (FSBA, FADDS, FASA, etc.)
Get your facts straight.