Pushing the other tax plan

Outside a voting precinct in downtown St. Petersburg, Dick Richards, left, hands Henry Robello a petition for the 1.35 percent tax cap. Organizers say the plan on today's ballot is ok, but feel theirs is much better.

Richards is one of hundreds of volunteers gathering signatures, with the hope of putting the proposal before voters in November 2008 or forcing lawmakers to take it up. He said he collected about 50 petitions before noon. Robello, a Democrat, took one but said he wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Times photo | Alex Leary 

Comments

hunderds of volunteers? really?

Rollback taxes and spending to 2002 levels, and expand SOH to ALL property both residential and commercial.

Problem Solved!

[ms]

VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1

They won't get their garbage on the ballot until November of 2010 at the earliest. So, the purpose of the effort was to beat their chests ("My amendment is better than your amendment.") while confusing the voters on the issue that was actually in front of them today. I say, "Good job. Way to defeat the first opportunity that Florida voters have ever been given to reduce their own taxes in the Constitution." If they think that their junk can muster 60% after they have confused this issue into pure mud, they are sadly mistaken.

[Maverick]

A citizen initiated tax amendment that would roll back and cap taxes to 2001 levels and that would get rid of SOH is the best solution to our current tax crisis. If government had less money to spend then they would be forced with in their means. California did it and it saved their housing market.

[Will]

The latest time line for Amendment 1 (redo) in not 2008, it's 2028 by which time Florida real estate will be nearly worthless but the millage rates with be up 500 percent (along with govt. spending).

[matt]

Listen up. We need to raise the sales tax 1% and lower the milage rate 1% If we don't Will is right, FL real estate will be worthless. Most Floridians don't understand the problem. It's not just investors but every commercial property like restaurants, grocery stores, retail, etc... are getting killed by the higher taxes and we are all paying it as it is passed on to the consumers. We need real tax reform one that doesn't widen inequities but narrows or eliminates them.

[matt]

Additonally, we are all so concerned about our homesteads, meanwhile our property values plumet 30-40%. Ask yourself is it worth saving $500-$1000 per year, while your home loses 30-40% in value.

[Sick of Irresponsible GOP]

Yeah Maverick, it saved their housing market long enough for all the investors to take their profits and then reality caught up with them and they are in an even worse mess now. But them when you neocons have cut local govenment too deep to function any longer, you can point the finger at what a poor job they're doing and cry "privatize". Am I right, fascist?