TBRC panel approves spending caps

A subgroup of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission moments ago unanimously approved a sweeping proposal that would cap local and state government spending and revenue collection.

It still must pass another committee then the full TBRC.

"Taxpayers want to have a say in how government grows and how government taxes," said commissioner Mike Hogan. "Yes, they have a voice at the ballot box, but most feel this isn't working."

The measure is modeled after Colorado's voter-approved Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which said annual tax revenue increases cannot exceed the rate of inflation and population growth combined.

Hogan's proposal limits state and local spending to the rate of inflation adjusted by population and school enrollment. Property tax revenue is also limited at inflation plus growth.

Only voters could approve breaking the limits at a local level. A supermajority of lawmakers would have vote to exceed the state restriction. The base year would be 2005-06, the height of property tax collections. Hogan said he agreed to that more generous year to alleviate any obstacles in getting the proposal passed.

Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association, worried changes are being rushed without fully realizing the impact of Amendment 1. Further restrictions, he said, would only hurt schools more. "I believe this makes us below average, and proud of it, and keeps us there."

Martha Barnett shared concerns over the impact on bonding and infrastructure. She agreed with John McKay, who espoused the virtues of representative government. He went along with the proposal out of courtesy to move it to the next committee.

TABOR has had mixed results. More on that here. Adam Guillette, Florida director of Americans for Prosperity, said the difference is Colorado's base reset each year, whereas Florida's is fixed at 2005-06.

Comments

“The base year would be 2005-06, the height of property tax collections.”

That should tell you all you need to know about the earnestness of the action.

GOP - relentless in their efforts to drive our government into bankruptcy before we vote them all out of office. Wake up people - we have to pay for the services we get somehow.

This is wonderful news.

Wayne - Amendment 1 will have no impact, the locals will just raise millage to make up any difference (or according to Crist, will be appropriated). It is because of the approach the school board, unions, etc. used that Amendment 1 passed. But, after thousands of years, we all understand that steering your ship to create meaningful arguments and opposition, instead of trying to instill fear, is hard.

Still hope that Amendment 1 is deemed unconstitutional and we see an upswelling of support for this, and other true reform.

This proposal simply states that just like the rest of the population of the WORLD, governments must live within their means - i.e. the ability of people to pay taxes.

We don’t need to amend our Constitution to lower taxes!

WAKE THE HELL UP; YOU LEMMINGS!

Abolish taxes. When "government" needs money, have a referendum to approve a "levy". See how muvh money we would have gouged out of us then.

[Don Mott]

These free spending idiots need to be reined in. The only reason schools are hurting is because when the Lotto started injecting money into the system the legislature started taking money out by cutting budgets. Government will spend as much as you give them and then some. There comes a time when their wild spending ways need to be brought under control and now more than ever is the time. They need to understand that it is our money and we are the ones who should decide how it is spent, not someone who jets around the state in a tax payer funded airplane, eating steak and lobster with developers at thousand dollar receptions. At least this is a start.

"They need to understand that it is our money and we are the ones who should decide how it is spent"

Test question, Don.

Please define the term "republican form of government"

[Don Mott]

Not sure what you mean anonymous. But republic and republican can easily be accessed by looking in your dictionary. So what is your point? And why do you remain anonymous?

[John]

This is a very good bill like TABOR in Colorado, but the 1.35% PROPERTY TAX CAP BILL IS EVEN BETTER

[Philip]

The ding dongs that wrote this fail to define "unit of government" as the federal government" so fedeal grants owuld count as revenue. They include state, though.

Not a very well thought out idea

The funny thing with any new tax proposal is that after the unions fought so hard against Amendment 1 and people realize their taxes are not going down when they receive their next TRIM notice, the unions and their scare tactics will have lost all credibility.

I wonder how long the Republicans can continue to fool voters into thinking that their tax cuts favor the average citizen, rather than developers, realtors, and other wealthy campaign contributors?

Until about November.....

[marie]

Why would they want to freeze the
highest years 2005/2006? The problem is
they should let the market adjust to
market conditions, if there is a
downturn in house prices, then budget
down & make cuts. They did'nt have
any problems raising taxes when they
went up.