Sink leaning against Amendment 5

CFO Alex Sink told the Buzz Thursday that while she hasn't taken a formal position on the Constitutional Amendment 5, she's leaning against it.

If passed by 60 percent of voters, the so-called the "tax swap" amendment would eliminate most property taxes that now fund education and would plug that funding gap by directing the Legislature to consider things like increasing sales tax, eliminating sales tax exemptions and reducing spending.

"I'd like to hear the governor and legislative leaders tell the voters where the shortfall is coming from, and unless I hear that I'm not sure we ought to take a gamble," Sink said. "Education funding is very important for Floridians. Part of our economy has to be based on attracting and keeping good-paying jobs. And we can't do that without a well-educated work force."

Sink added that she's not a fan of required local effort, which is the name for taxes on property that fund education. She called it a "back-door way of the Legislature levying property taxes and leading people to believe it's their local governments levying property taxes." She would like to see more transparency and education about the required local effort funding.

Comments

[Rich]

Take away the business tax exemptions!! Give it back to the homeowners!! Yes on 5!

However, Sink comes out--I'll vote the opposite way!

[Tammy]

Alex, if I keep getting taxed to death who is going to make up MY SHORTFALL !!!!Schools have PLENTY of money...They will be fine....

[Kitchen Sink]

Sink is a joke....all she does is complain

[Paul D. Harvill]

That Tax and Budget Commission that placed this amendment and the other highly deceptive amendments on the ballot should be prosecuted for violating their oaths.

[Paul D. Harvill]

The Commission that placed this and the other highly deceptive amendments on the ballot should be prosecuted for violating their oaths.

[Paul D. Harvill]

The Taxation and Budget De-Reform Commission.

wow. guess who's running for higher office.

Sink let someone enbezzled over $1 million from state-coffers.

We'll remember that at the next election.

Of course she's against a tax cut...she is a tax and spend LIBERAL!

[Tom]

Remember Sink's background is in the Banking industry. When she is voted out of office she will need these people to get a job.

[Onega83]

As a conservative economist, I say that Sink is 100% correct in her assessment

How does squeezing the average folks while allowing a select few to own tax free businesses create a well balanced economy?

Just scrape the tax code as it is and fund the whole thing with an equal sales tax on all goods.

Everyone should enjoy the same opportunity to pay their share of government costs.

Education is a state responsibility and a constitutional requirement. However it finds the funding, the state needs to live up to its responsibility instead of passing it off in the form of Required Local Effort - aka state mandated property tax.

Has she made a suggestion on how to do away with RLE? Maybe she could make one now instead of waiting for the next Gov election.

Yes, yes, Madam CFO. Suggestions now instead of blame later would be a service to the citizens.

Who says the whole deficit needs to be made up...