The Readers: Tax Cuts, Library Hours, Save Our Homes

There's tons of e-mail this week so I've broken it into multiple posts. Let's start with one taxpayer's observation about the "tax relief'' property owners are getting:

I really don't know what they are doing, but we just received our tax statements like everyone else. Perhaps this is of some use if you should be looking into numbers. We have some rental properties. Our assessed values are still going up. One went up $39,000. Another $8,000. Another $8,000. Another $22,000. Another $5,000. One dropped $10,000 (the most valuable one at about 2-3 times the value of the above ones. Whoopee) One dropped $3,000. Our homestead of course increased by 3%. Smoke and mirrors? They must think we are stupid. -- Ulf Lindroth

Well, at least tax RATES must be capped this year -- rolled back below last year's values, even -- which absorbs part if not all of the increase in values. But the point is well-taken and shows that as long as homestead and non-homestead property is treated differently, the non-homestead property will remain at the mercy of the property appraiser.

Today the paper said another cut back would be to close the main [St. Petersburg] library on Saturday.  What the heck (being a lady) are they thinking?  For heaven's sake close it two days during the week if it costs that much to run it on a Saturday!  When can students/working people have the best access...duh, Saturday?  Howard, I just don't understand!  I think it's another scare tactic and I don't like it! -- Bonnie

Bonnie, I could not agree more. I was pretty steamed to see that in the paper, especially with them trying to claim that they had "softened" the impact of the tax cuts. I think this is a prime example of punishing the citizens first, for daring to ask for tax relief. I still think the city decided to hurt the people as much as possible without making any serious structural changes to the government.

I was wondering why your newspaper printed a story on Wed. 8/29/07 with the title "Exemption Might Not Be So Super".  I wonder because  I can't figure out what isn't "Super" about it. The article uses a chart which assumes a 7% annual real estate appreciation.  Perhaps the writers haven't been reading the newspaper.  Real estate prices are sinking and will continue to fall for several more years.  The normal market growth rate was 5% prior to 2001 when prices went crazy. The Save-Our-Home exemption is $25,000.  The Super Homestead Exemption is 75% on the first $200,000 in value of a home or $150,000.  Not including an additional 15% of the next $300,000, it would take more than 20 years before the switch, from Save-Our-Home to Super Exemption, would cost me money. My guess is that  those who plan to stay in their current homes, for an 25 additional years, and  those whose homes are valued at more than $500,000 should keep the SOH.  Give the rest of us the option. -- gozimok

Thanks, gozimok. I am not sure Reader #1 above agrees that property values are falling. I don't think 7 percent is unrealistic compared against historical trends, BUT you do make a key point. The "super homestead" benefit depends on (1) how fast values rise and (2) how long you stay put. In general, the benefit WILL be wiped out after X number of years, depending on those factors. So there's a tradeoff between the intermediate and the long terms. If "super homestead' passes in the Jan. 29 referendum, then each homeowner in Florida will have to make that calculation of the tradeoff.

Comments

[Ron]

Howard, The Super Homestead also depends on a third factor: 3) How long have you been in your home.

700,000 Florida Children in poverty... let's hear some of *your* ideas about "serious structural changes to the government" that would help these kids.

[Boo Boo]

Please keep reminding people. If you give up your SOH you will be at the mercy of the Property "Appraiser". Lets break down that word App "raiser" and thats what can happen. Your $150,000 cookie cutter home is now app"raised" at $250,000. You can be taxed out of your shoes. You can scream and yell and you want and you will be told "you asked for it". I say vote NO on the Super Duper Homestead Exemption. Make them go back and give us something we can all live with, Homeowners, businesses and the guy that owns a few rental properties. I don't mind paying my fair share but the key word is FAIR.

[David Mathews]

Hello Everyone,

I cannot believe that these people are worried about property and taxes when they should instead worry about the future existence of St. Petersburg and Florida's coastline.

Alaska is a long way from Florida but it is ideally situated to feel the impacts of climate change, and these changes are occurring so quickly as to terrify scientists.

NPR has an excellent two-part series discussing this very matter, a little longer than 1:30 altogether:

"From the tundra to the glaciers to the permafrost, Alaska and the Arctic are changing with the changing climate.

"Join Ira Flatow and guest in this hour of Science Friday, live from Fairbanks, Alaska, for a look at how climate change is re-shaping our northernmost state. How will a change in temperature affect the plants and animals that make their homes here?"

http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2007/Jun/hour1_060807.html

"Climate change is happening faster in Alaska than in almost any other place. Residents are already seeing the effects of warming--and none more so than the state's Native residents.

"From villages in the Alaskan interior to coastal towns, warming temperatures, melting sea ice, and thawing ground are changing traditional hunting practices, bringing new health threats, and causing never-before-seen changes to the land. In this hour, we'll talk about Alaskans and climate change.

"Plus, putting a price tag on climate change. A new study says damage to roads, utilities, and other public infrastructure could cost the state billions of dollars.:

http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2007/Jun/hour2_060807.html

There is also dramatic physical evidence of the Arctic melting:

http://www.nsidc.org/news/press/2007_seaiceminimum/images/20070828_extent.png

What sort of relevance do Alaska and the Arctic sea ice have to Florida's local politicians?

Changes are occurring at a swift and ever-accelerating pace. Greenland's icecap is melting. The glaciers are melting.

And the sea levels are rising. Florida will lose some of its major cities to the ocean: Miami, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville ... they are all in danger.

Hurricanes are becoming more powerful. There are two storms forming out in the Atlantic. One of these monsters will eventually wipe us out.

All the while Floridians are distracted by such trivial things as property, taxes, consumer products, television and the American Way of Life.

Florida needs to cease all development along the coast. Florida needs to begin moving populations away from the danger zones to higher elevations which are protected from the storm surge. Given the huge excess in property from the Housing Bubble, it should be relatively easy (now) to empty the most dangerous territory along the coast and move people inland.

Florida needs to place a greater value upon human life than the greed, profits and revenues of the developers. Nature is going to take our coast whether we like it or not. It is best to allow Nature to take its course rather than pay a price in human life for our arrogance against well-known natural threats.

[Andy G]

Closing your main public library on Saturdays while still funding St. Pete Grand Prix and the Devel Rays? I thought our little Gulfport government acted foolishly sometimes. You St. Pete folks must be embarrassed to death by yours.

[Sara Moore]

The city budget cuts are not only affecting the city libraries as last week I was greatly saddened when I learned that my 5th grade students will not receive the DARE program that the St.Pete Police Department has provided in the past.Through the years that I have worked with the program there have been exceptional officers who have dedicated some of their career to the education of our students. Sure teachers will fill the void and continue the students education on drug awareness resistance education, but we will not have the same impact as a police officer dressed in full uniform presenting the information to the students. In the long run besides affecting the students who are at the time in their school career getting ready for middle school where peer presure will be great,the tax payers will pay,as less drug awareness education enables drug abuse. I understand the taxpayers want relief,but I don't think the $20 I'll be saving is worth it.

[Ed Cohn]

The taxing authorities are simply trying to scare the voters into believing that any property tax cuts will bring about dire consequences to the citizens of our state. It's a very shabby tactic, and it speaks for itself. While the counties are against the proposed tax cutting amendment, they really shouldn't worry. The legislation was likely DOA when it left Tallahassee at the end of the legislature's last emergency session. It's a bad proposal - not aimed at reducing taxes, but at taking away our Save Our Homes protection. Don't be misled. Vote NO! Not because you want to prevent the counties from having a temporary shortfall in revenue, but because it is bad for you, the taxpaying citizen.