Grover Norquist, the anti-tax fanatic whose Americans for Tax Reform has been influencing presidents since Ronald Reagan, once said in an interview on NPR: “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” We witnessed the Florida Legislature’s premeditated drowning of local government this week.
At the Nov. 3 election, you’ll be asked whether you want the homestead tax exemption, currently at $50,000, to increase to $150,000 in January, and to $250,000 the following year. You’ll be asked, in short, whether you want to drown local government in a bathtub. Chances are you’ll say yes, because it’s easy to hoodwink taxpayers on deceptive slogans. It’s not government that will pay the price. It’s you, as you begin to experience shoddier or absent services and end up paying far more to make up the cost than you’re paying now in taxes.
Put it this way: it will cost you more to repair your broken axle from a single neglected pothole than it would to pay your current city tax bill. Your out-of-pocket emergency room bill to treat your kid’s snake bite, resulting from lax code enforcement that allowed your neighbor to turn his yard into a jungle, will cost you more than any money you’ll save in taxes. You’ll be paying thousands more to fix your cracked driveway or load-bearing wall that but for cuts to the Building Department would have been prevented by that extra inspection. The delayed response of an ambulance to Seminole Woods, because the county couldn’t yet afford to put an ambulance at the new city Station 26, may cost you your life. All because you think you’ll save $1,500 in taxes that are still among the lowest in the country.
Will the county still afford its annual grants to the Family Life Center, the only domestic violence shelter in the county? To the Sheltering Tree, the only cold-weather shelter in the county? To Flagler Beach’s lifeguard program? Will Palm Coast be able to afford its cultural grants, those couple of school resource deputies the city and Town Center pay for, those summer programs Parks and Rec is so proud of? Probably not. And that’s just the small stuff, though shedding it from government’s responsibilities makes us all crueler and poorer. There’s also the larger stuff, like a beach-protection program, a serious resurfacing program in Palm Coast, let alone a canal-dredging program. Kiss all those goodbye.
But this is what ideology divorced from reality brings us. The governor and his lieutenants in the legislature have been lying about a homesteaded property tax crisis. You know they’ve been lying because you hardly ever see a single taxpayer complaining about homesteaded taxes in front of any of our local boards. The only time you heard a spate of those complaints was in the post-Covid years when northerners moving in were shocked that their taxes weren’t as low as their homesteaded neighbors’. But that’s on them. They didn’t do their homework. And even with the higher taxes, you know they’re paying far less than they did in New Jersey. In any case they’ve quieted down as their protected values–another way of saying tax subsidies–have kicked in.
The reason is that if you’re homesteaded, your taxes have been going down year after year. Maybe not nominally. But when adjusted for inflation, you’re giving the government about a third less today than you did 10 years ago. That’s my situation. I have a 3,000 square foot house in the P Section that I bought in 2008. I am still paying the very same $2,000 or so today as I was in 2008, even though the value of the house has nearly tripled. Just in inflation-adjusted dollars, I should have been paying $3,000. So I am paying a third less, and local governments are receiving $1,000 less in purchasing power from me.
No one can reasonably argue that the current system, created under that deceptive catchphrase “Save Our Homes,” is fair. It caps homesteaded taxable value increases at 3 percent or the year’s inflation rate, whichever is lowest, shifting the burden to non-homesteaded properties, including renters and businesses. They only get a 10 percent cap, though that would go down to 5 if the proposed amendment is adopted. They’ve been subsidizing the 60 percent of our properties that are homesteaded. It’s that inherently unequal distribution that should be reformed.
If that’s not ridiculous enough, the governor’s claim that I am overtaxed and need relief is just sheer mendacity. He wants to campaign on his quixotic 2028 presidential run as the candidate who eliminated property taxes in a state without income taxes. The Legislature went along without offering a single alternative revenue source because its own sense of social responsibility drowned in that bathtub a long time ago. That leaves you, the voter, as the last stop. And if you think that it’s only the government you’re drowning, remember that you are the government, and it’s only your quality of life, if not your life, that you’ll be drowning.
Pierre Tristam is the editor of FlaglerLive. A version of this piece airs on WNZF.
Barbara Revels says
I own rental property. All of it is rented well below the market currently. I can’t raise rents as the tenants have no where else to go to. All of the crazy scheme of homeowners taxes will come directly to me and then my tenants. These are your workers, healthcare givers, retired living on $1000 month Total from SS, lawn care workers, wait staff and on it goes. They will all have to move way west into mobile homes and then hope they can get to work. Prices for everything you pay for will go up far beyond your homestead savings. You must educate yourself and others and vote this crazy scheme down. Instead go to the budget hearings and carefully watch where your money goes to local governments.
BIG Neighbor says
I agree completely. The isolation and frustration of navigating essential services without human oversight will be immense. Combined with municipal budget cuts, this automation does more than disrupt daily life; it suggests a strategy of calculated chaos designed to break “the system.” That may be a stretch….maybe.
By disfunding local government infrastructure, those in power ensure the logistical framework for secure elections is no longer possible. This mirrors historical patterns of disenfranchisement, such as those seen in Florida, aiming for a systemic failure that justifies the cancellation of elections under the guise of necessity.
Merrill Shapiro says
Ron DeSantis’ tepid response to the passage of CS/SJR 2-F: Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes was muted because of his displeasure that changes in real estate taxes for public schools were taken out of the bill. Destroying public education looms large as a DeSantis goal. He would rather see private, mostly religious schools thrive at the expense of the kind of education called for in Florida’s Constitution, Article IX, Section 1, Paragraph (a): The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education.
(The comment section needs an editor facility so that italics can be used for clarity!)
Marci Irwin says
I am concerned that although every space is stacked with new homes that tax base has still not allowed for the chance to do any of the things mentioned here. The taxes have gone up so much in 10-15 yrs no one makes that much extra to pay and homes are falsely given worth just to collect more taxes. Yes going to meetings is nice but many work to keep our home taxes paid and repairs done. The money needs oversight and expenses scrutinized to ask do we want this or need this. Did we need that taj mahall of a court house in Flagler county that sits for millions of dollars NO and manipulated more examples across county and city limits. More things are broken as the dense residency has been built outside its capacity who pays for that as mentioned with infrastructure, if you need to pay
Laurel says
Houses are not “falsely given worth just to collect more taxes.” Where did you get that?
Like everything else, price is set by supply and demand. Investors, buy up properties, and set the prices. If you look at what your home is worth, and look at the “market value” set by your property appraiser, you’ll see that the latter is surprisingly less.
Ed P says
HJR1 establishes residency requirements needed to qualify for the increased exemption.
Specifically taxpayers who move to Florida in 2027 or later, would receive a much lower homestead exemption of only $50,000 after establishing residency, for their first 5 years of homestead in the state.
The expanded homestead exemption for current homesteaders will be stepped in over 2 years.
Eliminating such a sizeable share of Florida’s property taxes base does not reduce the cost of providing local government services. The lost revenue will be generated elsewhere. Possibly higher millage, higher sales taxes, higher fees, or other creative tax changes, like tax on foods and labor charges. It’s inevitable.
There should not be a seismic reduction of services provided. Draconian cuts should not occur.
Why?
Every local politician wants to keep their job, they are and will be scrambling to ameliorate the disruptions. However, programs like beach nourishment that isn’t currently funded, will die on the vine.
Personally, I don’t support the bill, but I am resigned to the fact that the general public can’t resist voting against anything from Santa Claus.
The indirect costs could burden younger working families. It could also transfer costs to the big spenders in Florida. The retiree who isn’t moving, on a fixed income, might be the only segments realizing benefits.
Perplexed James says
The FL Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that durational residency requirements for an enhanced homestead tax exemption was unconstitutional. The current proposal doesn’t seem to have a response or fix for the basic unconstitutionality of the disparate treatment between taxpayers.
Ed P says
Hello James,
The law makers were aware of the 1982 ruling of Ostendorf v. Turner.
The court ruled that a statute granting an enhanced homestead ad valorem tax exemption to homeowners who had been Florida residents for 5 consecutive years was unconstitutional.
However, if this proposed revamp is enacted as a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters it effectively overrides the limitations that was present during Ostendorf. Thus allowing the plan to go forward.
The 60% voters threshold resolves any conflict.
Rick G says
You have made a very cogent and clear point Pierre. As a former county Tax Collector who collected and distributed tax revenues, I know there are other lawful means to help reduce one’s tax burden if they own their home. The grants awarded by the counties would be hit the hardest. These grants provide a safety net of sorts for those less fortunate than us homeowners may be. Plus the “quality of life” for Floridians will decline rapidly. This is nothing more than a political ploy that sounds good but will have a totally adverse effect on society as a whole. I guess the Governor is counting on people’s greed to get this passed. I hope pragmatism wins the day.
Deborah Coffey says
My feelings exactly and thank you, Pierre.
Skibum says
This is the exact type of every day issue facing adults where critical thinking skills and common sense need to be used. Government works best when it is closest to the people. The services our local city and county governments provide, both essential life safety services as well as quality of life services, are in fact necessary for the vast majority of our citizens. While you may not use a specific service such as the library, or adult education, or need transportation options, it is a horrible, immoral stance to in essence say I don’t need that service so those who do can just do without in order for me to get a break on property taxes.
Services that this community and others throughout the state cost money to provide. If a huge chunk of tax revenue is taken away from local governments, there are really only two options left. Either services the community wants and/or needs will have to be eliminated, or another tax source needs to be implemented to keep services that otherwise would have to be cut. And this article is right on about the very real potential of bad decisions by voters resulting in higher, unanticipated costs to taxpayers down the road. Voters really need to think hard before supporting such a scheme and biting off their nose to spite their face.
Laurel says
Skibum: You brought up the word “community.” You make an excellent point. There seems to be an underlining attack on community that bothers me. We are a community, and a community works together for the good of all its members. It appears that there are those, for selfish reasons, who want to break down the community. We’re still in “divide and conquer” mode. This is intentional.
I have resisted, in the past, the comment “if you don’t like it, leave.” But today, I’ll say it to the people who don’t understand, the way you do, what community is. Florida has been one of the cheapest, most hospitable, affordable, environmentally beautiful places to live, with no state income tax, beaches, lakes, recreation and sunny weather, yet, those of you, who don’t understand or care, complain. Many of you come from elsewhere, and want it all for free. Some of you are willing to bust your community for it, are willing to break down the state, and take from it all you can.
It doesn’t work that way. As Skibum, and others have stated, the services will become more unaffordable, and far more reduced. Tax money doesn’t just disappear and the services improve, that’s the stuff of unicorns. If you don’t like it, as it is, then go.
Or, stop asking for handouts, participate in community, and keep Florida strong.
Ed P says
Hello Skibum,
Some good points, but my memory is longer than some. Remember beach nourishment? Your outlook that even if you don’t use a resource, it’s a horrible immoral choice just to save a buck. How many of our neighbors proclaimed they didn’t use the beach? Hmm…
Other thought is the inequitable burden being placed on newer/higher appraised homes inhabited by the “evil northerners” immigrants invading quiet old Florida that many local residents wish to maintain.
Does it at least appear a bit lopsided that many of these newer residents are paying 2,3,4,5, or even 10 times as much as existing residents?
Don’t most people use similar public services? Why should the newer residents be paying the bulk, allowing for the current “discounted” amounts enjoyed by existing residents? And most existing don’t realize the benefit they derive from these newbees.
They will now…
Laurel says
Because we have been paying into this system, here, for decades, and sometimes lifetimes. The newer folks paid much more up north than they are paying here, and calling it “unfair.”
There is a new, three story, two building house in the neighborhood. Should it pay the same as the little house next to it that has been here for generations? How about the trailers, push them out? You are for gentrification?
Ed P says
Hello Laurel,
What happened to your endorsement of the community concept? Wouldn’t a couple living next door to you or the trailer park use similar public services just like the people living here a lifetime? If yes, why should they pay so much more? Where’s your sense of “fairness”?
Additionally, the new proposal will still have “your neighbor” paying more but not several times more.
This is not a flat tax proposal so that new, bigger, more expensive house still pays more.
You are also way off base on the implication that gentrification will be an unintentional consequence.
Laurel says
No, gentrification will be an intentional consequence. As it is now, it is very hard to replace a trailer in a neighborhood where it originated, but no problem putting in a home the size of a hotel.
Taxation has been a set method for a very long time. Taxation and assessments are usually calculated by square footage, impervious areas, price of sale, appurtenances, and so on. This is nothing new.
It is completely normal that if you buy something for $100.00, you pay $7.00 tax. If you buy something for $10.00, you pay $0.70 tax. If you buy a 1995 Camry, you may pay $2K plus tax and fees. If you buy a 2026 Land Rover, you may pay $90K, plus tax and fees; both vehicles use the same road, do they not? Should they be taxed the same? As older home buyers, our taxes increase as well, but we have the 3% cap to help prevent the lower income, and fixed income folks keep their homes.
If you don’t like the price of homes today, look at the investors.
Is it so different up north, where most of y’all come from? Do northern states, that collect state income taxes, tax mansions the same as trailers? Is it so much more “fair” up north that you really had to think hard to come here? I doubt it. Do you think that the multistory mansion on the beach should want me to pay the same assessment for their back yard beach restoration that I cannot access? Where is your sense of fairness?
Before this DeSantis fiasco, I’d never heard anyone complain that the way different homes here have been taxed as “unfair”. This is new. DeSantis, et al, want people to believe that Florida is now free, where apparently, before, it wasn’t. There is no such thing as a free lunch, which is what he is selling with no plan for the effects.
The reason I don’t like responding to your comments is that you have a tendency to twist comments around. You make it sound as if anyone who disagrees with you, consider wealthy people “evil.” You twist words in an unreasonable, condescending way. You attack my “sense of community.” That’s absurd.
Laurel says
Allow me to add to the “fairness” aspect of the conversation.
Years ago, we had a hurricane in south Florida. I drove to work the next morning. I had a choice between Dixie Highway, or A1A, and obviously, A1A is much more scenic and calm; a really beautiful drive. I chose A1A often.
That morning, I drove over the bridge east to A1A, when I was stopped by the Manalapan Police. Manalapan is on the barrier island, and is one of the most exclusive, wealthy areas in all of Florida. I was told the road was closed, and I’d have to turn around and take another route. There was no physical reason to close that section of A1A. The road wasn’t washed out, there were no trees down, and so on. But, both ends of Manalapan were closed to through traffic.
As y’all know, A1A is a road owned, and maintained, by the State of Florida; it is a public road. That road was closed to protect the residents of that town, and there was no other reason. That doesn’t happen on other public roads, but A1A was treated as if private; it was treated as if the good folks of Manalapan owned it exclusively.
As I was alone, it was still dark out, and I explained I was a civil servant on my way to work, I apparently was no threat to the people of Manalapan, and the officers let me pass. That’s how I know that the road had no damage, and therefore should have been left open to the public. These houses are well off the road, there are no pullovers, and the security systems are very high with cameras everywhere.
So, sometimes, when it comes to fairness, some folks are more equal than others. We don’t always use the public roads the same.
Skibum says
Ed P… my property taxes are based on the value of the real estate property that I own, both the lot my home sits on and the adjoining vacant next to it that I also own. The equation for assessed value is the same for every homeowner, so if, as you say, newer residents are paying up to 10 times as much as existing residents that is only because the assessed property value of their property is much higher than that of, say, someone who has lived here for 40 years in an older, smaller home. Does it not make sense that people who own more valuable property pay more in property taxes? I don’t understand your problem with that because it makes perfect sense to me unless I am completely misunderstanding your point.
Ed P says
Hello Skibum,
You miss the point.
A 30 year homesteaded/protected property absolutely pays a lower % than a new or non homesteaded property. Even 2 identical properties with identical market value.
But let’s explore the concept that a newbie in a $2,000,000 property pays $30,000 while someone in that 30 year homesteaded $400,000 house pays $3,000. Makes sense? Why? True, the millage is the same and is based on appraised value minus the protected portion or capped amount.
We all breathe the same air and drive on the same roads and attend the same public schools.
So you believe the matrix is fair because a tax, any tax is regressive or because the $2,000,000 property owner uses 10 times more public services or simply he should pay more because he can?
Skibum says
I understand your point better now, but that is exactly the point of a property tax exemption for certain people who qualify to receive it. We also qualify for and receive a disabled homeowner exemption because my spouse is disabled and wheelchair bound, and therefore qualifies for that small additional tax cut as well. Are you going to argue that the disabled homeowner exemption is unfair as well because it allows those who qualify that specific tax break? I believe for certain that disabled individuals would happily forego this minimal tax exemption in exchange for magically having their disability erased, but that obviously is impossible.
Certain accommodations for those who qualify for certain provisions in our tax laws are appropriate, just as are other accommodations in state and federal laws for veterans, for example. But trying to compare property taxes for those who qualify for an exemption with others who, for whatever reasons do not qualify, is like trying to compare apples and oranges.
We have a disabled license plate on our car, which allows us to park in handicap parking spots, including those spots in pay parking lots without paying the parking fee. Would you try to argue that it is unfair that I get an unfair government sanctioned break on parking that you and other citizens should be able to take advantage of as well?
Life if full of benefits for certain individuals who qualify for certain privileges or accommodations. If you would like to take advantage of benefits that most other younger Americans do not qualify to receive, join AARP… they have some nice perks!
Ed P says
Hello Skibum,
Personally, I do not have any issues with any special homestead exceptions. The issue is paying public service fees based on an assessed value.
My point is public services are similar to refuse pick up, electric rates, water and sewer rates.
Why are schools, roads, emergency services or any other “service” predicated on the value of one’s home? Why should the value of a larger home subsidize and “overpay” for a smaller home?
Every service has a known cost and this new tax overhaul will potentially do just that.
We all pay the actual cost of each service provided by local government no different than trash pickup.
Skibum says
Thanks for the clarification
Laurel says
Yes! My grandmother bought a really nice home, three bedroom, two bath, large living room, and Florida room, in a nice neighborhood in Ft. Lauderdale for $17K! She put in a pool and large patio for less than $3K. That was around 1966. God knows what that house is worth today!
My first home, purchased 30 plus years later, a two bedroom, one bath, with Florida room and no garage or carport, in Lake Worth, cost me $60K. The last time it sold was for $370K, about five or six years ago. Why anyone thinks my grandmother’s home should reflect a tax increase equivalent to a house worth near a million dollars today, or my old house, that sold for nearly 400K, should be taxed at the same rate as 30-40 years ago, is beyond me.
Gail says
Re:newer residents’ tax bill vs. those who, like me, are enjoying the benefits of living in our same house for over 25 years. Our tax bill is under $2,000. Check out the tax bills (public information folks!) of Grand Reserve residents, I looked at downsizing into a 55+ neighborhood: I believe they are All $6,000 annually.
For those on a limited income, like SS- that’s a lot of money. Add in the exorbitant amount many pay for homeowners insurance, health insurance, there’s not much left for food and recreation!
I am not in favor of this by the way. Until our governor tells me how he’s going to pay for community services!
Dee says
I don’t know what you are talking about whoever wrote this article but I moved here in 2005…my taxes have never gone down..they increase every yr so stop the BS…Also yes the burden to pay more on non homestead property is fair..these snowbirds don’t live here all year..I’m sure there are a lot of us that would love to own two houses..
This is a good proposal and I hope it passes..school taxes won’t be affected…maybe Palm Coast needs to stop paying high salaries to it’s city workers and buying new equipment and trucks all the time…there are mechanics to repair these trucks…make them do their job…
Al says
If you believe that the local and county governments don’t waste your tax money then I have a bridge for sale. The government is very generous with tax money, pay raises for everyone on their payroll, trips to go see things that could be done on the internet. Everytime the government gets a raise us homeowners get a pay cut. If you don’t feel you pay enough in taxes nothing stops you from sending in a check, put your money where your mouth is. Maybe one day you’ll see a county work crew were there are 2 people working instead of 1 working and 2 watching with a 3rd supervising. All the scare tactics are just smoke in the wind, they mean nothing. Next we’ll hear about police and fire depts being cut but you never hear about the commissioners staff being cut do you. If these politicians were really public servants then they should get only minimum wage for the hours they actually work.
Tired of it says
No, you won’t see a county work crew with with only 2 working and three doing nothing…you just won’t see a county work crew at all.
Laurel says
I disagree with you and Al. Most civil service workers want to solve the problems we have. It’s often management that paralyses them.
Dennis C Rathsam says
And they say Im crazy, just another democrat predicting doom & gloom. If Charlie Crist proposed this they’d name a hyway after him.
Laurel says
Well, here’s the rub Stanley. Charlie Christ would never have proposed such an open ended thing.
Pogo says
The project that ascended with jeb! has not changed; not even the people — their children have carried it onward and downward. Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, and all the originals are laughing their fat asses off in hell and grinning like mad dogs that died with a smile. The Bush family steakhouse for children with oil depletion credit on their 1040 has marched in a goddamn straight line every step of the way.
The Democratic Party from the state level down has been a circus of vain dilletantes, good intentions, and the myopic focus on the electoral college by a national machine that harped on glass ceilings, intersectionality, and the like, while the Republican Party operated like Murder Incorporated — literally.
Trump wasn’t an accident, help is not on the way.
The dude says
Welcome to Q2 of the 21st century.
We were supposed to have jet packs and a cure for cancer now…
Instead we have screwworms, wars of choice, white supremacy and fascism run amok the world over.
Everything old is new again. Hate just moves at the speed of light these days.
Pogo says
Give some credit where it’s due:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=vain+dilettantes&form=ANNTH1&refig=6a24376885f14dab9872555c729a8c36&pc=U531
Also, see the comment that follows yours for irrefutable evidence that stupidity is chronic.
Laurel says
I thought by the time I would be 50, that we would no longer have telephone poles and drive around on rubber tires! I figured we’d be zipping around on cushions of air.
Oh well.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Speaking of TRUMP….. Friday showed the economy added172,000 jobs in May! Nearly double what the economist expected. These are the strongest job numbers of TRUMPS administration. All this happening despite the war in Iran. I guess Pogo missed this one.
BillC says
The NASDAQ Composite dropped 1,121.53 points (4.18%) on Friday, June 5, 2026, closing at 25,709.43 in its worst single session since April 2025. This decline wiped out approximately $1.8 trillion from the S&P 500, driven primarily by a collapse in semiconductor stocks and fears of prolonged high interest rates following a stronger-than-expected jobs report.
Laurel says
People are selling the “wealth” to get the “money.” Many want to get in on Musk’s IPO. I’m not. It appears to be a hype.
The dude says
Fanboys are gonna take a bath on this one. I’ll wait til the dust settles before considering a buy in myself…
Skibum says
According to the irrational rationale of Dennis, drumph is personally responsible for ever single good thing that happens in America whether he is even aware (awake) or not, but he is never, ever to blame for even this idiotic craziness and chaos that he personally orchestrates and dictates to his minions on a daily basis. Cowardly confusion, or outright obsessive compulsive bullshit? I vote for the latter.
Showmaster says
If you believe any numbers coming out of this Bureau of Labor Statitics that was effectively dismantled by this administration on day one, then I’ve got a mountain in Palm Coast to sell you.
PaulT says
But not in Flagler, Dennis, even if we believe Trump’s numbers. He did fire the head of government statistics last year because he didn’t like the dismal figures she presented. Since then there appeared to be a miraculous amount of job growth but we all know Trump is an habitual liar.
And it’s not happening here is it? April saw 5.5% unemployment, the highest rate for Flagler,since the 2020 Covid shut-downs. And how many Flagler county jobs are proper full time, with benefits and pay a ‘living wage;?
Florida, particularly in this area, pay rates are derisively low and in this county the majority (mostly service industry workers) are the lowest paid.
Laurel says
Dear, trust me. Pogo doesn’t miss much.
The dude says
Welp… maybe lets have a little lookey loo at the previous president’s May job numbers…
President Biden’s May job number for all 4 years of his term:
May 2024: The U.S. economy added 272,000 jobs. The national unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.0%.
May 2023: The U.S. economy added 339,000 jobs. The national unemployment rate was 3.7%.
May 2022: The U.S. economy added 390,000 jobs. The national unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6%.
May 2021: The U.S. economy added 559,000 jobs. The national unemployment rate was 5.8%.
(who’s gonna tell Dennis?…)
I mean given the actual state of the economy and the world… I guess the orange shit stain’s May jobs numbers aren’t all THAT bad… I’m just sayin…
Lady in the Shoe says
Good for the author that bought his house here pre-pandemic and locked in that sweet grandfather rate. But for, what, half? of this county, our property taxes are popping $5k or more a year for that reg’lar ole’ 1800sf 3/2 house (let alone a 3k sf one!).
No, bring on this tax break! I’ll deal with the potholes.
I’d have a whole lot for sympathy if it weren’t for the police’s $40m office because someone got a “headache” in the paid for $4m office.
Skibum says
Believe me… you would be dealing with so much more than just potholes, dear! You have absolutely no clue what we are all going to be facing if this passes, do you?
JANET SULLIVAN says
Then how are we going to educate them? We ALL need to get involved in this educational process somehow, because we will ALL suffer from the decision.
Skibum says
I agree 100%. I’m trying to do my best to bring truth to those who will listen.
The Dude says
I see the usual dullards are on board.
This will blow holes in local government budgets. And those holes WILL be filled somehow.
MAGA morons thump their little bird chests and proclaim it will stop wasteful spending… it will not. Wasteful spending is coming from the top down. Alligator Alcatraz, hundreds of millions to fly immigrants from Texas to other states, tens of millions to meatball Ron’s wife’s “charity”… none of this will stop.
Once again our dull MAGA friends fall for the man selling magic beans.
Truthspeaker says
Pierre really doesn’t know what he’s talking about.I don’t even know why he attempts to talk about these things.His understanding of tax policy is elementary. The way the system is set up right now.It explicitly hits young families because young families are the ones buying newer homes and subsidizing everybody else’s government services.They are paying 3 or $4000 a year in property taxes.And probably use very little , especially a young couple who is in a healthy age range who borrow new house as subsidizing everybody else. Local governments had an insane amount of revenue over the past 5 or 6 years and refused to cut milage, or even think about reduced spending.So now people are upset and entire county is built on a real estate policy theme with no commercial industry.You’re basically hoping that people continue buying and eating the taxes for everybody else that makes no sense.
Laurel says
Omg.
The dude says
No no no…
Hear him out here.
Young people look at the world and see the Epstein class ascendent, wealth trickling up at speeds never ever seen before, and their middle class parents pondering whether it will be dry dog food or canned in their retirement… who would have children in this environment?
These young folks will be buying houses, but won’t need schools and junk…
DaleL says
It is curious that the homestead exemption referendum bill was rushed through the legislature at breakneck speed in this mid-term election year. What sort of voters are likely to turn out to vote for such a measure? Is this really so much about taxes? Or is it about getting more anti-government voters (MAGA) to the polls?
If this greatly expanded homestead exemption was really such a great idea, why or why was it rushed like it was? It is a hoax; a sleight of the hand parlor trick. It is an attempt by Republicans to stave off defeat at the ballot box.
Pogo says
We have a winner. Recall how Dubya stole home in 2000 and then won in 2004, not on any merit whatever but by the GOP machine putting LGBTQ marriage on the ballot everywhere to whip up their turnout.
As long as the chickens keep voting for Col. Sanders, feather pillows will be plentiful.
Laurel says
Pogo: So true!
Lisa says
If my yearly taxes get cut in 1/2 or even reduced by $1,000 or even $1,500 and my utility bill gets reduced by $60.00 which will put it back where it was when I moved here I will be happier than a pig in poop.
Laurel says
Grab your nose plugs.
Skibum says
Hahaha! That is, “happy” until you get your homeowner insurance bill and find out that what you thought you saved is now gone because your insurance company did an updated review and found that yours and many others’ fire rating is higher due to reduced fire capability and longer response times for our area. There are always those damn unintended consequences that people don’t think about! They see only what is right in front of their faces and think, oh yeah, sign me up. But when reality strikes, then they start bitching again and say, hey, wait a minute. I didn’t agree to higher homeowners insurance premiums, how did that happen???
NOTHING… I repeat, NOTHING is free and people will pay now or later. Those unintended consequences are sometimes more difficult to swallow than the previous pain that went away. Beware! Be smart! Be careful of what you wish for!
Stop putting my money where your mouth is ! says
Here’s a simple solution: Give Florida homeowners the option to keep their property tax savings or voluntarily return some or all of those savings to the state, county, city, or school district.
If higher taxes are truly necessary and beneficial, people should be free to contribute their own savings back to the government.
I wonder how many of the people criticizing tax relief would actually choose to write that check themselves?
DaleL says
There was a time when some areas of the USA did not have public (government) fire departments. There were private firefighting companies. People contracted with those companies for fire protection. The private companies would only put out fires of those people who had contracts with them. Is that what you are proposing? Are you also in favor of private police departments? I hasn’t worked in the past, why should such privatization work now? Repeating past mistakes is a sign of either stupidity or insanity.
Firefighting in the 1800’s: A Corrupt, Bloated, Private For-Profit Industry
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/firefighting-in-the-1800s_b_247936
Taxpayer says
Not buying into this Republican scam.
Republican Dave says
A long time ago, as a paperboy, when the manager of distribution pushed my friend against the wall and said “You have the God bless me, and to hell with everyone else” attitude. I learned a lesson that day.
When I asked my mom why she tithed to the church, she told me “It helps the church, and keeps the lights on.” When I asked my grandfather, why should someone pay a school tax when they don’t have any kids in school, he said “It takes a village to raise a child.”
This tax ruse is to benefit the rich, top percentage of tax payers. You will still pay in other ways, but how will you benefit as a society?
Ed P says
Hello Dave,
Your assumption that the “tax ruse “ will benefit the rich, top percentage of tax payers is mathematically incorrect.
Percentage wise any reduced amount will be proportionally identical.
Of course the total dollar amount is obviously different for anyone paying $3000 annually vs $30,000 annually. It’s basic math.
If the lost revenue is replaced with a higher sales tax, does a wealthy person spends more than a fixed income retiree?
If the legislature follows northern states and tax personal property such as cars, doesn’t a Bentley owner pay more tax than a Kia owner, as well as sales tax?
Vilifying the wealthy or maligning this proposal as helping the wealthy is not the case. Why? Because 30-35% of all Flagler county homes have an assessed tax value below the $250,000 threshold – so they pay zero?
The chronic drumbeat of vilifying anyone who has been successful and claiming they don’t pay their fair share is ridiculous. Just ask NYC, Seattle, or the state of California if they miss the evil rich people they thought they didn’t need.
Republican Dave says
Ed P: I am in the top 10% of America. I understand it. If you save $30K on property tax, it is not going to equal the 1% more on a Bentley.
Ed P says
Hello Dave,
No homeowner in Flagler county will be saving 30k.
Laurel says
In places like Palm Beach and Manalapan, many homes will each be saving much, much more than $30K annually, drastically effecting local governments.
They had the choice to live where they live.
Ed P says
Hello Laurel,
Nope.
No matter how much a luxury home is worth, the absolute maximum value exempted from non school taxes under the new 2028 tier is capped at $250,000.
Total saving
Maxes out to roughly $3400 even for a $100 million dollar mansion.
Mathematically impossible to save more.
Laurel says
Hello Ed P:
Yep.
Currently.
Here’s just one single family home, annual tax, in Manalapan:
Tax Year 2025
AD VALOREM $418,702
NON AD VALOREM $205
TOTAL TAX $418,907
Look it up yourself. The range, section, township, subdivision, etc. for Manalapan, starts with 42-43-45-15
That is a savings of over 400K to one family, and a hellova hit to the township and county, the annual tax for this family continues to rise year after year.
They knew what they were getting into, and made that choice.
Wrestling with eels.
Laurel says
And before you decide to say that I think the people of Manalapan are “evil,” don’t bother. Some of them have landscaped both sides of A1A, and it’s amazing! One beautiful drive. Try it sometime, just north of the Boyton Inlet.
Ed P says
Hello Laurel,
Amazing when you are given mathematical facts, your still won’t accept the truth. Fact, the maximum a $250,000 homestead discount will top out at about $3400 even on that property. It will be a mere traction of their tax bill.
Just check for yourself. You don’t understand what the proposal actually does.
Sherry says
THANK YOU Republican Dave!
Unfortunately, too many in our society are incredibly hostile towards others, they are angry, fear filled, greedy and morally corrupt! They no longer want to “benefit a society”. They have no use for “The Common Good”, for an “Educated Populace”, for a “Democratic Republic” , for working “together” to achieve “The American Dream” and “Equal Justice” for ALL.
Darin says
ONLY THE UNEDUCATED ATE AGAINST THIS! Local governments DO NOT care about the tax payers they do not care about the homeowner they don’t care if you are struggling financially because of the high cost of property taxes taxes! If don’t pay property tax (or can’t) they will sell tax deeds on your home!!! We NEED RELIEF!!! SAVE OUR HOMES!! ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES!!!!
Skibum says
You are the kind of person why would love to walk into a grocery store, load up your cart and walk out smiling that you had to pay nothing for all of the toil, labor, etc. that went into stocking the store with the products you purchase. While most people would love to dream about planting trees on their property that grow money on the branches, it just ain’t happening.
Nothing is free, and that is especially true for public services. If you really, truly want to abolish property taxes for yourself, why don’t you pack up all of your belongings and do what others who don’t want to pay for anything have done. They moved into very secluded, off-grid locations and became self-reliant. Problem solved! No taxes, no bill, no worries, right. Oh, except… no electricity, no plumbing, no phone, no fire protection, no law enforcement or 911. But if that is what you want, go for it. But to live in a populated area, a city like Palm Coast, and have the attitude that you want property taxes abolished… ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?!
Sherry says
THANK YOU Skibum and Paul T!! Unfortunately, those who fell for trump’s BS grift and promises will now fall for de santis’! “Thinking” is now a thing of the “PAST”, and GREED has taken its place!
PaulT says
Darin, You shout is like a ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ comment and seems to define the foolishness of supporting DeSantis’ homestead hoax.
Any sane person would check the teeth and realise that this particular gift horse is going to cost all of us a great deal, in the long run.
BTW your all caps ‘only the uneducated…..’ is just the ‘You’re Stupi’ that dumbass kids yell in the schoolyard when they can’t think of anything intelligent to say.
Gail says
That gift horse will turn into a Trojan horse when delivered! Beware , there needs to be a solution for providing services with the removal of property taxes before I will vote for it.
Tired of it says
They just don’t get it. The cost for providing services to the community doesn’t go away. Services will get cut drastically if this absurd proposals is voted in. So local governments will have other ways to tax us to raise the necessary funds.
in the end, we will still pay. To those who complain about waste in local government…do you show up at city/commission meetings? do you write or call your local politicians and tell them your complaints? Because complaining to your friends and neighbors doesn’t accomplish amything.
Laurel says
Well, it does accomplish misunderstanding and misinformation.
Hopefully, a few will see otherwise here.
Ed Danko, former Vice-Mayor PC says
I fully support this amendment. As the former Vice-Mayor of Palm Coast I know first hand how our elected officials and overpaid bureaucrats waste our hard earned money. Time for them to finally do what we all do at home, which is manage our money responsibly, tighten our belts, and a lot of times simply do without. No more “Tax & Spend” and no more foolish “Pet Projects” for political friends! There is plenty of money for the “must haves” and fixing potholes. VOTE YES!
The dude says
“no more foolish “Pet Projects” for political friends!”
How you feeling about that ballroom, J6er’s slush fund, and the arch there liddle Eddie?
Jeffery Cortland Seib says
Ed, In your position with the city council you always had to go through the city manager to get anything done as this is our form of city government. You have spoken of elected officials and bureaucrats wasting our money, implying that there is loots of waste of our property taxes by the city. But the premise that by reducing the city revenue by half with this DeSantis legislation will cause a miracle of all city functions being done without any waste and abuse. More than that however, just like the gentleman coming into the council meetings and speaking of the crimes committed by city staff requiring a forensic audit, many residents feel this same way, that its all corrupt. So, I would like to request that you share, in a general manner, some of the corruption and waste that you have observed as the vice mayor of Palm Coast. Let’s set the record straight.
Callmeishmael says
Danko, you like to whine and moan about waste and judge others on our present council. But you never once targeted any specific waste or did anything about it during your term. Not even in the short period where you were appointed vice mayor by your fellow grifter – and now also former – councilmembers.
Why didn’t you, former vice mayor, fight to fix our roads during your term? Why did you let our utilities deteriorate to the point they have during your term? Why did you approve every opportunity to spread uncontrolled residential development? Why did you approve the entire council getting a raise, effective during your term?
I remember you publicly chastising and demeaning a relatively new administrative staff member who had much needed grant writing experience, so much so that she soon resigned before she could even establish herself.
Danko, be honest with yourself. You’re just a bitter old, attention-seeking Trump-loving fool desperately trying to stay relevant in your so-called Trump country. Your time is done. Nobody cares what you have to say anymore.
Hopefully, you’ll get tired of crying soon and will fall asleep.
Casey says
The idea that a property that is owned outright could be sold out at auction by the government for unpaid property taxes is where my motivation to vote yes for this measure stems. By the same government deciding on the value of the property and taxing it. You never really own your home.
Unlike Pierre, I purchased a 1200 sf home in the hammock area in 2014 and have seen my taxes increase. The appraiser’s assessed value of my 50 year old, modest home has increased by $50k since I purchased it.
A piece of inherited family property in the neighborhood was sold at auction for a menial sum and a developer has cleared it and built 7 homes to date on it. It’s hard for me to see that as a win for the citizens of the county. Big payday for someone else though.
I’m curious what people’s thoughts are on alternative methods for funding local government.
Laurel says
Casey: That ability to auction a property will not go away. You will still get a bill for school tax, for “essentials” and for non-ad valorem assessments that you will be responsible for. That may include other fees, and other yet unknown assessments. You will also lose any exemptions.
This is all a hype to get Republicans out to vote, timed right when your tax bill comes out! It’s a manipulation, plain and simple. Think it out.
Casey says
Laurel, I agree with you about the timing- and I think even more than getting republican voters out, DeSantis can leverage the ballot measure in a presidential campaign whether it passes or not.
I suppose my sentiment really is anything that moves the needles toward divorcing home ownership from government is appealing to me.
Thank you for responding to my comment! I’m truly undecided on this measure.
Laurel says
Casey: I am no fan of taxes, but I can see this is an attempt to lure certain voters out.
If there was a true, solid plan to save us money, instead of an unknown carrot in front of our noses, I’d be on board.
Please think this out. I’m glad you are open to doing just that!
RobdaSlob says
Couple of thoughts:
California prop 13 was passed in the 1970’s for the very same reasons that Florida citizens are seeking relief now. It capped property taxes rates at 1% of assessed value, froze assessed values at the purchase price, limited annual increases in assessed value to 2%, and most importantly property is only reassessed when it is sold. So we know what is going to occur – we have a model.
1) The politicians are going to weaponize it to fit their narrative. The republicans are going to pitch it as saving the citizens of Florida. The democrats claim there will be no local funding. They are both full of it. Republicans – look at California that is not a role model for affordable housing. Democrats if you really cared about people and local governments – well you control California and you would have rolled back prop 13 literally decades ago but…you don’t care so you haven’t.
2). If it passes local governments will pivot to other means to raise revenue – tourist tax, fuel tax, sales tax, etc. And whether they like it or not will have an increase reliance on the state. Local governments should be exercising those muscles today to figure this out rather than waiting for it become a crisis and then have an even less desirable solution thrust upon them.
3) If it doesn’t pass then some folks are going to be in trouble. House values are going up. Those that have homes they have lived in for decades are going to be significantly less in property tax than their neighbors. This disparity is going to continue to cause friction and eventually it will need to be resolved or seats will change to those who will solve it. So again it would behoove us to reconcile it.
Here’s where I am tilting: If I am going to have to pay property tax as it is under the current system then the employees of our local governments need to double down on being a good steward of that money and figure out how to better diversify their tax base. Flagler needs some industry, some tourism, and a hard look at sales tax. When asked the question I go into it assuming like the local Flagler government(s) does a pretty good job with my tax dollars but they need to be hyper sensitive to how their actions are viewed by the tax payer. Then it turns out that too many times I am reading about lawsuits because of this that and the other – employment problems, wrongful termination of whistleblower, you called me a bad name in public, etc….either you want to work for Flagler tax payers or you don’t. I do not want to pay taxes so you can run around and slap lawsuits on one another. We all read about our sheriff buying his friends helicopter – kind of would have been nice to have gotten some buy in from the community before one unilaterally decides to spend that kind of money – we are talking hundreds of thousands of our dollars and hundreds of thousands to maintain and run it, Clerk of the Court suddenly needing an assistant and giving the job to a government leader who was just terminated. Really after how many decades without one? As a government employee and certainly a leader in government everyone of them should be laser focused on being a good steward of our county and its resources. Further they need to promote the goodness of what the government job is doing and how it is viewed. And for this voter right now I am not seeing it enough and as a result maybe a forcing function is needed.
Pierre Tristam says
RobdaSlob put in fewer and clearer words what I was getting at. RobdaSlob should contribute columns.
Skibum says
RobdaSlob, I was going to bring up Prop 13 myself, so I’m glad you know about it and included a mention of it here. I was in my early 20s and living in L.A. when that statewide property tax reduction measure was passed by CA voters. I was in the process of going through the months long hiring/testing process to become an L.A. county deputy sheriff when word came down from the sheriff’s administration in downtown L.A. that a hiring freeze had been implemented across all county agencies because of the impending loss of revenue after passage of prop 13. It was the same story for the city of L.A. and other jurisdictions as well.
Without knowing how long budget cuts were going to be an issue, I completely dropped out of any further testing with the county. Fortunately, I already had a good fulltime job in the private sector. I continued exploring law enforcement job opportunities throughout the state, even going hundreds of miles away to put in job applications and talk to agencies to see if they were hiring. For anyone who wrongly believes that eliminating or severly reducing our property tax revenue would have no affect on essential life safety services, this should be a cautionary tale because I have first hand knowledge and experience with how a statewide property tax measure in CA severely impacted the ability of both law enforcement and fire departments to hire personnel and fund needed equipment purchases for quite a long time back in the 70s… and CA is and was at that time on of the top wealthiest states in the nation.
It took a long time for revenue streams to recover in CA. I never made my dream of becoming an L.A. deputy sheriff specifically because of the prop 13 cuts. I eventually did get hired as a police officer in a much smaller city in L.A. where I stayed for a few years before going to work for a sheriff’s department just north of the L.A. area.
Property tax cuts can and probably will result in critical services here in Florida, in Palm Coast and Flagler County, and don’t let anyone try to lie or convince you otherwise. I know better because I personally experienced it!
RobdaSlob says
Interesting perspective Skibum, thanks for sharing. California had income tax to fall back on. Their challenge is now over reliance reliance on income generated from Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley does well – they have a surplus, 2008 happens and they are in trouble.
For those that think the Florida proposal helps the rich that is not accurate. With school systems exempt from the proposal the actual tax savings is negligible. I ran some numbers – we can argue the accuracy of my estimate of millage but I think the numbers make the point.
Let’s take a 1.8 million dollar property (I was on Zillow looking at a dream home when I started doing this math) – the proposal scales the non-school homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, and $250,000 in 2028. The proposal highlights that this will completely eliminate property taxes for roughly 60% of Florida homeowners. But not for our luxury property, an additional $200,000 exemption only reduces the taxable base by about 11%.The means our savings, assuming an average non-school municipal tax rate of 1.2% (12 mills), a $200,000 increase in the exemption yields roughly $2,400 in annual tax savings. On a $1.8 million home, a $200-a-month reduction is mathematically is quite frankly trivial for someone who can afford this home. Furthermore, school district taxes are completely untouched by this amendment, meaning the largest single line item on this property tax bill will remain fully active and unaffected.
However, it comes at a standard of living cost – because the local municipality this house is located will shift costs to utility bills, sales tax, and introduce things like special taxes targeted for certain programs and/or reduce things like beach management and outdoor living and other things we live here for.
So for the new builds and those along A1A or in the Hammock – do the math for your home, your numbers may vary.
I am back to my original point – the local government needs to be a better steward of our money and they will garner stronger support from the community.
Skibum says
Thanks for your calculations and additional info. I will say however, regarding your last comment about local governments being better stewards of our money, every citizen has their own idea of what they believe are the good things taxpayer money goes for, and what is wasteful spending. Local governments need to continue to receive input and community support for their decisions on the most appropriate areas to spend our money. But there will always be those naysayers who either just prefer to bitch and complain about everything, or just have a different perspective on what is appropriate and what is not.
There will never come a time when local, state or federal governments please everyone. But local government is closest to the people, and therefore will have the greatest impact on our lives with the tax dollars they collect.
Smitty says
Whether you approve of this tax bill or not. Remember one thing. THERE AINT NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH. You will pay for any and all services provided by the state or local goverment through one means or another. Fees, Sales taxes or no services at all.
Skibum says
Don’t forget higher homeowner’s and renters insurance premiums when emergency services are cut, resulting in less firefighters and longer response times, and of course, a downgrading of the fire rating for our area which insurance companies just love to point to as justification to raise insurance rates.
Oops, there goes any savings from the property tax cut! People should not be deluded by repblic-con schemes like this. People are going to pay one way or another if services are cut, or if not cut then local governments will have found another way to tax and provide the services people want. Those who are expecting, as you so aptly put it, a “free lunch”, will be disappointed, maybe even PISSED OFF, at the frankenstein they created.
Dean Gallberry III says
The Governor knows better, but he also knows the majority don’t know, and if they do know this is largely nonsense, don’t care. Local governments have to propose a budget every year. They must hold public hearings. The local elected officials must vote to approve that budget. Are they voting to approve waste and fraud every year? Vote them out, and elect a slate of anarchist libertarians. Close the libraries, museums, parks, health clinics, animal shelters, water and sewage treatment plants. If you think we live in interesting times now, just wait. By the way, many people so aggrieved by property taxes could get a start on this crusade by moving out of any development that has community development district and homeowners association fees. That’s total amateur hour; pseudo-governments often run by unqualified power-tripping control freaks who love to sticking it to you, all in the name of protecting property values, which guess what, lead to higher taxes and fees.
CPFL says
Still trying to wrap my brain around this being a good thing or a bad thing. Being realistic I know the money to pay for our city/county needs to come from somewhere. Realistic I do think that there can be some fat cut from our local government. Ever go into the buildings and see people standing around doing nothing but talking in office areas and hallways…definitely does not appear to be work talk when people are laughing and having a good time. The way the county and city like to spend money on studies, get a company to come in and cut the positions that are not needed. If the city/county workers think they are needed…AI is coming for most of your workload and the lack of workload evident by standing around joking in the office. It is not just on the streets it is in the office too 1 works 3 stand around.
Skibum says
CPFL, if I may, I would like to try to add a measure of reality to public sector employment because it seems that you are, for whatever reason, skewed against those who work in the public sector.
If you query private sector employers to find the best places to work, those employers who’s employees may be standing around talking to each other, “laughing and having a good time” at work are some of the telltale signs that embody what is commonly referred to as the type of place that would be an excellent place to work, as opposed to somewhere when a customer enters and receives a non-friendly feeling, no smiling, employees who do not communicate well or get along with each other, etc. Employee job satisfaction or dis-satisfaction has a direct correlation on work performance, reliability, and success of the company in general.
But when the same standards are applied to public sector jobs, far too many people seem to get totally opposite impressions, saying employees are lazy, just standing around wasting tax dollars, laughing and talking instead of doing the jobs we pay them to do, whatever term you wish to paint them with. Since my career experience is in public safety/law enforcement, it may seem to the lay person that there are too many cops at a particular scene that you may judge to be not needed. Maybe all those firefighters just sitting around with nothing to do but wash their trucks. Several public works employees sitting at their job site instead of out repairing streets or whatever.
The reality is that every public sector employer actually NEEDS a defined number of employees to handle things that come up, especially for emergencies. Emergency road repairs, emergency water or sewer line breaks. Would you rather not have employees on duty, ready to respond immediately to handle those things on YOUR street or in your neighborhood?
Would you like it if your next door neighbor’s house was on fire and threatening to burn your house down too, but only a couple firefighters were on duty and available, waiting, waiting and waiting some more for additional resources to arrive from outlying agencies because citizens decided too many firefighters sitting around not doing anything on a daily basis was a waste of taxpayer money? How about cops? When an armed man is on the run and normally a neighborhood would be inundated with on-duty officers to seal off and prevent the escape of a dangerous person, would you rather hear that budget cuts because of perceived citizen views that there were too many cops not really doing anything resulted in not enough manpower to search for and take down an armed individual? I doubt it!!!
All of these are realistic possibilities. After 29 years in law enforcement working up through the ranks and being involved in many emergency situations of every description, you never know when an emergency will occur or what type, so you had better be prepared for the most probably of what COULD happen. That is what taxpayers should understand, and appreciate.
Public sector workers often do hard jobs, many of them do vey dangerous work for very little appreciation from the public they serve. Give them a break, and also the respect they deserve. They are NOT all lazy bums just leeching off the public payroll and doing nothing! Most of what they do people never see. They ARE needed by all of us.
James says
The bad news… get ready for $500+ per month city utility bills.
The good news… Alan Lowe, no longer having a reason to run for political office, gives up… throws out all his signs from the last two decades.
Just say’n… it might be worth consider’n.
Nah.
James says
Hummm… no property tax, but a $500+ per month water bill… now THAT’S certainly what I’d call a “Bathtub Hoax!”
Just an observation.
Atwp says
No freebies. We need the services our tax dollars are suppose to provide. The government in this state and country waste so much. If they stop wasting so much then perhaps the caps on homestead will probably work. My concern is do all the get the service they need and the answer is no. The rich folks in the gated communities yes but the average tax paying person no or just sometimes. I don’t plan to vote for the proposal. As long as my tax dollars are helping some people especially people of color I guess I’m happy.
Pogo says
Howard Jarvis, Fred Trump, and Leona Helmsley are laughing in hell
https://www.bing.com/search?q=howard+jarvis+is+laughing+in+hell
Pogo says
jim morrison says
what happened to the screaming crowd saying “affordability”? If I had to guess about 10-20% of our local tax money is wasted due to poor decisions and excessive bloat,
T says
Trump is in epstein files more then anyone epstein was trumps neighbor