[John1960]

When Florida lawmakers gathered in Tallahassee in March to embark on an overhaul of a local tax system that critics claimed had run amok, they weren't modest in their professed goals. They called for nothing less than a property tax revolution similar to that which enveloped California a generation ago, one they claimed was needed to stop the once booming state from squeezing out its middle class. "We all agree that property taxes are too high," state House Speaker Marco Rubio told members on the first day of the session. "Now let us spend the next 60 days debating on what is the best way to bring them down. And if we do, not only can we solve the property tax crisis, we will help usher in a new political culture that will be the envy of the nation."

Can Florida's Tax Revolt Stay Alive? - TIME

[bale002]

The problem is not a tax revolt, it is a fiscal revolt ... on the spending side, and downwards, both at the government level and the household level.

Until people in the US realize that the problem is spending more than producing, living within one's means, then inflation and taxes will continue to climb, no matter what the half-elected politicians promise or do.

But people won't realize it until it's too late (total debt slavery), if ever, because they are too high on the money supply ... credit cards, easy mortgages, etc. ... and their pushers in high places keep it coming.

So what do you expect, really?

[Magnulus]

My view: high taxes are a self-correcting mechanism. If enough people don't buy houses, property values fall and property taxes will also fall. High taxes are mostly caused by high appraised property values.

The Republican response in the legislature, OTOH, is to cut into school programs when they cut taxes. That's just wrong, but apparently alot of other Floridians don't think so. Kids failing in schools = more future criminals and drug dealers. Florida's schools are already crap, why make them worse?

Maybe Florida needs an income tax? My dad actually thinks property taxes aren't so bad in Florida, and he's a Republican (not a conservative Republican, more like a moderate) that owns two homes here.

[tallrick]

There has not been any revolt in Florida yet. Have you seen any large-scale demonstrations, or organized citizen lobbying of elected officials? As for taxes, how did we get by with less in the past? Why were schools so much better in 1957 than in 2007? I am against property tax. I would rather have a system where people can actually own their homes. As for income tax? Forget it. Government has way too much money already. Schools need money for salaries, supplies and utilities. I am sure they get 10 times that or more. The tax burden drags down everyone, and kills the economy. A better tax is a sales tax, and revenue for services should be charged as a fee (trash pickup, etc) and not drawn from the general fund. Roads get gasoline tax and toll money. How much money is really necessary? Just have to eliminate waste.

[davidt1]

Here we go with that "we will have to cut school, police, etc. etc. spending if we don't get the money" scarce tactics. Kids are stupid because their parents either too busy, stupid, or both to get involved in their kids' education. They are stupid because they grow up watching television programs that do not educate but instead emphasize materialism and irresponsibility. No amount of money is ever going to fix that which isn't fixed at home.

End of rant. Thank you.

[randian]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

The Republican response in the legislature, OTOH, is to cut into school programs when they cut taxes. That's just wrong, but apparently alot of other Floridians don't think so. Kids failing in schools = more future criminals and drug dealers. Florida's schools are already crap, why make them worse?

You make the IMO erroneous assumption that spending and quality have any relation to each other in the public school system. We have paid for enormous increases in school spending (in every state) and gotten nothing for it, NEA scare tactics notwithstanding. The Republicans are right. Starve the beast.

[randian]

Originally Posted by davidt1

Here we go with that "we will have to cut school, police, etc. etc. spending if we don't get the money" scarce tactics.

You would think there is plenty of fat to cut before cutting more essential services. In fact, there is, but the political class won't suffer cuts to their lifestyle and income. Even in "essential" services, there is plenty of fat. Have you seen public sector retirement and medical benefits lately? They are obscenely expensive, diamond-plated plans. San Diego is slowly going bankrupt over the cost of their benefits plans.

[floridasandy]

in indian river county, when they gave more money to the schools only 5% trickled down to the students. more money is not going to solve the school problem, as other posters have pointed out.

[thebigr]

Originally Posted by davidt1

Here we go with that "we will have to cut school, police, etc. etc. spending if we don't get the money" scarce tactics. Kids are stupid because their parents either too busy, stupid, or both to get involved in their kids' education. They are stupid because they grow up watching television programs that do not educate but instead emphasize materialism and irresponsibility. No amount of money is ever going to fix that which isn't fixed at home.

End of rant. Thank you.

Very well said!

[randian]

The problem with a property tax revolt is that it only addresses one side of the equation: taxes. It doesn't address spending. Until both state and local governments have hard unavoidable caps on spending and growth in spending we will always have this problem.

For example, look at what happened in California after Proposition 13 passed. Yes Prop 13 limited growth in property tax revenues. It was otherwise a waste of time because things like municipal sewer and water fees, "impact" fees, construction permits, and so forth immediately increased to offset the reduction in property tax revenue. Without a hard cap on revenue from all sources, not just property taxes, property tax reform is just whistling in the wind.