[Dont Taze Me bro]

Biggest issue....Border Security....ship ALL illegals out of the US and keep them out

[Hammocks Bum]

Originally Posted by Dont Taze Me bro

Biggest issue....Border Security....ship ALL illegals out of the US and keep them out

Really weird Nick !!!!

[Enigma777]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Most don't want industries here in Florida. They pollute too much. We have Phosphate, Sugar, Cattle, Ports, & Citrus just to name a few, and they all bring environmental concerns with them. I'd rather attract IT, insurance, & engineering jobs here than manufacturing industrial jobs.

IT won't be interested until Florida's infrastructure/education/environmental/salaries are better.

Florida has been crowing for years that they are the next Silicon Valley tech hub. It isn't, and it won't be unless prospective employees can be recruited and right now--they can't.

In the late 90s, I worked for a tech recruiter for a few months (they don't do very well here). Combed through resumes and spoke with candidates. At that point I was located on the west coast of Florida--the salaries were pathetic, even in Tampa and St. Pete. IT candidates looking for jobs were aghast at the salaries. I did not see anyone actually move here for an IT job.

All Florida really has is the weather, beaches, no income taxes (which means employers think they can pay less), and the environment. Without the environment, Florida has nothing. Even those going to the Orlando theme parks want to hit the beach before or after.

This makes the environment the No. 1 issue. No pristine environment, no Florida. Polluted rivers, unbreathable air and beaches and air (red tide) will be the death of Florida and its economy. You can poo-poo the issue as much as you want--it is not going away because a governor bans discussion about the environment--putting your head in the sand (literally) will not make this go away.

Why would anyone want to live in, never mind visit, a state full of green algae in the canals, rivers and bayous, and dead fish on the beaches?

We just cannot afford any more government ignorance regarding environmental issues.

Environment One of Floridians' Top 5 Concerns | WLRN

[WithDisp]

Long Term Growth.

Florida now overtakes NY as the 3rd most populous state.
It will likely never surpass Texas or California, simply because of mass.


How will Florida grow over the long term? Who will shepard in greatness after years of mediocrity.

Gillum seems a lot more a visionary, but without the state's house or senate in line- it might be a while.

I love "low taxes", but that can't work without significant revenue coming from elsewhere.
Florida has reached a tipping point where it needs to either curb population growth or implement a higher tax structure.

You've bled the theme parks for all they are worth.
Unless you can come up with a way to have more visitors, you need to increase taxes to have livable services.

[beach43ofus]

"curb population"...how? Florida cannot stop Americans from other states from coming here.

"how will Florida grow in the long term?" the same way it already has...from retirees moving here for the lower taxes and great Winter weather. These people require support services.

Gillum a visionary? Nope. His policies have all been tried before, and failed. Cuba, and Venezuela most recently. Socialism fails when you run out of others peoples money.

"significant revenues from elsewhere" Florida's economy is strong due to all the affluent people coming here to spend their disposable incomes. This will continue.

"you need to increase taxes" no we don't. We can cut spending, and continue to grow the economy which grows revenues to the government.

[Dont Taze Me bro]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

Long Term Growth.

Florida now overtakes NY as the 3rd most populous state.
It will likely never surpass Texas or California, simply because of mass.


How will Florida grow over the long term? Who will shepard in greatness after years of mediocrity.

Gillum seems a lot more a visionary, but without the state's house or senate in line- it might be a while.

I love "low taxes", but that can't work without significant revenue coming from elsewhere.
Florida has reached a tipping point where it needs to either curb population growth or implement a higher tax structure.

You've bled the theme parks for all they are worth.
Unless you can come up with a way to have more visitors, you need to increase taxes to have livable services.

Higher tax structure??? bullchit...the best example I can give is look at TN, it has NO income tax either, and just look at the huge HUGE progress of Nashville TN in just the last 7 years !!!

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

I'm trying to figure out if you are really a Floridian or recently moved to our state.
With all due respect, you say the Environment isn't even a top 5 concern for you which I consider mind boggling.
Our environment is directly tied to the state's economy.
Any self respecting Floridian would have this subject as one of their Top 5 issues.

See post 523 in this thread for a discussion of environmental and immigration issues.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/flori...trophe-53.html

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by Dont Taze Me bro

Higher tax structure??? bullchit...the best example I can give is look at TN, it has NO income tax either, and just look at the huge HUGE progress of Nashville TN in just the last 7 years !!!

That's one city.

As for a state in its entirety- Tennessee has no state income tax, but does tax personal income on bonds, stocks, interest, and dividends.

The State Average Sales tax is 2% higher than Florida.

Tennessee also has no homestead exemptions.

Taxes, therefore on average are higher than Florida.

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

"curb population"...how? Florida cannot stop Americans from other states from coming here.

"how will Florida grow in the long term?" the same way it already has...from retirees moving here for the lower taxes and great Winter weather. These people require support services.

Gillum a visionary? Nope. His policies have all been tried before, and failed. Cuba, and Venezuela most recently. Socialism fails when you run out of others peoples money.

"significant revenues from elsewhere" Florida's economy is strong due to all the affluent people coming here to spend their disposable incomes. This will continue.

"you need to increase taxes" no we don't. We can cut spending, and continue to grow the economy which grows revenues to the government.

Curbing population does not work- hence the point of the discussion.
Florida's income from Tourism is a fairly fixed number. The state historically budgeted it's population based off that tourism money. We no longer can sustain that.

Retirees moving here does not always fiscally benefit the state. Since, their retirement income is not taxed here. They are now using services, and providing property and use taxes- if property and use taxes aren't high enough to really support those services, you run a deficit.

Gillum is hardly a socialist. There will of course be flaws with some of his idealism, but if members of the state want more access to healthcare, better educational output, and environmental outreach- there are costs involved.


Florida's economy is not strong. A few other states economies are strong and those people are coming here to spend their disposable incomes. We get that money regardless of how populated Florida is. The more our state grows, the more that pool must be divided.

Take a look at the table below, Florida has the LOWEST per cap of Fortune 500 Companies in the largest 10 states in the union.

Top 10 States in Population

Rank State Population Fortune 500 Companies
1 California 39,144,818 53
2 Texas 27,469,114 50
3 Florida 20,271,272 17
4 New York 19,795,791 54
5 Illinois 12,859,995 36
6 Pennsylvania 12,802,503 21
7 Ohio 11,613,423 25
8 Georgia 10,214,860 17
9 North Carolina 10,042,802 12
10 Michigan 9,922,576 17



Our spending is already efficient.
This is a lean state. I'm certain we can cut some- but we already trail the nation in Education and Healthcare Spending, and our numbers are only going down.

Florida requires new streams of revenue to sustain its newfound population.
We need the relocation or introduction of major corporations, and a tax structure that can benefit from that.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

That's one city.

As for a state in its entirety- Tennessee has no state income tax, but does tax personal income on bonds, stocks, interest, and dividends.

The State Average Sales tax is 2% higher than Florida.

Tennessee also has no homestead exemptions.

Taxes, therefore on average are higher than Florida.

Tennessee is now phasing out the personal income tax on bonds, stocks, interest, and dividends. Its being reduced by 1%/year over the next 4 years (I think 2018 is the 1st 1% drop). By 2021, there will be no State income tax of any kind.

Nashville attracts a lot of tourist revenues to the State. As you say, they get their revenues in other ways. Their sales tax is like 9.75% or something like that. Very high.

Still, some States can charge less overall tax to their residents because non-residents are bringing money into the state in the form of tourism (Nevada, Florida, Tennessee), or they have energy producing windfalls (Alaska & Texas).

Florida is one of the best States to live in to keep overall taxes low. Alaska's #1 because they mail checks each year to residents to share oil proceeds. I think its ~$2,500/resident.