Taxes too high? Do something! (Tampa, Holiday: sales, renters, insurance)

[Superbecky79]

TAXES AND INSURANCE
TAKE A STAND . LET GOV CRIST KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON FLORIDA PROPERTY TAXES AND FLORIDA INSURANCE ISSUES THIS LINK charlie.crist@myflorida.com WILL PUT YOU IN CONTACT WHERE YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN.

[Bezzled]

Taxes and Insurance are not the only thing that has got out of hand in Florida. The cost of living is now very high, while the wages are staying the same. That's also a HUGE concern. INFLATION

[EB2]

Originally Posted by Bezzled

Taxes and Insurance are not the only thing that has got out of hand in Florida. The cost of living is now very high, while the wages are staying the same. That's also a HUGE concern. INFLATION

Agreed. A lot of places have their wages at least go up...but minimum wage remains 6.67 here or so. We're paying northern prices on southern wages, and it's disgusting.

[outlaw52]

impact taxes,aka impact fees. how does a politician deny homestead exemption and still send a stub saying your getting one? all they have to do is reach 25,000 in impact fees and they've done it.
ok lets break it down. actual cost for a contractor to build a house is 100,000. this would be the true value of the house. now he gives the county 25,000 for impact taxes. now the minumum sale price for the house is 125,000. this is assuming the builder does'nt make one penny on the sale .so we start off with an artificial inflation of 25,000. now the county assesses the house at 125,000, because it will sell at that price. remember it has to now just for the builder to break even.thus whoever buys this house has been denied a true homestead benefit , they [ we ] are paying taxes on taxes.

also any house that has'nt paid an impact tax , has also been artificially inflated by the impact tax amount and when its sold the seller who has paid none of these , puts the extra money in his pocket says thanks much ,cya.they love impact tax increases because it makes their house sell at a higher price, that they put in their pocket when they get out of here. why do they get to profit from an unfair tax structure? JOHN

[Dee74]

Taxes and Insurance are not the only thing that has got out of hand in Florida. The cost of living is now very high, while the wages are staying the same. That's also a HUGE concern. INFLATION

Agreed. A lot of places have their wages at least go up...but minimum wage remains 6.67 here or so. We're paying northern prices on southern wages, and it's disgusting.

No kidding, here is a good one for you, I'm a nurse but have been out of workforce the last 4 years due to elder care issues. In my job search they are screaming for nurses but wages have fallen by almost $4 an hour from 4 years ago???? How does that happen??? I ended up taking a position doing the same thing I was doing for $3.50 less an hour, this as cost of living and insurance have skyrocketed, gotta love FL.
Merry Christmas all or is it Happy Holiday either way have a very nice one and enjoy your friends and family and may next year bring us much needed relief.

[WestcoastBrit]

I left FL earlier this year. My retail store's takings dropped 70% over 2 years. My customers main topic of conversation was taxes and insurance, and at least twice a week someone would tell me they were relocating to a different state. My own house was 875 S.F and property tax cost $3600. Insurance was 2K with Citizens. Had 97K mortgage @ 5.75 30yr fixed. Had mortgage payments of $1100 a month. This is rediculous for a 2/1. But this is whats crazy, my house sold for $159K in June 07 and the new owners' being taxed on $186K for 2008. They are basing their tax rates on 05/06 sales

[tampaguy03]

My company got smart in 2006, and brought Tampa to a more meaningful pay scale compared to cost of living. Salary scales increased by about 10k across the board for most positions. I think people have to either look for these types of companies, change their careers, or move. I was seriously considering leaving my company and entertaining other options, when they announced the "cost of living" increase and change in salary scale for the Tampa and Florida markets.

[Dee74]

My company got smart in 2006, and brought Tampa to a more meaningful pay scale compared to cost of living. Salary scales increased by about 10k across the board for most positions. I think people have to either look for these types of companies, change their careers, or move. I was seriously considering leaving my company and entertaining other options, when they announced the "cost of living" increase and change in salary scale for the Tampa and Florida markets.

That's great Tampaguy03, I was stunned that nursing rates had fallen. The excuses I heard ranged from lower medicare payments to our "insurance rates have skyrocketed", our food costs are through the roof, we have to cut somehow. Mine too

Nice to see some companies realize that to keep good folks they need to pay a living wage.
As for emailing Charley "drop like a rock" Christ I did not even get an computer reply.

[**NoodLes**]

All the higher ups taxes increased also, so naturally they will cut lower employees pay to make up the difference. This state is disgusting and I hate my coworkers too. Everyday we have to be on our toes just talking about money and get my bills paid, etc. I can't wait to leave this festering pot of $%#t

[floridasandy]

i do not understand why the politicians do not see eliminating property taxes as a way to save this state. florida is a beautiful state with great weather but it is hard to live here. if property taxes were eliminated, jobs would be created, people could deal with the lower wage scale, and there would be more money to spend so businesses would grow and new ones would be able to get started. there would be less renters and it is way better to have people investing in their neighborhoods. if people did not like one area of florida they could find another area in florida where they would be happy and portability would not even be an issue.