Constitutional Amendment proposals for 11/08 being debated.

Tax Relief Constitutional Amendment Proposals abundant for 11/08.   There are many attractive options that may make it to the ballot for the 11/08 general election to achieve tax relief and reform for Floridians.  They range from abolishing all property taxes so Tallahassee can take control of all local government spending to cutting local property taxes 25-50%.  Leaders of various grassroots organizations are in the final stages of discussing what solution to support.  There is every reason to sign a petition you support.  However, critical voters who want victory in 11/08 and real relief may want to wait before deciding which one to finally support with financial donations and volunteer time.  Announcements of the efforts should be forthcoming soon.  Try to be patient for another week or two. 

The Breaking Point Could Be Near 

New trends in economic activity continue to show Florida homeowners may be at the breaking point.  Property taxes and insurance despite some tinkering continue to sap property owners of their ability to pay.  A recent Zogby International poll shows half of South Florida residents and 37 percent statewide are considering moving out of state.  Home Foreclosures continue to rise and Florida is second only to California nationwide.  Florida however is closing the gap and predictions show a 27 percent rise in foreclosures as a sluggish housing market continues.  South Florida has been particularly hard hit with overvalued properties and high property taxes.  A lot of property owners are more than three months late and their lenders have notified them of their intent to foreclose.  This in turn is going to cause late notices going out in the fall and a new glut of homes on the market by next summer. Tighter credit and fewer options for homeowners with nervous lenders are spelling disaster for Florida and across the nation.  This credit crunch sent the Dow plummeting 280 points Friday alone.  The impact on the economy of the excessive local government taxation is reflected in the 1.5 billion sales tax revenue shortfall to the State of Florida.  The Local government continues to spend on corporate welfare and failed social programs.  The insatiable appetite of Unions for excess government worker benefits has required ever higher taxes to fund their pension and health benefits plans.  These perks are so generous that no private sector worker could ever dream of having them.

These results underscore the need for further reform for property owners.  The voters in January will vote on whether the super-homestead amendment is right for them or reach for something more substantial.  Decisions are being made by our legislative bodies that may or may not be in our best interest.  The constant lobbying by outside groups has diluted what reform we get, and now we are in the midst of an economic crisis.  The Orlando Sentinel has estimated that population growth in Clearwater and St. Petersburg has decreased in 2005-2006.  Indicators in the housing market are not showing a rebound any time soon as residents are deciding if it's worth staying.  While all these indicators alone may not be that significant, but together pose a significant threat to Florida and the American dream of home ownership.  Those that do have it are finding it increasing hard to hold onto it.  Each month that goes by we are losing a piece of our state to reckless and arrogant lawmakers that have put on blinders to what is happening.  The voters need to regain control of their way of life.  The time may be right for a constitutional ballot amendment for November 08.  If it's a proposition 13, California equivalent or a Sales tax amendment that needs to get the job done then so be it.  You decide.

Let's Revisit the Property Tax Sales Tax Swap:

With the looming 1.5 billion dollar state budget shortfall, it appears to be a good time to reconsider the proposal to change revenue generation from property taxation to taxation on products sold in the economy.  The legislature is gearing up for yet another special session to address what could be a dismal period for our state.  State sales tax revenues are down as a result of poor housing sales and all other trickle down effects that this creates.  What started out as a strict taboo on raising sales taxes as a tool for reducing or eliminating property taxes by the state senate can now be heralded as a way to add to Florida's coffers in a time of need.

An increase in the sales tax could provide the additional funds to maintain important programs during a period of lower tax revenues.  This same sales tax increase could also provide relief for homestead and non-homesteaded taxpayers by eliminating property taxes for all Florida property owners.  Experts have found that raising the sales tax, a third of which is paid by tourists, can infuse the economy with significant additional funds.  Without property taxes the economy could be boosted as property owners have more disposal income to purchase goods and services.  The additional cash could also jump start the building and housing market.  All this can be accomplished by eliminating a major stumbling block that keeps people from moving to Florida, which is TAXES.  There are many signs that show we are losing our good economic outlook here in Florida. The July 7 St. Petersburg Times shows the Tampa Bay area dropping from first to 32 ranking as a "good place to work". Taxes were sighted as one of main reasons. This is bad for everyone. The recent tax reform passed by the Legislature falls short of providing true tax relief.  While heralded as the "largest tax cut in history", the real "take home" tax cuts are quite small.  Even though the tax cut is actually small for most homeowners, local governments are often cutting high priority programs just to show how they can't run government without all our money! Some locales have even used the super majority loophole take back even these small cuts.

The Super-homestead amendment is planned to appear on the ballot in January 2008.  If passed it will provide some measure of tax relief for some Florida property owners.  For some it may provide just enough relief to keep their homes out of foreclosure.  For others it will provide no relief at all.  To be truly effective the Super-homestead needs to be strengthened to provide relief for everyone.  It will not do this in its present form.  To address this deficiency,  Florida House representative Frank Atkinson is proposing a sales tax increase along with other yet to be determined fees to be placed on a citizen ballot initiative by the November 08 election.  With the inclusion of homesteaded and non-homesteaded property owners being treated equally, a divided legislature, senate and electorate may look at the sales tax more favorably.  The tax could be a win win situation for all.  The idea that a sales tax is a regressive tax on the poor and disadvantaged could be laid to rest as it could potentially solve a lot of problems while still eliminating the sales tax on food and medicine.  While this may or may not be a "silver bullet", this certainly would go further than the proposed Super-homestead amendment that goes before the voters in January. 

Super Homestead Exemption Amendment -  Tax Break or Shell Game?

On January 29^th voters will likely have a choice on the presidential primary ballot to exchange their Save Our Homes Tax Cap for a new tax break - the "Super Homestead Exemption".  If this passes by 60%, homeowners can choose to exempt a greater amount of their home value (e.g. up to $195,000 of a $500,000 home*) from property taxes.  Unfortunately, to get the tax break, a homeowner would have to get rid of the cap on taxable value of their home, which is currently at 3% or less per year.  Many experts estimate that after a few years of lower taxes, homeowners will once again experience higher and higher taxes.  In fact, they would no longer be protected from the outrageous spending growth of local governments that has outpaced inflation by 3-4 times around the state and lead to a doubling of property tax collections this decade.  In fact, a Tax Calculator at the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's site reveals that the for a $240,000 house, keeping the Save Our Homes cap would be better after 7 years if home values grow as they have for the last decade (about 10% per year) (Calculator link at bottom** - $240K is the Median Home Value in Tampa this week).

Voters appear skeptical already, recognizing that Super Homestead Exemption may simply be a TAX SHELL GAME.  The Quinnipiac University*** recently found that only 57% of likely voters would support the tax with 26% undecided, and 67% saying they need "a lot more explanation".  The reason that more than 2/3 are skeptical and want an "explanation" is because the voters and taxpayers are smarter than the politicians and know when they are being offered a deal with the devil...pay me now or pay me later. 

Considering that 60% of voters must pass the amendment, the politician's proposal is off to a bad start.

The Third shell of the shell game? -  the tax break appears to be targeted to taxpayers who have NOT been hit with the doubling of property taxes.  It has been the non-homestead taxpayer - businesses, snowbirds, second home owners and landlords - that have been paying the super high taxes that have fueled the outrageous spending of local governments on excess government worker retirement benefits, corporate welfare, failed social welfare and government mismanagement and waste. 

The reason the politicians are pushing the tax break to homesteaders?  This will allow them to get re-elected!  No surprise here - that is the professional occupation of politicians'....do whatever it takes to stay in power so they can keep playing shell games. 

Will the voters play the shell game or will they ignore this sideshow attraction and look for a better way to use their vote?  Is there a better opportunity for taxpayers in a true tax rollback for all and a "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" to extend the Save our Homes cap to everyone.  Under a Taxpayer Bill of Rights, all revenue and all spending by all levels of government would be capped at inflation + population growth so that government income can't grow faster than the income of average hardworking taxpayers.  A true rollback in taxes for revenue would also benefit all people who have been paying excess taxes, not just enough to get a politician re-elected.

So where do you want your tax savings...a cap for all and forever or for just a few years?

*Super Homestead - 75% of the first $200,000, 15% of any additional value up to $500,000, with a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $195,000. Note: the $500,000 upper limit for the Super Exemption will be increased each year on a per capita income growth rate.

Calculate your Tax under the Proposed New Exemption.

** Calculator Link - Enter in your home value, and the expected market appreciation for the home.  It is suggested to ENTER 10% for "market value growth" (the highest the calculator will allow) since that is about what the appreciation has been each year this decade.  The 5% suggested at the site is too low and will give a false sense of security about the usefulness of the exemption.  Houses with higher values will pay higher taxes rates...a new "progressive" tax proposed by the Republican Party.

Check out the latest poll from Quinnipiac University that shows that Florida Voters Say Insurance Reform Doesn't Help. But Gov. Crist's Approval Moves To New High

*** Quinnipiac Poll results.

After passage of a tax relief bill in Tallahassee in June, Local governments will be required to cut their budgets 3-9% based on their past performance of raising taxes.  Floridians appear happy to see that the huge tax and spend ship of local government is being asked to change course and can only hope that it will move toward a good destination without running over the taxpayer.

The imposed budget cuts represent an outstanding opportunity for local governments to demonstrate leadership and service to taxpayers. Unfortunately, we are all starting to see the political beast rear its head as budget cuts are designed to irritate city and county residents in hopes that they will be bullied into preventing even greater tax cuts in the future.

Examples include cuts in staff for libraries, and recreation centers, and threats of closing fire departments and police stations.  Again, this is all part of the war on tax relief as local politicians throw a temper-tantrum in hopes that their tax-payers will take pity on them.  However, as most three-year olds learn, when you have responsible parents, temper-tantrums don’t work.  Politicians should recognize that taxpayers are fed up with such antics and they should stand up and make the responsible budget cuts that are needed.

Where can cuts be made that still maintain vital government services and provide the relief taxpayers deserve after a doubling of their taxes this decade?  Here are some places to start (these are examples from the Tampa Bay Area, but are likely applicable all over the state):

1. Government Worker Benefits – There is a $1.4 Trillion unfunded liability around the country for pension plans and health benefits for retired workers.  In St. Petersburg, the city paid $12 million for pensions for a mere 1000 retired city workers last year.  These were not Public safety workers but blue-collar and white collar workers.  In addition, the city paid $3 Million in health benefits to retired workers.  The Unions insisted on these generous retirement benefits and now their fellow junior workers are paying the price as they are laid off while more senior union workers keep their jobs and their benefits.  The city should move quickly and aggressively to renegotiate these Union contracts so they have the same benefits as private workers: 401K plans.  The Police and Fire Fighters should have their benefits protected since they put their lives on the line, but there are opportunities to cut costs by turning over the plans to these brave men and women so they can own their own retirement savings and not have to constantly beg the city to fund the plans they were promised.  Currently police pension plans in St. Petersburg are unfunded.  The police deserve better and will have greater benefits in the end if they own and control their own retirement funds.
2. Corporate Welfare – There is no reason that our precious tax dollars should be given away to multi-million and billion dollar corporations for “economic development”.  The free market is more than capable of picking winners and losers in business and when governments start doing this, they interfere with the economy.  If the government wants to help, it should slash taxes and regulations to allow “a thousand flowers to bloom”.  Recent examples of corporate welfare – fat taxpayer checks -  in the Tampa bay area include: $30 Million to SRI to build a marine research lab and office complex in St. Pete and $60 million to Merck Pharmaceuticals to build offices and research space at Moffit.  These companies earned $390 Million and $2.3 billion respectively in 2005.  The taxpayers can’t afford it and our leaders should stop with these sweetheart deals.  The Devil Rays continue to feed off of taxpayer largesse – this year St. Pete Residents will pay the $2 million property insurance bill for their Tropicana Field. Pretty alarming when we can’t afford our own property insurance. They city should renegotiate this contract now.
3. Failed Social Welfare - In Pinellas County, there is a utopian dream of “ending homelessness” through a 10 year plan that will undoubtedly cost over $20 million dollars.  Such programs don’t work as can be attested to by the $250 Million annual budget for homelessness in San Francisco with an unending stream of vagrants, drug abusers, criminals and the like on the public dole.  Private groups are more effective at working on such social problems and their will be more charity money for them if taxes are cut and people can donate to the causes they want to groups that will be accountable to them.  Likewise, there is a large amount of wasteful spending in disability and health benefits for people who can work.  The government should provide a strong, capable and temporary safety net for those in need….not a way of life.
4. End Mismanagement – St. Petersburg is systematically replacing perfectly good stop signs with taxpayer dollars and tax payer gas using twice as many government workers as needed who receive excess benefits.  Pinellas County wasted $3 million to buy beach access at Indian Rocks Beach but forgot to get the local towns approval to develop it…it would cost about $45 K per parking spot to do so!  Now the taxpayers have a $3 Million white elephant.  Such mismanagement of taxpayer dollars should end.

There are certainly more areas to cut.  Will our leaders get serious about cutting government spending or will they play politics? The choice is up to them and the voters will remember when they are up for re-election.  Every time they fail to cut wisely and every time they make a politically motivated cut, it will be a thousand more vote at the polls in 11/08 as we launch a constitutional amendment campaign to cut taxes and spending for real and cap their future growth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking to take over two successful marina operations that are privately run on city property (Harborage and O’Neill’s).  Below, our Research Chair (Sarah Lopez) details how the city believes it should make the money so it will have more to spend (even though it will lose money according to its own consultant!).  While making money from the property may have merit if they return the savings to the tax payer, that has not been the history in St. Petersburg under Mayor Rick Baker.  St. Petersburg continues to spend money on projects that are designed to keep elected officials in office and to bring political favors to those who keep them in office. If they wanted to help taxpayers, they would either sell the properties to give tax payers a break or allow a private company to run operations to save money.  Mayor Baker’s quote from a December ’06 Times article seems to sum it all up.  Maybe he should re-read some basic texts on free-market economics.  In case he doesn’t have any, I have provided quotes from a noted free-market economist. 

                              Dr. McKalip, Cut Taxes Now Chair.

 "This is an appreciating asset," Baker said. "If there is money to be made, who should make it?"

                           Mayor Rick Baker on the government takeover of marina businesses in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Times 12/06

“If history could prove and teach us anything, it would be that private ownership of the means of production is a necessary requisite of civilization and material well-being. . . . The continued existence of society depends upon private property…Private property creates for the individual a sphere in which he is free of the state. It sets limits to the operation of the authoritarian will. It allows other forces to arise side by side with and in opposition to political power.”

                                    Ludwig Von Mises, noted 20^th century economist and social philosopher.

"City of St. Pete Actively Trying to Lose Money by Managing Another Marina"  (see related 4/15/07 story at the St. Petersburg Times)

Since the City has a proven track record losing money on Mahaffey, the Airport, the Seaport, the Devil Rays, The pier and Sunken Gardens, they want to do it again by taking over the successfully run Harborage Marina. Their political agenda of ever-increasing city infrastructure, incurring unnecessary costs at taxpayer expense, and building docks and landside facilities at a marina currently running smoothly and generating $11 million in revenue for the city is simply laughable. So here's the skinny synopsized from April 15 article in St. Pete Times:

City of St. Petersburg is actively exploring taking over management of its municipal marina currently managed by Harborage Marina. The Harborage, owned by Marinas International, currently pays the city 8% of its revenues which generates $11 million for the city. Talks stalled late last week after a consultant said the city would make more money if the business remained in private hands because if taken over the city would have to buy or build both docks and landside facilities at an estimated taxpayer cost of $15 million. Thus, running the marina itself would net the city an estimated $7.5 million due to the offset for required capital improvements (and we can't even be sure from what we've read so far that the $7.5 million takes into account the annual costs of managing marina operations).  Not to mention the fact that Marinas International has agreed to offer 10 percent to the city in a new lease, though the city has suggested it may want even more. OK, so as any kindergartener would conclude on this elementary math problem: $7.5 million - $11 million = $3.5 million net loss if the city takes over the marina. Let's hope the city gets the same answer after they revisit the consultant's report in an effort to justify their agenda!

While these marina-management talks have hopefully stalled for good, a similar city plan at a smaller marina appears to be moving forward. Officials reviewed preliminary drawings for a redevelopment of O'Neill's Marina. Similar to the Harborage, the city owns the waterfront, but the marina is privately run. It's lease expires in June, but city officials are considering a two-year extension while they detail the marina's future.  Under the conceptual plan, the 108 boat slips currently available would be converted to about 40 slips that would accommodate larger boats. The city would also consider -- at additional and completely unnecessary taxpayer expense -- building a 50-boat mooring field offshore and potentially a 600-boat high and dry at nearby Maximo Park. The city, with Pinellas County -- and more of our taxpayer dollars -- as a potential partner, also would improve the boat ramp facilities already in place. The cost of the total redevelopment could reach an unpalatable $18.5-million, according to a consultant's estimate, and take up to five years to build. Grants could offset some construction costs, according to a consultant, and minuscule revenues - from $1- to $1.5-million a year - will probably not do much to make up for the rest.

Cut Taxes Now Newsletter

¨     Tax Rally a Success – Read Cut Taxes Now Chair Speech at bottom.

¨     Cut Taxes Now Officers take on St. Pete City Councilman Bennet at Neigborhood Meeting

¨     Come ask for a budget cut - Pinellas County Budget Meeting, 315 Court Street, Thursday 4/19/07! – If you don’t show up, your taxes will stay high.

¨     Pinellas County Sheriff Staff increases since 2001? – only 10% are Deputies.

¨     TAKE GRASSROOTS ACTION TODAY – Email OFFICIALS IN TALLAHASEE! http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/CUTTAX/Advocacy/?IssueID=10073&SiteID=-1

1.            Governor Crist, Speaker Rubio and Tax Revolt leaders stand side by side at Tallahassee Tax Rally.  – About 500 average hard working and overtaxed citizens converged on Tallahassee.  They were shouting “Cut Taxes Now” in unison to all corners of the state.  The Houston Chronicle reported “Gov. Charlie Crist made a surprise appearance at the rally and repeated his mantra that taxes must "drop like a rock."  Everyone at the rally shouted their support for a rollback to 2000-2001 levels, caps on future growth and action now!  Cut Taxes Now Chair Dr. McKalip offered “It is out of control spending….by BIG governments who forgot they were designed to be small…that has made our taxes skyrocket.”  Other Excerpts of Dr. McKalip’s Speech are below.

2.             St. Petersburg Waging War on Tax Relief. –  The City of St. Petersburg is starting its propaganda mill in its war on tax reform. They have dispatched their City Council members to local neighborhood meetings to dispute the fact that spending and taxes are out of control.  While taxes have risen nearly 100% since 2000, they are sticking to the mantra that they cut tax rates (token cuts) they even used some inventive math to say that taxes only went up 1.8%!  Further, they have issued a list of politically charged budget cuts with threats to fire hundreds of city workers.  This is all part of the war.  Relations Chair Rod Moren, Vice-Chair Dr. Rich Knipe, and Chair Dr. McKalip presented their side of the story to convince the Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association that Spending must be cut.  Cut Taxes Now feels there is plenty of room to cut back city government by about $22 Million while still meeting the core functions of local government.

3.             SPEAK UP OR BE IGNORED  - come to the Pinellas County Budget Meeting Thursday Night at the Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court Street.  Already, local government officials are using the lame excuse that if you don’t show up at the meeting, you don’t deserve a tax cut.  DON’T GIVE THEM ANY EXCUSE! – SHOW UP!

4.             Pinellas Sheriff Office hired 458 new staff – very few are officers on the street – The St. Petersburg Times reported on local spending.  With all the pictures of Police officers and Firefighters on the front page, it read like a local government propaganda piece claiming all the money was going to working Officers and Firefighters on the street. So here is a fact.  The times prominently reported 458 new staff hires since 2000. Problem is that only 47 are for actual Deputies who fight crime on the street.  Over half are administrative staff and the rest are prison guards.  The Times Also reported that the average Government employees costs taxpayer’s $75,000 per year. 

5.             WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION TODAY  -  By using this link, you can send an email to your Elected Officials in Tallahasse to let them know you expect action today.  The current issue is to make sure that ALL counties get relief if their taxes are out of control.  TAKE ACTION TODAY!

 http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/CUTTAX/Advocacy/?IssueID=10073&SiteID=-1

Excerpts from Dr. McKalip’s Speech at Tallahassee Tax Rally, 4/17/07.

On Tallahassee’s Proposals

“………..There are a few good proposals floating around here in Tallahassee and we have to thank Speaker Rubio and the House for getting the closest to helping us….They want to rollback taxes to year 2000-20001 levels.  That’s great! They want to cap future growth to inflation and population growth.  That’s Great!

But they want the same wasteful local governments to be able to ignore thae caps....We think only voters should OVERCOME those caps.

Here in Tallahassee, they are trying to let off the hook 30 counties they call small -  or fiscally constrained in government spek- even though nearly all of them have raised taxes too much ....and their citizens need relief too.  Don't exempt ANY OF THESE COUNTIES!

The Senate’s response, to be kind, has been a major disappointment.  We hope that they can listen to this crowd and deliver for Florida Taxpayers.   They have offered the good proposal to make government spending transparent...They have tried to aim at fair valuations of our properties. Let's thank them for that.

Our Governor got our debate started…and we should thank him. But We all worry about expanding exemption to HOMESTEADERS ONLY and giving Homesteaders even more protection by allowing the portable save our homes cap for only them! 

We can't keep separating out thos who are protected from those who pay the taxes.....ALL FLORIDA TAXPAYERS NEED TAX RELIEF!  Homesteaders and NON-HOMESTEADERS.  That means business owners, Snowbirds, second home owners.  They deserve a rollback, not continued inequity…”

ON OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING

“Their outrageous spending  is having real and dangerous effects.

We have older home owners looking to move out of the state because they can't afford to stay.  This is while cities are building their fifth or 6^th dog park, sports teams get millions of years in taxpayer money, Taxpayer funded casino ships that go bankrupt and brand new stop signs!

We have  Young Families who can’t buy their first home while the cities pay for most of the cost of health insurance for Family members of government employees -  the family members.  The average worker in Pinellas county costs taxpayers $75 thousand a year.  I can guarantee you that that breadwinner for that young family is paying for their OWN family's health insurance while they ALSO also pay for the health insurance of  a government worker's family through high taxes! 

THEY CAN”T BUY THE HOUSE THEY COULD HAVE BOUGHT FIVE YEARS AGO if they can afford one at all.

We have Small businesses struggling NOT to pass their outrageous taxes onto consumers or to even stay open while mega-million and mega-billion dollar companies are getting 60 and 100 million dollar CORPORATE welfare checks from our local governments.  They promise jobs to open companies on the taxpayers dime, but the workers they bring in won’t be able to afford to live here!  AND THEY ARE GETTING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE AGAINST OTHER BUSINESSES!  This is what happens in Socialists countries...governmnts:-picking winners and losers!  BUT THIS IS AMERICA and this corporate welfare is UNAMERICAN and Must stop!

BY THE WAY, We have Renters who might be chased to the street or to another state while the people who refuse to pay their own way are receiving tens of millions from FAILED SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS!

We have the snow birds -  valuable seasonal residents who mean so much to the Florida Economy – Thinking it might just be better to go to Arizona or Georgia or Elsehwere in the Winter.  All the while the government is making them bear the largest tax loads.  Since Seasonal residents don’t vote here it is the same as TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTAITON!  Well, they are going to be VOTING - VOTING WITH THEIR FEET to leave the state!”

§        Get on the (free) Bus to Tallahassee – Tuesday, 4/17, 6:30 a.m., Pinellas Parkside Mall

§        Seminole Mayor fails to Show for Debate on Tax Reform -  Pinellas Republican Executive Committee receives tax cutting message well.

§        Vice Chair Rich Knipe, M.D. published in St. Petersburg Times today asking for meaningful tax reform.

§        Taxes and Beer – See story at website.

1.     Pierce the Bubble in Tallahasee – Get on the Bus Tuesday 4/17! Local elected officials from all over the state are waging WAR on tax relief.  They can’t stand the notion that they would have to operate with about 20-30% less to spend next year….a perfectly workable amount of money for our bloated local governments.  They are SWARMING Tallahassee with paid lobbyists, political consultants and their own staff….all paid by the taxpayers.  We need you to let the legislature see those of us living outside the political fishbowl…the average people who need tax relief.  We need you to join us on the bus ride to Tallahassee so we can make our voices heard over the complaints of the local governments that keep your taxes high. See the bus info and sign up info at www.CutTaxesNow.com. We will meet at Pinellas Parkside Parking lot Tuesday 4/17 and the bus will leave at about 6:30 a.m.  The trip is free and lunch will be provided.

2.     Seminole Mayor Backs out of Debate at Pinellas Republican Executive Committee; Few local officials dare to show their face and defend their out-of-control spending to their party.  Cut Taxes Now Chair David McKalip addressed the Pinellas Republican Committee and asked them to demand that the local elected officials from their party cut spending 20-30% and cap future tax growth.  Not Surprisingly, Seminole Mayor Jimmy Johnson Backed out of the Event.  It is likely that it would be hard to defend the increased property tax collections in Seminole and throughout the county that have nearly doubled since 2000: 4-5X the rate of inflation.  The meeting is usually full of local elected officials from the party, but tonight nearly all chose not to face the wrath of local voters and party supporters who are demanding tax reform while they are waging war against it.  The Speech was a rousing success and well received by the local Republican Committee who seemed to wonder along with the chair: What happened to the republican party of lower taxes and smaller government? An Excerpt of the speech is provided below.

3.     Dr. Richard Knipe, Vice-Chair of Cut Taxes Now, takes on St. Pete Mayor’s Tax reform proposal. -  The St. Petersburg times published a letter from Cut Taxes Now Vice-Chair Dr. Rich Knipe today asking for the city to cut its spending.  The letter exposes the sham tax reform proposals offered by the Mayor since the proposals will do little to roll back spending 20-30% that we all deserve.

4.     What would happened if buying beer for a group of friends were like paying taxes and getting tax relief?  Check out this amusing story at our website that shows that mixing taxes and beer can be dangerous!   A little levity and a good point is made.

Excerpt from Speech to Pinellas Republican Executive Committee.

Thank you all for allowing me to speak on the runaway taxes that are hurting everyone in Florida.  All over the state, and especially here in our county, local governments have doubled their spending since the beginning of the decade.  Local tax collections have outpaced  inflation and population growth by 4-5x.  Our local officials tell us about the rising costs of employees and fuel.  We hear about the token tax rate cuts even wile actual TAX COLLECTIONS have increased.  We have not heard any local official state that they are spending too much money.  It is hard to find a local official to recognize that there is even a problem with the budgets they have.  Yet we have a housing market that has stagnated with record numbers of homes on the market, we have small businesses passing on tax costs to consumers, renters having trouble finding affordable housing, young families not able to buy their first home, older home owners trapped in their homes because they can’t buy a smaller home without paying higher taxes!  We see our local governments forming ranks through the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties to wage war on the tax relief and reform attempts coming from Tallahassee.  Even if the Legislature can overcome these forces, they likely face a court battle from the local governments!      That is why I started the grassroots group Cut Taxes Now in 9/06.  I hope that you will visit our website at CutTaxesNow.com and consider contributing to our group……

…..I think that as a Republican Executive Committee, you should be asking the local elected officials from your party why they are fighting against tax relief.  I attended the Giuliani rally last week.  Now there is a person to set an example.  He cut Taxes 23 times in office and government spending rose SLOWER than inflation!  With that, he didn’t complain that he would have to close the police department…he cut the murder rate by 69% and the crime rate by 65%.  That is an example our local republican elected officials should be following….

¨     RALLY AT THE CAPITOL, Tuesday 4/17/07 -  Make your Voices Heard.

¨     Fear Mongering by Cities and Counties as They Wage War on Tax Reform.

¨     Pinellas County Budget Meetings.  Go to one in your county!

¨     Anna Maria Residents Demand Tax Reform.

¨     County Commissioner Susan Latvala Says she won’t raise taxes then advocates increased taxes!

1. April 17^th Tax Rally in Tallahasee – Cut Taxes Now has been working on common goals with Floridians for Property Tax Reform (www.saveourhomesforever.com) to achieve property tax reform.  We are asking all Cut Taxes Now members to take a day and go to Tallahassee to let your leaders know in person that you need meaningful, fair tax relief this year!  Buses will be staged from around the state and travel up for the 12:30 rally at the capitol.  Elected officials will address the crowd as will the leaders of the grassroots tax revolt efforts.  IF THEY ONLY HEAR FROM THE FEAR-MONGERING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE WILL GET NOTHING DONE! WE Must penetrate the BUBBLE with REAL PEOPLE so Tallahassee will act now! Unlike the paid lobbyists swarming the capitol to prevent tax reform, we are going to have to take time off of work and go.  That will carry more weight than a hundred lobbyists in suits! Go to www.saveourhomesforever.com to learn more about the rally.

1. Cities and Counties Continue their Fear-mongering and War on Tax Reform.  All over the state, cities and counties are trying to scare citizens away from asking for fair and meaningful tax reform.  Another example is found this week in Volusia county as reported in the Daytona Beach Journal. They continue to claim that services must be cut and claim they will have to close police departments and lose firefighters to do it.  Citizens should not be alarmed at such claims as they are mainly propaganda.  There is plenty of room to scale back loc