St. Petersburg March 1, 2007 - Cut Taxes Now PAC, Inc. announces that one Mayoral and two City Council candidates in Gulfport, Florida have agreed to sign the organization’s Tax and Spending Pledge. Mayoral Candidate Clark Scherer and two City Council candidates for the same seat, Christine Brown and Courtland Yarborough will publicly sign the Pledge at the Gulfport “Turn Out The Vote” event Tuesday night, March 6 at the Gulfport Casino.  In their first year of office, the pledge commits the candidates to only support a budget with a hard cap on tax and spending.  The Cap will prevent tax and spending growth beyond the lesser of 3% or inflation plus population growth. The candidates further pledge that in their second year in office they will only support a budget with lower taxes, fees and spending than the previous year.  Current Mayoral incumbent Mike Yakes, Current Council member Michelle King and candidate Marlene Shaw have not yet responded to requests to sign the pledge.

            Local government tax collections have approximately doubled since 2000 and have fueled excess spending by those governments.  Gulfport is no exception with a doubling of tax collections since 2000 under Mayor Yakes and Councilwoman King. Property owners can’t keep up with the excess tax collections and are struggling to pay these tax bills.  Business costs are being passed on to consumers, rents are increasing, young families can’t afford a first home and older home owners can’t downsize.   Seasonal residents are considering selling their property and going elsewhere in the winter.

            Cut Taxes Now PAC supports candidates that can demonstrate discipline in government spending and provide tax relief to the hardworking Florida Taxpayer.  The ceremony for signing will occur between 6 and 8 pm at the Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. South and is open to the public and the press.

The pledge for the Mayor reads: “If elected to the office of Mayor of Gulfport, Florida, I pledge to offer a budget with locally generated revenue and spending that will grow no more than the lesser of 3% or inflation and population growth barring a declared state of emergency or a vote of the citizens of Gulfport. Further, by the second year in office, I will offer a budget to decrease city spending and all tax and fee collections compared to the prior year”.