By VERNA BROCK
First, I’d like to remind everyone that the Waulla United Methodist Church is having a garage sale to help raise funds for our Food Pantry. As you know, grocery costs are only rising. The pantry operates, as it has for years, on donations from friends. This Saturday you have an opportunity to help support a cause that helps many families. Jesus bade us feed the hungry and clothe the naked, among other things.
Come out this Saturday, June 13th, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the log cabin church on the bike trail. The Kast Net will have its food truck there serving lunch and is generously donating all proceeds to help stock the pantry. Arts and crafts makers will be in the Alford Social Hall, while the garage sale will be in the little white chapel. Be sure to get there early to scoop up the great bargains! See you there!
Recently, I have been in a lot of discussions, conversations and powwows concerning the proposed property tax “reform” making its way to the ballot as an initiative for voters to either approve or reject. Admittedly, at first glance, it sounds like a pretty good deal. Who doesn’t want to pay fewer taxes?
Recently, someone I love and respect made the comment, “I’m tired of paying rent on a house I’m supposed to own.” He seemed to overlook that taxes support services. Everything from ambulances, fire and police first responders, road and bridge departments, libraries, parks and recreation, the courts—the list goes on and on.
Sure, we could all pick and choose things we might think unnecessary, but our elected representation has spent entire careers balancing the wants and needs of constituents. Property appraisers are intimately acquainted with how revenue is raised, and how funds are disbursed in accordance with state and federal laws. The current system seems to be a delicately balanced edifice held together by a net of legislation that has been calibrated and amended to “fix” previous unintended consequences.
The current proposals could (and most likely will) sweep away the foundation designed to support services for even the most fragile citizens among us. Eliminating the bulk of property tax will necessitate other ways to fund government and services. The most obvious alternative, since Florida has no income tax, could be a shocking increase in the sales tax. Another option could be levying fees for services. Either way (or both), these solutions would place significant regressive pressure on those with the fewest resources.
In small rural counties such as ours and our neighbors, funding sources are seriously limited to begin with. Small population, limited developable land and economic development all result in a much smaller tax base from which to draw resources. Despite these restraints, the state legislature has worked to equalize and balance how taxes are paid.
Some legislators say the law would hold ad valorem funds for education “harmless.” However, careful reading of the bills suggests there might be a way to reduce school funding in the fine print.
No matter what, this seems a pretty clumsy effort to reduce tax burdens without adequate forethought and planning.
I urge you to follow this legislation as it moves through the process from the special session to the ballot. Make sure you truly understand all of the ramifications your vote might have.