10/25/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5. PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS Commissioner Voltz drew reference to a letter to Senator Mike Haridopolos that pertains to Homestead exemptions and assessments as well as a number of different issues. She noted that they had discussions with the Florida Association of Counties on the matter and wanted to talk about how they could get together and move forward in their Agenda to the Florida Association of Counties. (Clerk’s Note: a copy of the letter was given to members of the Panel.) Commissioner Davis announced that there was an upcoming Florida Association of Counties’ Workshop scheduled for November 1, 2006, where they would craft legislative talking points and legislative positions for this coming session, regarding the property fairness of the property tax issue. He asked for Representative Ralph Poppell’s insight. Florida State Representative, Ralph Poppell, explained how this issue is getting a lot of discussion from the incoming Speaker to the Governor, and there were a lot of things that still needed to be worked out. He felt it was a bit premature to “nail something down” as there were still continuing discussions. He informed the Panel that the first organizational committee meeting is scheduled for November 21, 2006, and the second would be in December. Commissioner Davis commented that he was still hearing, through the grapevine, about the homestead exemption increase, a tax cap in revenue, and a millage cap, which he thought were not pleasing to the County Administrator. County Administrator Joseph Baird interjected that there was conflicting information. In that, there was talk about “we have an unfair tax system with the 3% for homesteaded property” then, in the same breath, there was also talk about doubling the homestead exemption, then a cap, when all that is being done is shifting the burden and yet trying to cap. He discussed, in detail, the October 25, 2006 3 Joint Workshop / Brevard