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State cap on millages, and capping the percentage of increase that a millage can go up. He argued, “Let the local level govern itself; it’s the safest thing.” He believed the present system is fair and felt the best thing they could do is to put a maximum increase on other properties besides homesteaded ones, like commercial and non-homesteaded properties. Commissioner Voltz commented that it is the State Legislature that sets the rules and regulations by which Property Appraisers are governed. She also commented on how hard hit the people are with assessed values, especially with non-homesteaded and commercial properties. She felt everyone in the State is affected and they needed to look, in particular, at Brevard and Indian River Counties because the problem is widespread. Representative Poppell discussed the ad valorem tax base in the State of Florida and saw it as very important that the counties also look at homestead exemptions and portability. He commented further that it would bode well for the counties if a careful look is taken “when we start doing this”, and it would be much better if the counties could find some way to stop spending so much. Commissioner Voltz believed State Legislators do not understand how counties and municipalities have to work things out. She read a portion of a letter regarding taxable values and general millage providing an example of how they seem to work. She understood that the State is telling the County to stop spending and she agreed with that. Commissioner Wheeler agreed with the example presented by Commissioner Voltz, stating, “You don’t take $105 billion off the tax rolls. You take it and transfer it for someone else to pay, … transferring the burden to someone else.” October 25, 2006 4 Joint Workshop / Brevard