Why I am voting NO on Amendment #1

[beachmaster]

HOWEVER, if I vote no, WE ARE GIVING THEM A COP OUT!

If I vote yes, I give them a cop out... they will say, The People Have Spoken, and have gotten what they wanted.

And that will be a lie. We will have not gotten anything remotely resembling what we want.

We can vote this one down, and create a much better amendment later. Later, we will show how this amendment was a farce and a cruel joke played on the good property owners of Florida, and make a coalition for real change in our property taxes, and one that demands lower spending (for the true crux of the issue, just as Ron Paul points out on a national level, is to REDUCE THE SPENDING!).

If this amendment is passed, everyone will be sorry (except for the few special interests who will benefit, like big corporations who's property assessments are very far below the market value, who will benefit by the 10% cap, whereas the homeowner who's property is over assessed, will be subject to more of the same).

Vote NO to this false dichotomy! Then let's come back stronger with a real coalition to lower spending and then lower taxes.

 

[beachmaster]

Do we really wait for the perfect tax reform proposal to come around and vote NO until we see it, or do we vote YES and send a strong message that tax reform is a #1 priority and it needs to be addressed by state legislators.

The problem with this is that this is an amendment to the constitution. State legislators will not be able to override the constitution no matter how badly they may want to (and sadly, they will not even want to).

 

[sherpah23]

I will be voting NO. We need Real property tax reform. Not a drop in the bucket that unequal across the board.

 

[mnewcomb]

I voted yes...

Any chance to lower taxes must be taken...

Facts:

1. Orange County budget ballooned 23% from 2005 to 2006...
2. Orange County increased 'Culture and Recreation' budget 143% from 2005 to 2006
3. Orlando/Orange County just voted to borrow 500 million to build a new arena
4. Orange County library budget increased 28.7% from 2005 to 2006

We have to resort to amending the Constitution because our 'leaders' won't do jack about run away government spending...

Stop spreading their FUD and vote yes!

 

[beachmaster]

We have to resort to amending the Constitution because our 'leaders' won't do jack about run away government spending...

I'm not against amending the constitution, but we need to bring up a much better amendment than this sham. How about we bring up an amendment to first lower spending, then lower the taxes, and return some of the already collected excess money on over assessed properties back to the rightful owners of that money? Now that's an amendment I could vote for.

 

[DowntownGator]

I don't get the negativity. I'm a homeowner, this amendment lowers my taxes, and keeps SOH.

I voted yes. Lower taxes = thumbs up!

Millage rates can only be set so high pursuant to section 9(b) of Article VII, ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods of not longer than two years when approved by the electors, shall not be levied in excess of ten mills for all municipal purposes.

In other words, as someone tried to say earlier:

"We can vote FOR this one right now, and create a much better amendment later!!!"

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I voted yes...

Any chance to lower taxes must be taken...

It reminds me of this national economic stimulus rebate crap.
A one time payment doesn't stimulate much of anything according to permanent income hypothesis, but I never bring that up when someone's trying to return tax money.

It's really stupid the way politicians run around acting like property taxes are a hard issue to deal with.

 

[thedjnikki]

I am voting NO on Amendment 1 because my university is already cutting classes at my campus and raising tuition because of less funds from less property taxes. I do not currently own a home and am in a fixed rent situation so NO is the only benefit for me.

 

[UCFGavin]

i wasn't too sure about this issue until i came into this thread...but beachmaster has won me for the no team.

 

[Malakai0]

There's no way to win. They will never actually cut spending so the money will just come out of your wallet from elsewhere instead.

I still don't know, my mom & uncle say yes.

 

[IRO-bot]

I am voting for it. $50,000 off my property value? I have no choice whether the rest of it is good or bad. My insurance went from $1100 to $2300 and my taxes hiked up $400 this year alone. I have to try to do something. My wife just lost her job, we just got pregnant, and I work in the housing industry. My job could be gone soon too. Anything to cut a little money for me is needed.

Hell, I plan on using all of Bush's "stimulus" package to pay my mortgage. I have about 2 months I can survive untill we start getting in big trouble.

 

[beachmaster]

i wasn't too sure about this issue until i came into this thread...but beachmaster has won me for the no team.

I understand both sides of this issue very well, being in the real estate business. I think we need to make a stand to shout out, THIS AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH... then we regroup, get on board with a group (or start one) to put in a REAL amendment with teeth. I am convinced you made the right decision UCFGavin. I understand all other's POV who are going the other way however.

 

[daviddee]

,,,

 

[dshields]

I can appreciate Yays and Nays on this.

Here are some observations of mine after reading this thread since I was undecided on this issue and was not leaning either way.

-Some here have argued we should take what we can.
-Some here argued that this is not good enough so we should reject it.
-Some here claim we should create better legislation.
-Some are concerned local government will raise service fees and taxes to compensate.

After thinking about this, here are my thoughts. Unless someone here has a new amendment draft that I can read right now, the argument that we need better legislation goes out the window. Frankly, I want this to go through so I can see what my local government does about this. Do they A) take the revenue decrease and trim the budget or B) raise fees and taxes to compensate.

If they choose "B" this will tell me the type of individuals we have in government and puts them on notice. If they choose "A", well, I will be pleasantly surprised and supportive at the next election cycle. You see, the grassroots in my city plan to run for local office. We plan to slowly take over and implement change. So when tax decreases like this come about we can be sure it is preserved through the local government.

Stop waiting for a "better" amendment and make this one work and begin immediately on the next amendment to lower taxes more evenly across the board. Begin to run for office in your local government so you can be sure they cut the budgets rather than inflate/preserve them.

Vote for this amendment, and put your local government on notice. Tell them you will be watching their actions and see if they truly preserve this tax break. Tell them if they don't that you will organize significant opposition against them and insure they will not be reelected to office. Threaten them with your votes. Take charge and take control. These are "civil servants" not dictators and we are not fish in the water waiting for the bread crumbs.

This is our land and officials elected by us. Hold them accountable and let them know it.

Dave

 

[daviddee]

...

 

[sandersondavis]

Damn it! I usually know how I am going to vote on every issue before I walk into the polls. Amendment #1 is an exception. I am on the fence with this one, but leaning ever so slightly towards the "yes" side.

PS. Fuck you Rich Crotty.

 

[webber53]

Damn it! I usually know how I am going to vote on every issue before I walk into the polls. Amendment #1 is an exception. I am on the fence with this one, but leaning ever so slightly towards the "yes" side.

PS. Fuck you Rich Crotty.

I voted no on this issue!

I agree wholeheartedly on your P.S.

 

[ronpaulmn]

My brother lives in Florida and is voting no on it. But his wife is a teacher, and they have basically told the teachers they are going to cut 1500 jobs if it passed. So teachers (and their families) are just voting NO for it to save their jobs.

 

[IRO-bot]

My brother lives in Florida and is voting no on it. But his wife is a teacher, and they have basically told the teachers they are going to cut 1500 jobs if it passed. So teachers (and their families) are just voting NO for it to save their jobs.

That is a bunch of B.S.
They did the same thing in Cali and nothing negative came out of it. Stupid money hungry jerks. Cut the Super's salaries and the commisioners.

 

[Vonhayek7]

I voted yes. They will threaten jobs that are tied to the community, but there will be such a local outcry that it will force them to look elsewhere for cuts.