5 Reasons To Vote YES for Amendment 5
- Amendment 5 is a long overdue tax cut for all property owners: families, businesses, second homeowners and investors. Property tax levies have doubled over the past six years – from $15 billion in 2000 to $30 billion in 2006. With higher fuel prices and food costs, and stagnant incomes, it’s no wonder Florida families are struggling to make ends meet. If you’re living the American Dream in Florida, you stand to save 25% to 40% on your property taxes in 2010.
- Amendment 5 will jumpstart Florida’s economy. Economists estimate that Amendment 5 will save property owners more than $10 billion in taxes. This will increase the liquidity and net spendable income of millions of property owners.
- Amendment 5 will shift the burden of funding education from property owners to all who access the public school system. Currently, property owners pay a disproportionate share, compared to renters, for our schools. And property owners whose children attend private school pay tuition and public school taxes. By funding schools through sales taxes and other measures, Amendment 5 creates a more equitable tax system.
- Amendment 5 offers much-needed tax relief for millions of property owners and continues the momentum created by Amendment 1 – approved by voters in January 2008 – toward reforming Florida’s archaic property tax system. Amendment 5 also pressures legislators to get serious about tapping stable and lucrative revenue sources for schools such as Internet sales (a $3 billion cash cow and an increase in state sales tax — much of it paid by non residents!).
- Amendment 5 will provide much-needed tax relief to Florida’s seniors, many of whom fear losing their homes because of an inability to pay higher property taxes on a fixed income. On November 4, you have an unprecedented opportunity to vote YES for the biggest property tax cut in Florida history.Vote YES on Amendment 5.
- September 4, 2008
FLORIDA REALTORS VOW TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR LOWER PROPERTY TAXES FOR ALL FLORIDIANS
Florida’s Legislature Must Take the Lead for Meaningful Tax Reform
(Tallahassee, FL) – Supporters with the grassroots group, “Give Me Five for Florida’s Future,” today expressed regret with the decision by the Florida Supreme Court to toss Amendment 5 off the November 2008 ballot. Amendment 5 guaranteed a dramatic cut of 25 percent to 40 percent off property owners’ tax rates, depending on where they lived. One of the primary proponents of “Give Me Five for Florida’s Future,” the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) vowed to continue working for property tax relief.
“FAR has always been, and will continue to be, a leader in the fight for lower property taxes so all Floridians may realize the American dream of homeownership,” said Chuck Bonfiglio, the group’s president. “Today’s ruling will not deter us in continuing to support meaningful tax relief in these challenging economic times.”
The Supreme Court decision comes less than a month after Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper’s ruling to take the amendment language off the Florida ballot.
“We are disappointed the people of Florida will not have an opportunity to vote for tax relief in November,” Bonfiglio added. “This is particularly troubling given the fact that TRIM notices are arriving in mailboxes across the state and sentiment grows even stronger for significant and immediate tax relief.”
FAR’s Vice President of Public Policy John Sebree today spoke with Senator Mike Haridopolos, a major opponent of Amendment 5, and pledged to work with him and others in the business community in reforming Florida’s property tax system. “The people of Florida will now be looking to their elected legislative leaders in passing major property tax reform measures,” said Sebree. “The people of Florida deserve to have their voices heard.”