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Hernando Today

One Small Step For Homeowners

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TONY HOLT

Published: January 16, 2008

SPRING HILL - SPRING HILL - One political representative is urging voters to vote "yes" for a constitutional amendment to cut property taxes, regardless of what teachers unions and firefighter groups say.

Jack E. Greacen, of the Florida Association of Realtors, battled a cold and drove from Tallahassee to speak before a group of 16 people Wednesday afternoon at the new VFW building off Anderson Snow Road. He also was expected to give presentations to several more local residents later in the day about the "Yes on 1" campaign.

Greacen, who admitted to representing those in favor of the amendment, dismissed any notion the Legislature would choose to cut education funding if voters passed it.

"2001 was the only time legislators chose not to put more money into the education fund," he said.

Greacen accused opponents of the amendment would harp on the "fears and misconceptions" residents have, namely that fire and police departments would be forced to roll back their budgets and lay off workers.

"Local municipalities will play upon your sympathies," he warned.

Voters will get their chance to vote for or against the amendment during the Florida primary, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 29.

If the amendment passes, it would double the homestead exemption for primary homeowners to $50,000, make "Save Our Homes" tax protection portable for homeowners who want to move to a new residence (up to $500,000), offer a $25,000 tax break on tangible personal property for businesses and mandate a 10-percent cap on annual rises in assessments for property without homestead exemptions.

"Until you implement it, you really don't know," Greacen. "If we get the ball rolling, we can do more."

As for those teachers, firefighters and other government or union employees who are campaigning against "Yes on 1," Greacen believes they are hurting their own cause. It is hard enough for someone in their income bracket to own a residence in any metropolitan area.

"Why would you vote against something that may give you the ability to own a home?" he said.

But the Florida Parent-Teacher Association, one of the many statewide groups opposed to the amendment, argues that public schools would lose approximately $1.6 billion during the next five years if it passes. Some believe counties and cities would be forced to cut tutoring programs.

Several schools also would lose their resource officers and crossing guards, union representatives have said.

Greacen said from 2001 to 2006, ad valorem tax revenue throughout Florida has increased by 100 percent.

"The people we think were good stewards of our money haven't been," he said, zeroing on elected officials at the county and city level.

With the amendment, the average annual savings would be about $240 for homeowners.

Greacen described it not as reform, but relief.

"I don't think it's going to do squat," said local realtor Jon Albert Zydenbos, who was among those who listened to Greacen Wednesday. "It's a start. It's good-intentioned, but that's all it is."

For more information on the "Yes on 1" campaign, visit www.yeson1florida.com.

For more information on the "Yes on 1" campaign, visit www.yeson1florida.com.

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