LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rae Will Donate Amendment 1 Proceeds

I appreciate the feedback of Christopher Miles to the letter I submitted regarding the passage of Amendment 1 and how I felt the continued inequities of property taxes reinforces the shortcomings of Save Our Homes.

I gave the same opinion of many major newspapers, including The Tampa Tribune, with their viewpoints that the legislation was poorly written, although Hernando Today's Editor Chris Wessel seemed to have been one of the giddiest of all supporters in his pre-election article.

My primary contention lays to rest with the often-experienced scenario that, when I sold my previous home in 2005 and moved to a home that is valued much less, I had to assume a tax bill more than twice the previous amount. In all fairness, a roll back to allow myself and others the newly passed benefit of limiting the increase to the 3 percent would make us happier homeowners. That would put to test county commissioners throughout Florida to compensate taxpayers for the out of control spending.

Those neighbors I spoke of had initiatedthe conversation of my property taxes when I first moved to my new home. I didn't mind them poking their noses in my affairs - they were the ones who were aghast at the differences in tax liabilities. If they had been responsible citizens they would have been justified to support Amendment 1 but they didn't vote - their votes weren't necessary.

Also, I meant no insult to senior citizens. They are the most civic-minded of all residents; their needs are immediate and of considerable concern. I wish they could use their "windfall" of lower tax bills for something other than medical expenses, but it is unlikely. (I recently heard an advertisement offering a doublewide mobile home for $39,900 - I would gladly have any of them as neighbors. We would all benefit from the portability of the 3 percent cap.)

I sincerely hope the constitutionality of the passage of Amendment 1 proves to be an unwarranted legal matter. Other people's distresses overshadow my opinion.

A final comment in response to Mr. Miles' letter, citing his suggestion that I donate my savings to a charity. NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) is my immediate choice. Although I definitely won't see the annual $3,700 savings of a couple in South Tampa that Gov. Charlie Crist so proudly brought to our attention during his campaigning for the amendment and, since I can't commit to that $240 amount because I doubt my home is valued at whatever the "typical" value may be, I will keep you posted on the amount of my donation this November when my postal worker delivers the letter that shows a return address of Juanita B. Sikes, CFC, Tax Collector, Hernando County.

At that point, I will forward a copy of the receipt of my charitable contribution to Editor Chris Wessel.

Ron Rae

Spring Hill

Words Have

Specific Meanings

Perhaps Ms. Keen should peruse a dictionary before she decides to write an opinion or otherwise express herself. That way she might have a better understanding of the words she uses and not take umbrage when her words are taken literally.

She used the word "endure" twice in her original response to my opinion.

Endure: "... to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding ... to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate ...to support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently."

In no way were her words or statements taken out of context. She choose the words she used to convey her feelings; all I did was point out that her words have specific meanings.

Yet, now she wants to take a completely different stand than her original response and say that no one wished there weren't young people in our community, least of all herself. A volte-face from her earlier statement of the good it does the seniors here, to see "these younger people leave the area for entertainment ..."

It is apparent that she and I will never agree; this is fine. However, unlike Ms. Keen, I don't try to play an issue from both ends. And for future reference I believe the word Ms. Keen was searching for was "ageist" when she accused me of having "geriatric phobia." I am not an ageist, though age is relevant in many situations. However, what I do believe is that a community needs to be inclusive to all who make it their home and not exclusionary for the primary benefit of any one group of individuals.

Nia Diebel

Spring Hill

High-Priced Escape

I read and hear about the plight of those out-of-state residents who own homes in Florida and their escalating property taxes. They cry foul, or should they?

I think they should go back home and look at their own states and localities and see how out-of-state residents are treated in their own states. Some states tag on additional 1 percent or more tax to the property tax bill, give no Save Our Home exemption or no Homestead Exemption to nonresident homeowners. Many of the states are not that dissimilar to what Florida does to nonresident owners.

Also, Florida does not have an income tax like most states. If you were to sell a second home in other states, the gain on the sale of that home will be taxed in that state. No tax here in Florida!

Owning a second home is not always a good investment because the cost of ownership may far outweigh the costs of staying at a nice Florida resort for the few months. If you do not own a home, you can stay at different Florida locations while sunning your winters away.

If you own a winter home, you are stuck with it and the neighboring critters. You have to work on that home and have little to no fun relaxing in the Florida sun and warmth.

Owning a second home in Florida should be looked at as a high-priced winter escape.

Fred Peters

Brooksville