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Politics

Florida TaxWatch: November Voters Approved $1.5 Billion in Annual Local Tax Increases

December 12, 2018 - 11:15am

Independent watchdog Florida TaxWatch on Wednesday released a follow-up to its 2018 Voter Guide, detailing local tax measures and new bond issues that voters approved last month. It also provides an update on what's next for the 11 amendments now part of the Florida Constitution.

The report shows voters in many Florida counties were in a generous mood on Nov. 6, voting in favor of $1.5 billion in county and school district sales and property tax increases. In addition, voters in two counties and eight cities approved $1.2 billion in local government bond issues, which will necessitate property tax increases to pay off the bonds.

This follows tax increases for 11 additional counties and four special districts that were approved by voters during the primary election in August. These August increases totaled $335 million annually.

“On the ballot, these tax increases may not seem like much, but they do add up,” said Florida TaxWatch Chairman Pat Neal. “A valuable resource like Florida TaxWatch is needed now more than ever to keep taxpayers informed and to hold government accountable.”

No tax increase failed in November and only one bond issue (Cooper City) failed.  Most passed easily. Notable exceptions were sales tax referendums in Collier and Lee counties that just squeaked over 50 percent "yes" votes.

On the plus side, Florida taxpayers have shown they are willing to pay more taxes if they feel the return will be worth it. Nine counties passed tax increases for schools, five more counties approved sales tax increases to fund transportation and other infrastructure need, and Alachua County approved a Children’s Trust with the authority to levy up to one-half mill in property taxes to fund services for children. In addition, many of the tax referendums created a citizen oversight committee to monitor the spending of these new dollars.

“It’s clear that Florida taxpayers are committed to funding local government services if the return on investment is worthwhile,” said Florida TaxWatch President & CEO Dominic M. Calabro. “While this commitment to improving schools and transportation is commendable, it is imperative that taxpayers stay involved in the process to ensure that their money is going to the right place.”

Read the FULL analysis here.

Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog & taxpayer research institute, at work in the Sunshine State for nearly 40 years. It is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. For more information, click here.


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Comments

Just goes to show just how stupid, and how bereft of "reading comprehension abilities", Floridians actually are; and how politicians and lobbiests ALWAYS "pull the wool" further over voters' eyes via "constitutional amendments" prepared by (GUESS WHAT???)... another &$@#*`"COMMITTEE"!!!!!!

Maybe it is different in other counties in Florida, but to give Broward County more money to squander is sheer madness. As far as I know the bond money given to our schools years ago is still not being applied competently. What does it take to wise up county voters to stop throwing good money after bad? What does it take to stop voting in the same old incompetent leaders in this county? No one is held accountable for anything let alone the spending of taxpayer money here in Broward as far as i can tell. We are listing the same problems that need handling that I saw 30 years ago before we moved out of Broward County and out of Florida until we returned in 2015. Same problems! What does that tell you? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. I hope leadership in Broward County takes note and makes us wrong about expectation that there will be no improvements going forward. I'd be happy if the County could just adjust the street lights so we could move traffic faster on our way too busy streets. Next step would be to put a moratorium on building in over populated areas of the county so traffic won't continue moving toward total gridlock. Guess I'm dreaming, right?

Spot on. The sheeple keep electing incompetents. No accountability. Give us more, more say the beasts.

Time to put together a package of tax increases on business, especially the larger and bigger-grossing businesses and the carpetbagger businesses.

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