The Florida Legislature is moving full-speed ahead to complete the state budget by the end of next week, and it looks as if Floridians can expect a wave of tax cuts for the next two years.
Toward the end of the week, tax cut numbers became more solidified as the Senate Appropriations Committee approved preliminary cuts Thursday. The $400 million tax package would include several cuts in a variety of areas.
The Senate proposal would include a 10-day back-to-school holiday -- an increase from the House’s original proposal of a three-day holiday. Shoppers wouldn’t have to pay sales tax on items like clothing less than $100 and school supplies less than $15 during the break.
The back-to-school holiday would start Aug. 7 and would be one of the longest back-to-school tax periods since the holiday was introduced in 1998.
Another school-related proposal includes a slash of of taxes on college textbooks. The House initially proposed only having the tax-free time during the beginning of each semester, but the Senate has proposed extending the tax cuts all year long.
The biggest proposal is a communications-related tax cut totaling $207 million. Cuts would extend to cable, phone and satellite services and should save Floridians with $100 monthly cable bills around $20 over a 12-month period. That cut could start as early as July 1.
Gov. Rick Scott initially proposed a $470 million communications tax cut -- the result has been nearly half of what Scott wanted.
The cut may come as a big disappointment to Scott, who made a $673 million tax cut one of his top priorities this year. The reality of this year’s regular legislative session -- and the Legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid -- required the Legislature to pump money into state hospitals.
The full Senate will vote on the package Monday. It will then head to the House -- and, if approved, will be the proposal which will head to the governor for signing.
Comments from House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, seemed to indicate the House would be on board with approving the tax cuts.
“It’s a good package,” said Crisafulli.
Once the state budget is decided, there will be a 72-hour “cooling off period” before lawmakers can vote on it. Senate President Gardiner, R-Orlando, said earlier this week he believed the two chambers would be on track to finalize a budget before the scheduled end of the special session on June 20.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
