Broward Activists for Tax Equity

Publications

Letters and articles relevant to the tax reform movement

Letter to Massachusetts Attorney General by Winnie Nelon of CART and Bill Levison of BROWACT.

Article by Peter Benedek: “Snowbirds’ Florida Tax Crisis” appearing in the Summer 2007 Issue of CSA News (Canadian Snowbirds’ Association)

Letter to Sun-Sentinel from Browact member George Legris, with reply from Governor Crist, June 8, 2007

Ask The Governor: Snowbirds should get tax break, too

June 8, 2007

Q Will snowbirds' worries be taken into consideration [during the special session]?

My taxes went up by over 50 percent; within two years, my condo insurance [went up] by 132 percent and my home insurance by 515 percent. There comes a point when enough is enough.

So far, a few of my snowbird friends have moved to Arizona and Texas, while others that were permanent [residents] moved to North Carolina and Tennessee.

I believe an exodus has started and we have not seen the end of it.

Georges A. Legris, Deerfield Beach and Quebec, Canada

A We care equally about [snowbirds], and we want to make sure that they have their taxes lowered as well. I think the House and the Senate are very sensitive to that, and I think they'll have the opportunity to get their taxes lowered. I think the special session is going to be good news for them.

I worry about [snowbirds] relocating. But I think it's important we stay focused on the big picture and that means lowering property taxes for all of our citizens and all of our visitors.

Letter by William Levison as published in the Miami Herald, May 7, 2007

Cap all property taxes – or get rid of them

All of the plans for property tax reform considered by Gov. Crist and the Legislature continued to subsidize homestead properties by imposing substantially higher taxes on seasonal residents who require far less in the way of government services.

Local and statewide elected officials continue to ignore key economic drivers in Florida – businesses, seasonal visitors, and the general real estate market. To the extent permitted by the state Constitution, proposals for tax reduction should be applied equally for all property owners. Caps on the yearly increases in taxable assessments should be the same for all properties.

If the residential property tax is to be eliminated, it should be eliminated for all residences. Otherwise, non-resident homeowners and renters will vote with their feet, much to the detriment of Florida's economy.

William H. Levison, Hallandale Beach

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