Clearwater Real Estate – We can Now Slash Florida Property Taxes by 25% in November
March 24th, 2008 Categories: Clearwater Florida
Clearwater Real Estate News on Property Taxes
Clearwater Florida – I just got back from a trip to
Tallahassee where a group of 40 Pinellas County community leaders got to meet
with our Governor Charlie Crist, Secretary of State Charles Bronson, Attorney General
Bill McCollum and the next Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, Justice
Quince along with our Senate and House leaders. We
discussed efforts to make Clearwater Real Estate
more affordable by targeting property taxes and home insurance and Governor Crist updated us on whats in the works.
While we were there the Taxation and Budget Reform
Commission (TBRC) that only meets every 20 years approved a Florida constitutional
amendment proposal by a vote of 21 to 4 aimed at further lowering Floridas property
taxes by @25%.
Thats great news for those who own property in Florida or those wanting to buy real real estate in Clearwater .
Clearwater Real Estate Property Tax Changes Will Benefits All Property Owners
The Florida Constitutional Amendment would:
- Remove
local school taxes paid by real estate owners in favor of an increased
sales tax (1% is proposed) and fewer tax exemptions for non-essential
items. - The
cut would apply to ALL real estate properties – not just homesteaded property.
(Great news for investors and second home owners in Clearwater) - Reduce
the amount local governments can increase assessments on commercial,
rental and second homes from 10% to the 5% we had all hoped for.
So how do they plan to make up the lost revenue? The
amendment would authorize an increase in the sales tax of up to 1% and the repeal of
sales tax exemptions determined not to advance or serve a public purpose.
Current exemptions would be maintained for the following::
- Food,
- Prescription
drugs, - Health
services, - Charitable
and Religious institutions, - Residential
Rent, - Electricity
and - Heating
fuel
Under Floridas
State Constitution, any new tax needs 66%, or 2/3s, approval – more than the 60
% is usually required for constitutional amendments. Now is the time for all Clearwater Florida property owners
to stay vigilant – we are making progress and I think this will help those with
Clearwater homes for sale or those
looking to buy so please encourage everyone you know to get informed and vote
in November.
Read more about Amendment 1 and understanding Floridas Property Taxes:
We are still seeing lots of great deals on Clearwater Florida Real Estate for buyers. See all homes for sale and condos too - search the Tampa Bay MLS .
Feel free to call us at (727) 422-8901 – were happy to answer your questions or help you with all your real estate needs – buying or selling.
Cyndee and Jack Haydon, Clearwater Real Estate
agents selling Clearwater homes
About Cyndee Haydon
Cyndee Haydon, Realtor with Future Home Realty specializing in luxury waterfront and beach homes of Clearwater Beach - St Pete - Tampa Bay area with her husband and partner, Jack Haydon Cyndee's Google Profile
Just wondering what the present tax rate is? I know in New Orleans property taxes were getting out of hand and were reduced by 30% this past Jan. This is a great trend to start. The services have gotten better which may or may not have anything to do with the reduction. it just makes people feel better.