Early voting has started. I know how I am voting on the Property Appraiser and the Qualifying Dates. Gambling? The Property Tax? Convince me if you care strongly about either. Tell me how to vote.
For your information, 84,506 absentee ballots were mailed out. Looks like the Gambling PAC did a good job.
13 comments:
you can have my vote too.
Please vote NO for slots. A yes vote will support inhumane greyhound racing.
Oh, and I'm the same anonymous as #2 - Please vote NO for the tax amendment. It only really benefits previous property owners who move. The $50,000 homestead exemption hardly makes a dent. We need a more equitable alternative that will lower taxes for everyone, especially new Floridians and first time homeowners. They can certainly go back to the drawing board and do better than this.
Floridians seem to forget that we live in one of only seven states in the US that doesn't have a state income tax and that the other states include Alaska (huge oil revenue) and Nevada (huge gaming revenue). Other States with no income taxes tend to have high property taxes. This is a question of comparison. States have their revenue needs that have to be met somehow. If there is no income tax and no other sources of revenue, it is only logical that the other taxes are high
The issue isn't our high property taxes, the issue is that spending has exploded as tax revenue exploded driven by our increased real estate appraisals during the last 6 or so years. To me, the solution isn't a cap on taxes or a redirection of taxes from real estate to sales tax, the solution is responsible and less corrupt and more efficient government. If all we do is reduce property taxes and then increase the sales tax rate and expand sales taxes to things like professional services all we have done is change how we pay, not how much we pay. Also, the proposals for increasing and expanding sales taxes moves the tax burden a bunch to the poorest people (who rent thus get no property tax savings and will pay more sales tax) and to corporations through the expansion of sales tax to services like of accountants and lawyers.
We can argue back and forth about the benefits of shifting tax burden from home owners to poor people but the issue I think is more important is about whether we should be shifting greater tax burden to corporations. My view is that we need to keep Florida business friendly because particularly in light of the plummeting construction industry, we need jobs in this state and we need them now! Adding a sales tax on these services would really hit businesses and that would be cutting off our nose to spite our faces. This IMHO is a long term big mistake.
The other thing that bothers me about this so called tax reform is that the biggest supporters of the tax reform is the real estate industry that sees lower property taxes helping increase real estate values and thus their profits. It is more than a little bit self serving!
Yes for slots. Greyhound racing is going to go on with or with out slots, period. The more your city has to offer, the better it is for everyone. I grew up in CT (the state with the largest casino in the world) and gambling s been nothing but good for that state. Plus, if you don't personally like slots, why not vote yes for your friend or neighbor who does? They don't really hurt anyone. And there are a lot of people who really enjoy the little machines!
I find it very strange that so many people have been set up to vote against slots. Every one of our citizens who wishes to gamble can get on a boat , take a bus, or drive to the nearby sites in Broward County. after a lot of searching I have reached the conclusion that the above mentioned gambling sites certainly do not want Miami-Dade to have slots as that will drop their profits. They have therefore set up all these phony groups to fight slots here. we need slots! There is a lot of money our Government will receive from them and for those who gamble it will be a easier ride. I do not gamble but I certainly do not think that my personal life should govern others. VOTE YES for slots.
Everyone screams bloody murder about what a "bad deal" the Miccosukee casino compact is for the state, but not a whimper about the lame deal that the dog track casinos are for us.
A fraction of the funds stay here and the rest go to improving schools in Alachua or somewhere your kids don't go to school. But maybe our kids can get jobs as security at the new racinos after they drop out.
How much money is staying in Broward? The money doesn't stay there but the problems that casinos bring stays there.
Vote "no" on slots. Let the Seminoles get the gaming. Like the pari-mutuels are going to contribute anything.
No on the slots...It is just more trouble for our community and county will just piss away the money. It will cause more crime and addiction problems that the community will have to deal with. If it passes, I will tell you that first casino up City of Miami will be in the Omni area. Probably in one of the county owned buildings :)
NO for an elected property appraiser... Nothing will change, he follows law and we will lose polished professional appraisers.
NO on the property tax. That doesn't fix anything. vote no and hold the legislative feet to the fire. The gain of 250.00 in my annual budget is not worth keeping our libraries open less, seniors getting less meals-on-wheels and 10 public schools being closed.
Do they have an item that says common sense should be the first rule of government? If they do have that on ballot, vote YES 3 times.
IMO
Yes on slots, desperately needed in this city that I love but we need to catch up and get some real income in here. I wish I could agree on the greyhound abuse but I agree with the reader who said that this will go on regardless so lets allow senior citizens (and others) to enjoy their time at the slots.
As for the property tax vote No. County jobs are going to suffer as a result actually they already have I have a brother who works for the county and they were told if this passes they were cutting hours back on everyone and yes it is because of this property tax. So I do not see letting jobs go and have real working class dog families suffer for it. I applaud the Governor in trying but I request they try a little harder.
last anon...
could that be a good thing too? Cutting back?
I am sick and tired of being asked to "make a choice" between police, fire or schools while the commission pisses our money down a rat hole. I will vote yes on tax relief and pray it is the first step. Maybe if things get tight enough they will tighten their belts like we have had to do. They don't have the backbone to look at state income taxes and people will scream while they are moving to NC, a state with income taxes!
Voting yes on the Tax relief will be the first step towards eliminating the homestead break. That change you want to vote for will not help the renters, the businesses or the person who tries to rent property for an income.
And yes, the school board has already identified 10 schools to close.
And as the gang scene rises in this county, you are going to need the police. Robberies and murders are up HIGH this past year... or didn't you notice? You can't afford to have cut-backs. The police will have to decide whether they are going to write reports for your insurance company for your robbery or go look for the nitwit who is waving AK-47's on the street corner. And YOU, will not be happy when the police go after the nitwits and leave to deal with the insurance company. (that is, if you aren't afraid to file a claim)
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