Tax protesters unite

By Cindy Lane
sun staff writer

HOLMES BEACH - Non-homesteaded property owners joined forces last week to review tax reform proposals and share ideas on how to reduce their taxes.

The Anna Maria Island-based Coalition Against Runaway Taxation (CART) and the Longboat Key-based Homeowners Against Runaway Taxation (HART) say the taxation system treats them unfairly.

CART, comprised mainly of business owners, realtors and developers, and HART, comprised mainly of seasonal residents, contend that it's inequitable for non-homesteaded property owners to be taxed at a higher rate than homesteaded property owners, CART spokesman Barry Gould said.

The two groups have joined 11 others in southwest Florida to form the Florida Taxpayers Alliance (FTPA) to fight "taxation without representation," according to HART member Winnie Nelon.

"The people who are impacted are not part of the voting process," she said, referring to seasonal residents.

"I'm not sure we have done enough for the non-homestead homeowners," said State Rep. Bill Galvano, who phoned in to the meeting to take questions from the group of about 100. "The prime issue is the inequity of the Save Our Homes cap, which shifted Our Homes cap, which shifted the burden to non-homesteaded property owners."

The state House, Senate and Governor all agree that tax relief and reform is necessary, Galvano said, adding that legislators are favoring a proposal that bases property appraisals and the resulting tax on income rather than the potential highest and best use of the property.

But the legislative session is half over, and lawmakers can only do so much, he said; ultimately, it's up to Florida's voters to decide.

"To really have reform, it's going to require a constitutional amendment," Galvano said.

True reform requires a reduction in government spending, Anna Maria Commissioner Dale Woodland said to applause.

"If spending isn't addressed… we might get tax relief but we might get hurt in a different way," he said.

Holmes Beach resident Pat McConnell proposed a plan to cut waste in the Manatee County school budget, a large local government expense funded by property taxes.

"We need to reinvent the school system," he said. "We need to do away with bloated government."

CART is organizing a rally in Tallahassee on April 17. For more information, visit www.cartonline.org or call Terri Noyes at 778-0205. For more information on the Florida Taxpayers Alliance, visit www.floridataxpayersalliance.com.