The plan getting airtime right now would see all property taxes abolished on homesteaded properties in return for an increase in the state's sales tax (currently at 6%) to 8.5%. The obvious effects would be that renters and commercial property tenants / owners would bear the brunt of the remaining property taxes, and that more of our tax burden would be carried by our beloved tourists.

Here's a link that goes into more detail on the proposed change.

Here's an interesting perspective from our local Mike Thomas at the Sentinel.

And here's an article discussing some one of the myriad ways our local government is spending our existing tax dollars now.

As a homeowner this idea sounds great. As the owner of a real estate brokerage it sounds even better. But seems to me that when a quick, easy solution is proposed by government, there's usually a price to pay down the road, and this one makes me nervous. What I'd rather see is some common sense discussion about where these recent property tax dollar windfalls have actually been spent and what sort of benefit has ensued, and my guess is that might lead to discussions on the need to reduce spending. Just a thought...