Tax reform, insurance top FAR’s ’08 legislative agenda

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 4, 2008 – Barely a month has passed since Florida voters approved Amendment 1, allowing many property owners to transfer a portion of their Save Our Homes savings to a new homestead. Today, FAR officers and legislative leadership are in Tallahassee to encourage legislators to pick up where voters left off.

“We made a promise that Amendment 1 was only the beginning,” says John Sebree, FAR vice president of public policy and chief lobbyist. “This session, we are taking advantage of every opportunity to get as much relief as possible for as many property owners as possible.”

FAR’s 2008 legislative agenda includes four major initiatives related to property tax reform, and proposals that will entice property insurance companies to continue to offer homeowners insurance in Florida. Realtors also support legislation to fund affordable housing programs, reauthorize the state’s land purchase programs and provide necessary resources to combat unlicensed real estate activity.

“All of these proposals are reasonable, despite the budget challenges facing legislators,” Sebree adds. “Affordable housing programs are funded by housing trust funds, not general revenue in the state budget. As for property tax cuts, there are several ideas on the table on ways to offset property tax cuts for commercial and non-homestead owners. FAR will work hard to make sure legislators clearly understand the budget implications of the Realtor initiatives.”

Following is a summary of FAR’s 2008 legislative agenda. Additional information, including a tool called Legislative Tracker that enables you to follow the progress of specific bills, is available in floridarealtors.org’s Legislative Center.

Property tax relief and reform
• Enforce the “highest and best use” appraisal standard on commercial property uniformly throughout the state, and require appraisers to consider permit and zoning allowances before using this standard.
• Enact further property tax relief and reform for recent and first-time homebuyers. With no Save Our Homes benefits to “port,” first-time homebuyers pay more than their fair share of the burden under Florida’s property tax system.
• Modify statutes governing the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) appeal process so that appraisers rely on “preponderance of evidence,” not “presumption of correctness” – a very high standard to overcome in court – when appraising a property.
• Change the makeup of the VABs to include more taxpayer representation, instead of elected local officials.

Property insurance
Continue state programs that encourage property owners to fortify their homes against storm damage. Since 2006, the state’s My Safe Florida Home program has issued more than 2,637 grants to homeowners to brace gable ends on the roof and protect windows, doors, skylights and garage door openings. Homeowners may also receive free wind inspections. Insurers support the program because it reduces their risk. Property owners benefit with lower insurance premiums. To date, 95,807 (76 percent) of participating homeowners are eligible for an average discount of $210 on their wind insurance premiums.

Affordable workforce housing
Utilize the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund for its intended purpose – to provide housing to those who need it most. FAR is asking the Legislature to invest the entire fund – about $500 million – in Florida’s housing infrastructure. Every $1 million allocated from the housing trust fund generates more than $10 million in economic activity and creates 100 jobs.

Florida Forever
Reauthorize the state’s land purchase program, Florida Forever, and provide adequate resources to address future conservation, environmental and recreation challenges.

Industry regulation
FAR is working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to apply additional resources toward combating unlicensed real estate activity. Currently, there are three part-time positions with the department dedicated to this cause. FAR has asked that these positions be converted to full time.

Time’s up
Today is the last time 37 Florida lawmakers will participate in opening day festivities for the start of the regular legislative session. Thirty-six legislators – five Senators and 35 House members – will reach their eight-year term limits on Nov. 4, Election Day. Following is the list of Senators and members of the Florida House leaving office at the end of the year:

Senate:
Lisa Carlton (R-Osprey)
Mandy Dawson (D-Fort Lauderdale)
Steve Geller (D-Hallandale Beach)
Burt Saunders (R-Naples)
Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden)

House of Representatives:
Frank Attkisson (R-Kissimmee)
Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee)
Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach)
Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (D-Miami)
Marty Bowen (R-Winter Haven)
Don Brown (R-DeFuniak Springs)
Susan Bucher (D-West Palm Beach)
Edward Bullard (D-Miami)
Joyce Cusack (D-DeLand)
Don Davis (R-Jacksonville Beach)
Terry Fields (D-Jacksonville)
Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah)
Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando)
Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach)
Hugh Gibson (R-The Villages)
Gayle Harrell (R-Port St. Lucie)
Stan Jordan (R-Jacksonville)
Will Kendrick (R-Carrabelle)
Dick Kravitz (R-Orange Park)
Richard Machek (D-Delray Beach)
Stan Mayfield (R-Vero Beach)
Matthew Meadows (D-Lauderhill)
Mitch Needelman (R-Melbourne)
Joe Pickens (R-Palatka)
Curtis Richardson (D-Tallahassee)
Dennis Ross (R-Lakeland)
Marco Rubio (R-Miami)
Jack Seiler (D-Pompano Beach)
David Simmons (R-Altamonte Springs)

© 2008 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Questions, comments or suggestions on this article? Have a news tip? Send a letter to the editor to: Newseditor@floridarealtors.org.