by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
The “services tax” isn’t dead and the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® will ask its membership to educate the public in an effort to stop its revival.
“We will call on your for your help,” NEFAR President Charlene Perez Ferren told about 80 members at the association’s quarterly meeting this month at Timuquana. “If I could use every penny of our issues fund to defeat this, I would.”
The proposed tax would lower the state’s overall sales tax, perhaps down to four percent, but would make up the difference by taxing specified services, and that may eventually include real estate fees.
The tax, proposed by Senate President John McKay of Sarasota, was drafted by the Florida legislature, but a compromise is being worked out to placate McKay: a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. If approved by the voters, it would allow for a 12-person committee — six from the Florida Senate, six from the House — to review the state sales tax structure and make changes.
“The governor wouldn’t have a veto,” said NEFAR lobbyist Nancy Garcia, “and the legislature would only have two years to change anything the committee did.
“The Florida Association of REALTORS® is reviewing the situation and devising strategy. If this gets on the ballot, FAR will lead a massive campaign to get rid of a bad idea.”
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The annual FAR Honor Society recipients were honored and two literally went over the top: George Linville and Beverly Garvin qualified for the 16th year, and FAR Honor Society lapel pins only go as high as the 15th year.
Others being honored for their association work included Mike McCray, Linda Shearer, Bill Watson, Dan Jones, Russell Grooms, Jim Morgan, Ferren, Roy Orrin, Wendell Davis, Dee Brumbarger, Glenn East, Bob Ransom and Cathy Whatley.