by David Ball
Staff Writer
Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of the non-profit group Florida TaxWatch, said Florida residents should vote “yes” to the proposed constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot that could lead to the biggest tax change in state history.
That is, if the bill makes it out of the current legislative special session.
“It gets rid of some of the serious problems with Save-Our-Homes,” said Calabro, who added he preferred the first version of the amendment before state legislators began tweaking it yet again after language was deemed “misleading” and it was thrown out by a Tallahassee judge.
“We would recommend it as long as the language is clarified,” added Calabro. “It’s a good step, but one of several that needs to be done.”
Why should voters listen to Calabro? Well, research shows his group’s efforts have saved Florida taxpayers more than $6.2 billion since 1979 — that’s about $1,067 back into the pockets of every Florida family.
Calabro and other TaxWatch officials were in Jacksonville Wednesday in preparation for Thursday’s membership luncheon at the Prudential building on the Southbank. In a sit-down with the Daily Record, the group cited Jacksonville’s taxing and budget problems as being modest compared to much of the state, but local efforts of Florida TaxWatch could bring a more balanced and fair approach, they said.
The organization’s Web site, www.floridataxwatch.org, and literature describes it as “a private, non-profit, non-partisan research institute that over its 25-year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars.”
The group operates on a little more than $2 million a year funded through memberships, contracted research services and grants, Calabro said. A board of directors, currently chaired by Jacksonville Prudential executive Mike Jennings, oversees Calabro and his staff of 20 as they initiate studies and research and convey findings with recommendations of action to government leaders, civic leaders or anyone else with a stake in Florida’s economy.
“We have some highly respected researchers and economists, and we share what we think is a balanced approach to government,” said Jennings.
In addition to the staff, the group has access to more than a dozen “Senior Research Fellows,” such as Henry Thomas, executive director of the Florida Center for Public and International Policy at the University of North Florida.
Some of the group’s recommendations have included: The Truth in Millage (TRIM) law that kept taxpayers informed of property tax levies by governments; the 1994 constitutional amendment limiting government growth by tying revenue collection to growth in personal income; and the Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, to name a few.
Besides working with state legislators, the group also works with local governments almost like a consultant to help reform budget and taxing polices.
In 1997, the Hillsborough County Commission voted twice to solicit the help of TaxWatch, said Calabro. With close to $200,000 raised from the business community (the group does not accept payment from governments), TaxWatch performed an extensive management audit, cost savings analysis and other services to streamline the county’s spending. However, not all help is solicited by the ones doing the taxing and spending.
“We will be called on from civic leaders, business and others that want their community to be better,” said Calabro. “After our work is formulated and presented, we would expect them to exert the kind of pressure and influence that is proper to get it moved forward.”
Calabro said the group has had its eye on Jacksonville.
“Some (City) Council members have asked how we could work with them in a collaborating environment, not confrontational,” he said. “In Jacksonville, there’s the opportunity to build on some wonderful things that have already occurred.”
Calabro said consolidation provides some obvious efficiencies of government, although some problems still exist. For instance, the statewide trend of swelling tax levies during recent years is evident in Jacksonville.
From 2001-06, the average millage rate in Duval County decreased from 19.78 to 18.16, or about 8 percent, according to TaxWatch figures. This would normally result in tax decreases, but property values during that same time period increased 63 percent from $32.4 billion to $52.7 billion. As a result, the total levied property taxes increased 49 percent from $641 million to $957 million.
“When compared to other large counties, like Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, Duval did OK,” said Bennett. “But that 49 percent increase far exceeds population growth.”
During the period from 1996 to 2006, Duval County’s growth in tax levies increased 76 percent, still behind the state average of 120 percent. But during roughly the same period, Jacksonville’s revenue from charges for service (fees) went up nearly 600 percent, well above the state average of 91 percent. Jacksonville’s total revenues increased 236 percent, ahead of the state average of 96 percent.
Reforming local property taxes is one of the top research issues for TaxWatch’s in 2007-08, along with the cost of hometown democracy, the economic impact of the housing industry, Medicaid reform, quality universal pre-kindergarten and others.
And on top of potentially one of the most significant tax votes in state history, 2008 could also mark the year that Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which convenes only every 20 years, could make even more sweeping changes to the taxing landscape. Public meetings continue in November. For more information, visit www.floridatbrc.com
“They can place issues directly on to the ballot,” said Jennings. “We’ve been working to make sure they are supplied with good research, and we can be called upon as an aid.”
For more information on Florida TaxWatch, visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
Property value increase offsets millage rate decrease
Some Duval County elected officials have promoted a lowering of taxes based on millage rates that have fallen 8 percent the past five years. Taxable land values have increased 63 percent during the same time. The total tax money local governments have collected has increased nearly 50 percent in five years. In Clay County, the tax levies have increased 80 percent, in Nassau County it’s 87 percent and in St. Johns County it’s 119 percent.
Source: Florida TaxWatch