The Opinion Letter is framed. It was short and sweet, as it had appeared in the St. PetersburghTimes on Janurary 17, 2007. I submitted the letter upon the victory of Charlie Crist as the newly elected Governor of Florida. I wrote about “a sense of relief, anticipating some major changes in our daily lives”. The words of praise were heartfelt.
I hadn’t considered myself overly optimistic in my belief that he would resolve the hardships of homeowner insurance, property taxes and, perhaps the most important of all, education. This January, my disappointments are three-fold.
Although Amendment 1 passed the required 60% popular vote in the Florida Primary on Janurary 29th, it has very little positive affect on my personal property tax bill. My home insurance continued to rise after the Florida Legislature passed a bill that was supposed to actually lower the premium. Nothing has been done about education. Funding for schools is further in question because of sinking property values and the passage of Amendment 1.
Despite Governor Crist's shortfalls on his promises, my concerns are still dwarfed by my faith that his full term in office will provide a legacy of monumental proportions.
Another letter that adorns the wall in my den, dated January 20, 2007, overshadows my own. The glass-encased 8 ½ by 11 page bears the Great Seal of The State of Florida with the letterhead reading Charlie Crist, Governor. His signature accompanies the words “Thank you very much for your most kind words!”
Although my approval rating of the Governor is somewhat diminished, I maintain the belief that, in time, “he’ll earn the title of Superman – to me at least”.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Aftermath of Amendment 1
Whew! Aren’t I the lucky one! I figure there’s a whopping $240 savings on my typically average home value now that Amendment One is said and done. I’ll still have an end-of-the-year tax bill that’s three times that of my neighbors.
And, as Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek repeatedly informed us during last fall’s Hernando County Budget hearings, there’ll be an additional reduction because the value of my home plummeted in 2007; property taxes are billed a year in arrears.
I’ll still have an end-of-the-year bill that is three times that of my neighbors who have stayed in the same home in excess of ten years. I’ll still be paying a far higher share of taxes than those same neighbors who maintain the same level of services from County Government. Hundreds of other homeowners in the county are right there beside me although they’re necessarily neighbors.
Those same neighbors whose tax bills are a third on my own can downsize to another location and save their homes much more easily than myself. If I should downsize I would still pay three times as much in property and school taxes as they. I’ll cross my fingers next fall when the County Commissioners place their votes for the 2009 budget and hope they don’t inch up the millage rate. We might even get it socked to us bad if the three incumbents fail in their re-elected bids in the General Election – it may be a season of sour grapes as they take vengeance on the electorate.
I can take the overall savings in property taxes of maybe $400 and apply it to my home insurance premium that was never reduced as promised by Governor Crist.
There are those who made out like bandits from the passage of Amendment 1, but there are also just as many of us still behind bars with a financial responsibility that foresees no reprieve. We’ve been sentenced to a lifetime of inequity because the Florida Legislature can rest easy that the people have mandates the status quo. There will no longer be the need to pursue other tax reform.
I feel the only way for me to make out ahead is to fall backward by selling my current home and relocate to a trailer valued little more than $50,000; I would have true property tax and insurance relief. I can’t expect it otherwise.
And, as Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek repeatedly informed us during last fall’s Hernando County Budget hearings, there’ll be an additional reduction because the value of my home plummeted in 2007; property taxes are billed a year in arrears.
I’ll still have an end-of-the-year bill that is three times that of my neighbors who have stayed in the same home in excess of ten years. I’ll still be paying a far higher share of taxes than those same neighbors who maintain the same level of services from County Government. Hundreds of other homeowners in the county are right there beside me although they’re necessarily neighbors.
Those same neighbors whose tax bills are a third on my own can downsize to another location and save their homes much more easily than myself. If I should downsize I would still pay three times as much in property and school taxes as they. I’ll cross my fingers next fall when the County Commissioners place their votes for the 2009 budget and hope they don’t inch up the millage rate. We might even get it socked to us bad if the three incumbents fail in their re-elected bids in the General Election – it may be a season of sour grapes as they take vengeance on the electorate.
I can take the overall savings in property taxes of maybe $400 and apply it to my home insurance premium that was never reduced as promised by Governor Crist.
There are those who made out like bandits from the passage of Amendment 1, but there are also just as many of us still behind bars with a financial responsibility that foresees no reprieve. We’ve been sentenced to a lifetime of inequity because the Florida Legislature can rest easy that the people have mandates the status quo. There will no longer be the need to pursue other tax reform.
I feel the only way for me to make out ahead is to fall backward by selling my current home and relocate to a trailer valued little more than $50,000; I would have true property tax and insurance relief. I can’t expect it otherwise.
john thrasher against democracy
How annoying it is to receive not only one but TWO of those “Signature and Petition Revocation Notices” from the “honorable” john thrasher. The man is so persistent in his attempt to get me to REVOKE my signature that I had purposely placed on the petition for an Amendment to Florida’s Constitution to put the direction of responsible growth in the hands of those most affected, existing property owners.
The opening line, “This is a extremely…” may demonstrate a lack of intelligence toward proper grammar. I returned the front page asking him to correct and return the form with expedient delivery. At that time I will truly not consider signing and submitting his PETITION REVOCATION FORM.
Many newspapers throughout Florida have called his attempt to undermine the rights of voters by providing false or misleading information in his “Signature and Petition Revocation Notice”.
Nowhere in his “letter” does he mention the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative to be voted on by Florida voters.
The last sentence on the first page reads, “The tactics used to get you to sign their petition are deceptive.” HIS tactic to get me to revoke my decision to freely sign the petition is not only deceptive; it’s downright disgusting because he is what some may call a “goon of a lobbyist” for the building industry. I have no doubt the guy is paid very, very, very well to promote special interest groups determined to build, build, build on every available piece of land in Florida.
The man jeopardizes the financial security of every Florida homeowner by promoting uncontrolled growth along the coasts of the state. With every new high-rise, we will all take on the debt of paying for the rich and affluent to reside in luxury, while Citizens Insurance liabilities become our responsibility.
I returned his second URGENT request with notes that read:
“grammatical error”
“an extremely..” (I gave him a hint, which he doesn’t deserve, and circled the error)
“please correct”
“feel free to use Spell Check and resubmit for further consideration”
I returned the envelope, and page one only with the suggested correction, and added the word URGENT below the words FIRST CLASS that was stamped in red at the corner to the right of the addressee PETITION REVOCATION DEPARTMENT.
The envelope was labeled BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
It’s more like DIRTY BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
The opening line, “This is a extremely…” may demonstrate a lack of intelligence toward proper grammar. I returned the front page asking him to correct and return the form with expedient delivery. At that time I will truly not consider signing and submitting his PETITION REVOCATION FORM.
Many newspapers throughout Florida have called his attempt to undermine the rights of voters by providing false or misleading information in his “Signature and Petition Revocation Notice”.
Nowhere in his “letter” does he mention the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative to be voted on by Florida voters.
The last sentence on the first page reads, “The tactics used to get you to sign their petition are deceptive.” HIS tactic to get me to revoke my decision to freely sign the petition is not only deceptive; it’s downright disgusting because he is what some may call a “goon of a lobbyist” for the building industry. I have no doubt the guy is paid very, very, very well to promote special interest groups determined to build, build, build on every available piece of land in Florida.
The man jeopardizes the financial security of every Florida homeowner by promoting uncontrolled growth along the coasts of the state. With every new high-rise, we will all take on the debt of paying for the rich and affluent to reside in luxury, while Citizens Insurance liabilities become our responsibility.
I returned his second URGENT request with notes that read:
“grammatical error”
“an extremely..” (I gave him a hint, which he doesn’t deserve, and circled the error)
“please correct”
“feel free to use Spell Check and resubmit for further consideration”
I returned the envelope, and page one only with the suggested correction, and added the word URGENT below the words FIRST CLASS that was stamped in red at the corner to the right of the addressee PETITION REVOCATION DEPARTMENT.
The envelope was labeled BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
It’s more like DIRTY BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
Florida Hometown Democracy
An initiative promoted by a group called Florida Hometown Democracy has a goal to have an amendment on the November 2008 ballot that would allow voters to regulate changes in land use decisions, manipulating comprehensive plans to restrict unwanted development. It appears to be more of a safeguard against local governments making what some would call poor decisions for the county. Of course, builders and businesses fear the worst, foreseeing construction and growth coming to a halt, ruining the local and state economies. Hometown Democracy has a petition quota to meet before the amendment could be placed on the ballot, and then requires a 60% vote for passage.
I think many of us residents question growth patterns as approved by our county commissioners, especially when new subdivisions are approved time and again, with few denials. It appears the general consensus in the current process allows passage whenever the Planning or Zoning Commission finds no legal issues. Most of us don’t see the reasoning behind the growth decisions because of the number of existing homes sitting unoccupied, dead on the real estate market. Another concern is seeing more subdivisions partially built with no assurance they won’t become economic eyesores.
The process to redirect political direction is by petition, which requires signatures by February 1, 2008. Go to http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ to read, print, sign and return the position.
I think many of us residents question growth patterns as approved by our county commissioners, especially when new subdivisions are approved time and again, with few denials. It appears the general consensus in the current process allows passage whenever the Planning or Zoning Commission finds no legal issues. Most of us don’t see the reasoning behind the growth decisions because of the number of existing homes sitting unoccupied, dead on the real estate market. Another concern is seeing more subdivisions partially built with no assurance they won’t become economic eyesores.
The process to redirect political direction is by petition, which requires signatures by February 1, 2008. Go to http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ to read, print, sign and return the position.
Other Post-It Blogs
Other blogs that have morphed:
http://www.floridamenagerie.blogspot.com/
{The State Down Under}
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.hernandohews.blogspot.com/
{Lookss and Outlooks of Hernando County}
http://www.hernandohews08.blogspot.com/
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.parcel-post.blogspot.com/
{Comments to Entice}
www.parcelposto8.blogspot.com
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.floridamenagerie.blogspot.com/
{The State Down Under}
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.hernandohews.blogspot.com/
{Lookss and Outlooks of Hernando County}
http://www.hernandohews08.blogspot.com/
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.parcel-post.blogspot.com/
{Comments to Entice}
www.parcelposto8.blogspot.com
A New Year. A New Blog.
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