The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — In a nutshell, the savings amounts to about $150 on your annual property tax bill. That is the estimated net result for Sumter County homeowners, if voters decide Jan. 29 at a special state election to approve legislative-proposed property tax revisions to the Florida Constitution.

And it doesn’t matter how much your house is worth, Sumter Property Appraiser Ronnie Hawkins told members of The Villages Republican Club of Sumter during a special meeting Thursday evening at La Hacienda Recreation Center.

“I’m liking what I’m hearing so far,” Hawkins told an audience of 150 people about the revisions in Ballot No. 1 — a proposed amendment titled, “Property Tax Exemptions; Limitations on Property Tax Assessments.” “But are you expecting a big savings? You’re crazy.”

Voters all across the state will complete their ballot on the question, but Thursday’s meeting attended by Hawkins and others focused on Sumter County residents.

A panel of informed elected officials invited by the club addressed audience members. Panel members included state Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, Sumter Tax Collector Tom Swain and Sumter County Commissioner Mike Francis.

“We’re very pleased with the turnout,” said Richard Cole, the club’s president. “It’s the biggest crowd this year. There were a lot of new members and guests, too, which is always good.”

The proposed amendment is a result of years of frustration expressed by taxpayers about rising property taxes caused by increasing assessed property values and the tax-and-spend philosophies of some local governments, Baker said.

“It will send a message we’re, quite frankly, fed up with rising property taxes,” said Baker, who voted in the Senate to send the amendment to the voters.

This wouldn’t even be an issue, Baker said, if counties with tax-and-spend priorities had followed the lead set by the Sumter County Commission.

“Sumter has led the state by living within its means,” Baker said. “I wish I could say that in my county (Lake). Those of you in Sumter County should be very proud of your county commission.”

If the amendment passes, everyone agrees the impact would result in fewer tax dollars for local government use, Baker said. The amendment would not affect that portion of property taxes assessed for public school education, which amounts to roughly about 40 percent of a taxpayer’s annual property tax bill.

The net impact for the county is about $3.7 million fewer available tax dollars, Francis said.

“Can we live with that?” Francis asked. “I can say, yes, because there’s going to be enough growth in The Villages to live with it.”

Most of the 150 members in the audience seemed receptive to the portability provision written into the proposed amendment. Since 1995, the Save Our Homes amendment to the state constitution has restricted increases in the value of assessed homestead properties to not more than 3 percent a year, Hawkins said. However, homeowners lose that constitutional protection when they sell homes and purchase elsewhere, Hawkins said.

“I know people here want to thank you senator for including portability,” Hawkins said. The proposed amendment also would grant some relief to business owners — and even seasonal residents who own a second home in Florida. It would mandate a 10-percent annual cap on increases in the assessed value of a non-homestead property, such as second homes, vacation homes and business properties.

Despite the benefits, the proposed amendment has drawn criticism from Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit tax watchdog. It claims the proposed amendment amounts to nothing more than tax cuts and fails to provide true property tax reform.

David R. Corder is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9066, or at david.corder@thevillagesmedia.com.