The League of Women Voters of Orange County hosts an Aug. 12 Hot Topics panel discussion that will examine a contentious tax reform measure on the November ballot — “Property Tax Amendment: Real Relief or Ruse?”
Steve Mort, host of the “Talking Central Florida” podcast on CF Public Media, will moderate. Panelists include Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute; Amy Mercado, Orange County Property Appraiser, and Jason Garcia, an investigative reporter with the “Seeking Rents” newsletter and podcast.
Florida voters will consider a constitutional amendment on Nov. 3 that would significantly increase the homestead exemption for homeowners, although it wouldn’t immediately affect property taxes that fund public schools. If approved by at least 60 percent of voters, the amendment would offer substantial tax reductions for many homeowners. It also would create significant budget challenges for local governments.
State economists estimate that cities and counties would lose billions of dollars in revenue in future years — reaching nearly $12 billion annually by the early 2030s. Local governments rely on property taxes to fund services such as police and fire protection, parks, libraries and infrastructure. Some counties and cities have discussed or proposed fees to replace the property taxes.
Among the issues to be discussed at Hot Topics:
- Who may benefit from the property tax reform and who may be hurt if the amendment passes
- How local governments plan to fund essential services if the amendment is approved
- Whether the amendment shifts taxing authority from local governments to the state Legislature and governor
The panel discussion will be streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and an edited version will be available on the League’s YouTube channel, League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube.
Visionary sponsors: Phil and Jennifer Anderson. Silver sponsors: Lyn and David Berelsman; Voting Voices — Michele Levy, Caroline Emmons-Schramm and Laurie and Richard Wack; The Kindred Three — Lee Rambeau, Sue Foreman and Joan Erwin; Friends of the League — the Hon. Fred Lauten and Shelley Lauten, the Hon. Bob LeBlanc and Joanie Schuler LeBlanc, and Dr. Gloria Pickar, and new Silver sponsors, Jenny Green Chan and Ella Chan, and Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. Bronze sponsors: Alex and the Hon. Cynthia Mackinnon.