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TBRC passes RLE swap
The TBRC met on March 17, 2008 to consider several proposals. The most significant event of the day was the discussion and vote on former Senate President John McKay’s proposal CP0002, which would mandate the legislature’s replacement of the school district’s required local effort property taxes with a) review of sales tax exemptions, b) up to one penny increase in sales taxes, and c) spending reductions from other state budget components and revenue increases from economic growth as a result of lower taxes. The proposal would also provide for a 5 percent cap on all non-homestead properties. Speaker of the House Marco Rubio spoke in support of the proposal which passed by a 21-4 vote. The proposal will now be sent to the commission style and drafting committee to be prepared for the November 2008 ballot.
Other constitutional proposals considered by the commission included CP0021 (Carlos La- Casa) and CP0050 (Patricia Levesques), property tax reform; committee substitute for CPs 0006/0008/0034 (Finance and Tax Committee, Ken Wilkerson, Jim Scott, LaCasa) working waterfronts; and CP0042 (Barney Barnett) presumption of correctness for property appraisers. All of these proposals were temporarily postponed by the commission. A final proposal, CP0030 (Governmental Services Committee) class-size limits failed by vote of the commission; however, the commission then voted to reconsider it at a future meeting. One statutory recommendation, SR0013 (Finance and Tax Committee) just value of property, was passed by the commission. The recommendation would expand the factors a property appraiser must consider