In my post of last week I went over the agreement the House and Senate came to in regard to property tax relief. Democrats and Republicans all were in agreement that this was a great package of tax cuts. Local governments even said they could live with it as it was not as bad as they had expected. 

But what a difference a weekend can make.  

Now Democrats and some Republicans are saying hold on a minute, maybe we cannot support this tax relief.  

Local governments are now saying they are going to have cut essential programs, and various groups spent the weekend lobbying to keep cuts from hitting them. 

The problem lies in the fact that over the past few years’ tax receipts have multiplied astronomically, and our governments have been eager to make everyone happy by spending all the money as fast as it came in. 

Now we are hitting a crisis. As reported in the St. Petersburg Times we are starting to lose Florida residents to states such as Tennessee and Georgia, who have lower home prices, lower taxes and lower insurance bills. 

Those thinking of moving to Florida are also deciding to move elsewhere. Why? Property taxes and homeowners insurance. As a Realtor, we often show buyers many homes, and when they see the home they love, they may see the taxes being paid are $3,000. But then we tell them that with Save Our Homes that is not the tax they will pay. They find out they will pay $7,000 or more and decide they will choose a cheaper location. 

We of course have been promised lowered homeowners insurance and of course that is up in the air now too. 

If we do not decrease the taxes and make them more fair, it seems likely we will end up with less tax money as our population decreases, and along with it our tax base. 

Ultimately, the legislators and the public will have to weigh and balance the taxes we are willing to pay, and what spending we are willing to cut. 

Hopefully, an agreement can still be reached.