Governor proposes tax breaks for Florida property
Governor of Florida Charlie Crist has announced a proposal to changes in the way the state taxes property, claiming tax dollars should be 'returned to the people'.
Governor Crist has proposed a special election this year which would ask voters to approve an amendment to the constitution that would affect property tax relief measures.
He said: "Along with rising home insurance rates, spiralling property tax increases are making Florida unaffordable.
"Public servants should limit the size of government and return tax dollars to the people; after all, it's the people's money."
The proposed measures include doubling the homestead exemption from $25,000 (£12,700) to $50,000 (£25,300) and capping annual taxes on properties for businesses and renters to the lower of three per cent or the rate of inflation.
If the proposals go ahead, state-wide taxes could be cut by $5 billion (£2.53 billion) and the plans have drawn criticism from some quarters for the impact they would have on public spending.
Governor Crist is attempting to push a tax reform measure on the ballot as early as September this year.
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