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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 06 07 Orlando Sentinel Article: Cut Taxes, Save ServicesYoli: C:ut taxes, save services +C~rl~.ndo e~tlr http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl- taxes0707 ~ un07,0,4473 849. story Poll: Cut taxes, save services Floridians want to keep police, fire, parks and more -- but pay less Jason Garcia and John Kennedy Tallahassee Bureau June 7, 2007 TALLAHASSEE -- Florida voters are expecting big tax cuts when the Legislature meets in a special session next week, but they don't really want the reductions in local government services that might accompany the savings, a new poll shows. The survey by Quinnipiac University released Wednesday showed that 53 percent of Florida voters expect the Legislature will agree on a plan to "significantly" cut taxes. How big is significant? A third of voters said 10 percent to 20 percent; about a quarter said 21 percent to 40 percent; and 16 percent of respondents said more than 40 percent. But while 55 percent of voters said they were willing to trade lower cuts in local government services, they were a lot less willing when specific areas were offered. Voters overwhelmingly said they would oppose cuts to police and fire services, parks and recreation programs, libraries, public-health clinics, school crossing guards and programs for senior citizens. Only cuts to the local government workforce were supported, but by just a 47 percent to 45 percent margin. Page 1 of 2 ADVERTISEMENTS Clffce I~-Egtlfi' Jus# 3 bays !_eft... por~'t ~~rc~et I~ad:! Gttec:~C aut nur Faih+~r'$ ~'aY Gift S~tle'n~v! Going into the 11-day session that begins Tuesday, the size of the proposed tax cuts remains a mystery. While legislative leaders said they intend to approve a plan that would immediately force local governments to roll back property-tax collections -- -- - - and then ask voters to approve a new, dramatically higher homestead exemption, they have yet to reveal any specific dollar amounts. What's more, negotiations have been conducted in private among a handful of high-level lawmakers and staffers. That secrecy drew criticism Wednesday from a coalition ofsocial-service advocates, labor unions and open- government proponents. "The people need to know that this process -- most of which has been conducted behind closed doors -- if not in violation of the letter of the law, certainly in violation of the spirit of the law, has real costs for their future," said Rich Templin, a spokesman for the Florida AFL-CIO. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes0707jun07,0,828178,print.story 6/8/2007 Poll: Cut taxes, save services Page 2 of 2 Templin cited a list of what he called "cold hard facts." "Fact: The current proposals would devastate social services. Fact: The people who need tax relief the most may get nothing from these proposals, while millionaires, businesses and people who own second or third homes will get a huge tax break," Templin said. Karen Woodall, who represents low-income Floridians, said the Legislature's plan to exempt schools from any level of forced property-tax cut, combined with the commitment by local governments to shield public safety from deep revenue reductions, will direct the biggest squeeze to those needing social services. "Human-service providers are hearing from their local governments that they're going to be losing local dollars," Woodall said. "Remember, in the state of Florida, where we rank already at the bottom in per-capita expenditure on every social-service indicator that exists ...local governments have been forced to fill in the gaps." House Speaker Marco Rubio did not address the secrecy issue Wednesday, but he did say specific tax-cut numbers would be released soon. "We're getting some final numbers today and early tomorrow," Rubio told members of the Florida Association of Realtors in a 35-minute conference call. Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel. com. John Kennedy can be reached at jkennedy@orlandosentinel. com. Both also can be reached at 850-222-5564. Copyright ©2007, Orlando .Sentinel ~ Get hoi~ae delivery - up to SO% off Get your news on the go by going to www.orlandosentinel.com on your mobile browser. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-taxes0707jun07,0,828178,print.story 6/8/2007