Proposing Solutions to the Property Tax Structure and the Right of Citizens to Contact Local Elected

Should the law be changed to allow for more property tax exemptions for government and special district properties? Should citizens have more access to local officials to communicate about public hearings? These are some of the questions proposed in the Constitution Revision Commission’s Revision 10. The Florida Supreme Court has said that municipalities should pay taxes, while counties and school boards don’t have to. The CRC wants to change this so that municipalities don’t have to pay taxes on their property, even if they rent it out to make money, as long as it’s being used for a government or public purpose. The government currently gives tax breaks to county-owned airports and seaports, even if they are used by private companies. But airports and seaports owned by cities or special districts only get a tax break if they are used for public purposes. The proposed change would give the same tax breaks to all government-owned airports and seaports, and let the Legislature decide what counts as a public purpose. The Florida Constitution says all properties need to be assessed for taxes based on their value. There are some exceptions, like for people’s homes and for farmland. Revision 10 adds a new exception for land used for conservation purposes. This means that local governments could choose to give a tax break to land that’s being used to protect nature. It’s up to the state government to decide the details of this tax break, and it’s up to local governments to decide if they want to give it. The Florida Constitution currently exempts household goods and personal effects from ad valorem taxation. The proposed Revision 10 aims to extend this exemption to mobile home appurtenances and attachments, as well as goods and furnishings owned by rental facilities with ten or fewer housing units. This change will eliminate differential treatment and reduce administrative costs. Additionally, the proposal seeks to clarify rules around citizens’ access to local government officials during quasi-judicial proceedings, such as zoning matters, to ensure fairness for all parties involved. People were upset about new rules preventing them from contacting their local government officials. So, a proposed change to the constitution will let citizens talk to officials about things like zoning and land use. In November, voters will decide whether to approve this change, along with some other tax exemptions and property rights. It’s up to the public to make the final decision. The text mentions various court cases, laws, and constitutional revisions related to property tax assessments in Florida. It also includes information about the background of Martha Barnett and Fred Maglione. Martha Barnett is a lawyer and member of the Constitution Revision Commission, while Fred Maglione is a law student. The text also includes a quote from the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.

In simpler terms, the text discusses legal issues related to property taxes in Florida and provides background information about Martha Barnett and Fred Maglione.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/proposing-solutions-to-the-property-tax-structure-and-the-right-of-citizens-to-contact-local-elected/