All this property tax talk, but look when it it will come into play

June 14, 2007

Only one more big day of haggling ahead?

TALLAHASSEE --- After working past 10 p.m. Wednesday haggling over details of a massive property tax cut plan, the Florida House is getting a late start on what may be their final day in special session.

The later start --- they began deliberations just after noon --- doesn't mean it will be a short work day in the Florida House of Representatives.

Lawmakers and legislative aides are already preparing to work late into the evening again.

Today, House members will chew through at least 34 amendments on a bill that forces local governments to roll back their tax rates. And there's at least 17 proposed modifications to a bill that asks voters to cut taxes and make homes more affordable with a new super-sized tax exemption.

But the big question in the House of Representatives is whether there will be sufficient votes to get the proposed new exemption on the Jan. 29 presidential primary, or whether it will have to wait until a November 2008 election, delaying when homeowners would see most of the tax relief that legislators are hoping to deliver.

House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said after meeting with Democratic colleagues Thursday morning that it's likely that most of the 42-member House Democratic caucus will go along with Republicans in support of putting the issue on the Jan. 29 ballot.