In a room of Tampa Bay commissioners Friday who expressed concern about a property tax amendment that could sharply curtail local government spending, Vince Nowicki offered another perspective.
The 34-year-old said his friends can’t buy a home because they’ve gotten too expensive. The average age of a first-time homeowner is older, he added, which hurts the American dream.
It’s why he’s in favor of the property tax referendum set on November’s ballot.
“My generation not being able to afford a home? That’s the American dream,” Nowicki told commissioners from three counties across Tampa Bay. “It’s a good chance to deliver relief.”
Commissioners from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties meet three times a year to discuss regional policy. Theyalsotalk about what regional needs they want state and federal representatives to support.
But on Friday, commissioners spent most of the meeting weighing the effects of November’s property tax referendum, while acknowledging public cries for relief from runaway costs.
If voters pass the measure, people who own the homes that are their primary residence could see sharp reductions in property taxes.The measure would increase an exemption that shields some of a home’s value from property taxes to more than $250,000 over two years.
It also means local governments would collect millions less in property tax dollars. Money from property taxes pay for many public services, including public safety, libraries and parks.
The looming ballot question has hung over Hillsborough and Pinellas budget discussions. Each county has recommended staff cuts.
“It’s just very attractive to people on the surface,” Hillsborough Commissioner Harry Cohen said.
State orders spending cuts, adds mandates
State funding requirements, Pinellas Commissioner Kathleen Peters said, put too much on local governments to cover.
“Not only have we not educated the citizens well about what we do, we have not educated the Legislature on how much they have put on us by unfunded mandates,” Peters said. “Many of them have no clue how much they have put on us as a burden.”
Pinellas County intergovernmental liaison Tristan Sommer tells Tampa Bay commissioners about recommendations to advocate against state funding requirements. Lessening these requirements would help local government budgets, Sommer said.
Each year, the state requires local governments to fund services such as Medicaid or retirement systems, among others. If counties don’t collect as much property tax revenue, Peters added, it puts a further strain on local budgets.
Staff from each county recommended pushing forfewer state funding requirements this upcoming year.
“We know there are a lot of unfunded mandates that the state is notorious for passing down the costs to local governments,” said Ralph Lair, Pasco’s intergovernmental affairs officer.
In a proposed budget presentation this week, Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton said state funding requirements grew this upcoming fiscal year.
Residents need relief
Pinellas Commissioner Brian Scott said he’s met people who say “the sky is going to fall, the world is going to end and people are going to die” if the referendum passes.
“And I tell them none of that is going to happen,” Scott said. “Our residents want us to find more efficient ways of delivering services.”
Pinellas Commissioner Dave Eggers echoed Scott’s comment. He said even if the amendment doesn’t pass, residents are asking for smaller government.
Scott said this November is a “dress rehearsal” for years to come.
Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott participates in a regional roundtable event on Friday at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Boardroom at SkyCenter One in Tampa. He said even if this referendum doesn’t pass in November, it’ll continue to be an issue for commissioners to address.
Pasco Commissioner Jack Mariano said the decisions that await will also be similar to cuts they were forced to make in the 2008 recession. Since then, he said, residents have asked Pasco for more quality of life services, such as parks or libraries.
If the referendum passes, Mariano added, everything would change.
“It’s going to be devastating for the quality of life,” he said.