TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Commission hosted its annual retreat on Monday, calling for a fight against property tax proposals. <\/p>\n
The Leon County Administrator said property tax proposals are a \u201cfiscal crisis by design\u201d and the county is working to put together a public messaging campaign to ask people to vote against these proposals. <\/p>\n
A presentation given at the retreat noted that if HB 201 becomes part of the state constitution, Leon County will lose 40% of its revenue. <\/p>\n
A county staffer said it would be the worst unfunded mandate in the state\u2019s history and would \u201crequire tough decisions to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another staffer said under HB 201, the county would lose $93 million in revenue. \u201cSo where do the cuts come from?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Staff said consequences of the revenue cuts could include slower 911 response times, eliminating mosquito control and cuts to storm water maintenance.<\/p>\n
Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch said a lot of these services have to be provided \u201cone way or the other.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a bad idea for us to workshop some ways we can reduce costs of living,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n
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Commissioner Carolyn Cummings said the county is studying alternate funding mechanisms. <\/p>\n
Commissioner Bill Proctor said he believes property tax relief will pass. \u201cIt will do better than recreational marijuana,\u201d he said. \u201cOur fight is a legal one.\u201d <\/p>\n
Proctor suggested the county fight to keep a property tax relief amendment off the ballot, going so far as to propose the county sue the state government.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Nick Maddox said he wouldn\u2019t support suing the state, but rather defeating the amendments at the ballot.<\/p>\n
Commission Chair Christian Caban said property tax revenues have outpaced growth. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a reason it\u2019s so popular among voters,\u201d Caban said. \u201cWe should look at that as a reflection point.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not naive to the fact that we provide great services, but the affordability crisis is real,\u201d Caban added. <\/p>\n
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