Cape Coral City Council received an update on legislation that could impact property taxes Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said the measures are crawling along through committees.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of the House Joint Resolutions are still within committee,\u201d he said at council\u2019s budget workshop.<\/p>\n
The two most active bills are House Joint Resolution 203, which would phase out non-school property taxes with an additional $100,000-a -year exemption over 10 years for homesteaded homes, and 213, which would modify limitations on assessment increases for both homestead and non-homestead property.<\/p>\n
Mason said both are on the House calendar for the second reading. If a measure goes to the third reading, the House has the option to move forward, or reject. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth have been amended twice,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n
In addition, Mason said there are two added proposals, House Bill 789, which is ad valorem tax levies, and 903 which would reduce the maximum percentage that the assessed value of non-homesteaded could increase annually from 10% to 3% effective Jan. 1, 2027. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Council recently returned from Tallahassee, with some sharing their thoughts.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Joe Kilraine said they did not hear a consensus going anywhere on any of the bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach person we talked to had a little bit of a different take. They seem to feel the governor will make sure something got through, but none knew what it might be,\u201d he said. \u201cThey felt the Senate was dragging on a little bit \u2013 hung up with the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor John Gunter said there is a disconnect between the Senate and the House.<\/p>\n
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn provided some ways a reduction, or the elimination of property taxes could impact the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo days ago, I had a discussion with the executive director of the West Coast Navigation District,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said they have been a sub recipient of grants for such things as public safety boats, marine enforcement, dredging, channel markers and boat ramps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe discussion from the executive director was sobering,\u201d he said, adding that if property taxes were to be eliminated, they would be shut down. \u201cThe only way they collect money is through ad valorum taxation \u2013 even further downstream effects not being paid attention to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Council heard a presentation during a recent workshop as to what kind of impact the elimination could have on the city\u2019s budget. <\/p>\n
The scenarios ranged from severe cuts on how the city operates, to minimal.<\/p>\n