JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Three South Florida cities are taking a new approach to the property tax debate: Direct rebate checks to homeowners.<\/p>\n
Now, some Jacksonville city leaders argue it\u2019s an option that should be considered here as well.<\/p>\n
Last year, Jacksonville slashed property taxes by $13.5 million.<\/p>\n
It was a hard-fought battle that only resulted in average monthly savings of about $2.<\/p>\n
So little, some homeowners like Gary James didn\u2019t even know it happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell you the truth, no. Didn\u2019t even follow it,\u201d said James.<\/p>\n
But now some Jacksonville city leaders are expressing interest in an alternative tax relief option: Direct lump-sum rebates.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s already being tried out in three South Florida cities.<\/p>\n
Hialeah and Miami have both agreed to rebate municipal property taxes for low-income seniors.<\/p>\n
In Hialeah, the program will only cost about $1.2 million.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Jimmy Peluso (D-District 7) said he thinks that could be a responsible, cost-effective way of targeting relief to those in the most need.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than cut checks to everybody, as great as that might be, we have a lot of renters that wouldn\u2019t get help from those checks and we\u2019ve got a lot of households that I think really need it more than others,\u201d said Peluso. \u201dSo yeah, let\u2019s make sure we\u2019re putting it in the hands people who really need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Councilmember Rory Diamond (R-District 13) said he favors the blanket approach taken by the City of Miami Beach, which is spending about $7 million to dole out $500 rebate checks per homesteaded property.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida is going to vote to reduce property taxes one way or the other. So, it\u2019s coming,\u201d said Diamond. \u201dJacksonville needs to get ready, and if we can get ahead of the game, start giving rebates right now to taxpayers, absolutely. Let\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Action News Jax reached out to Mayor Donna Deegan\u2019s office and asked if she would support a property tax rebate.<\/p>\n
We were told her office is waiting to see what, if anything, the legislature puts on the ballot, before signing onto any specific proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are implementing a range of local programs designed to make the basics of life more affordable: housing, healthcare, and food. It\u2019s premature for us to consider any of the above mentioned polices before the state budget and property tax legislation have passed,\u201d a spokesperson for the mayor\u2019s office told us in a statement. \u201cWe also urge the state to take more action on property insurance for Florida homeowners who have the highest rates in the country by far.\u201d<\/p>\n
James said he doesn\u2019t have much of a preference, but he does like the idea of a lump-sum check, versus small incremental savings. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be better because you\u2019d have a chance to buy something with it,\u201d said James. \u201d20 or $30 a month adds up, but you can spend $20 just eating lunch here. It doesn\u2019t take much to spend 20 bucks nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n
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