Connect Magazine July/August 2018 | Page 7

A decade has gone by since Florida voters passed a bill that placed a 10 percent tax cap on all non- homestead properties which include commercial/ business parcels, residential rentals, and vacant, undeveloped lots. As Florida voters vote “yes” once again on Amendment 2 via the November 2018 ballot, they won’t be voting for a tax cut. They will simply keep the current law in place. If Amendment 2 fails, here’s what’s at stake: In those 10 years, businesses have been better able to thrive in Florida to everyone’s benefit. • $60 billion in value will not be protected. When businesses are able to do well, it creates • Rent costs will be out of control. more jobs, which creates more stability for those • The housing shortage in Florida will become communities. much worse, forcing current citizens to seek homes and jobs out of the state. Businesses are able to better serve their respective • Seniors living on fixed incomes will be customers and clients by not raising prices on their devastated. products and services. This concept works for law • Seniors residing in a dependent living facility firms all the way to small specialty boutiques to may be unable to afford the increased cost, grocery stores and restaurants. forcing them to find alternative, possible lesser living options. Prices for rent are better controlled, for people renting their business locations and for people Voting “yes” on Amendment 2 this November will renting their homes and apartments. That’s make that tax cap permanent, helping to protect because the owners are able to plan their long- the state of Florida. term budgets knowing their non-homestead taxes are capped at 10 percent annually. Learn more at Everybodyisfor2.com or email Ann Howard, [email protected]. Before the non-homestead tax cap was approved by voters in Florida, 30 percent of non-homestead properties were hit with an 80 percent tax increase in just one year. That same year, nearly three out of four non- homestead properties suffered a more than 10 percent annual non-homestead tax increase. Prior to Amendment 2 going into law, the tax system in Florida was unfair, literally punishing non-homestead property owners and those renting them. Now, this protective law is set to expire January 1, 2019. But we can stop that from happening. RPCRA.ORG | JUL/AUG 2018 7