Community Budget Issue Requests Closed for 2009; Leadership Promises Corrective Legislation on Florida Corporate Tax Deduction Law
Nov 19, 2008
In a joint memorandum issued to all Florida Legislators on November 18, 2008, Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and Senate President Jeff Atwater announced that the Community Budget Issue Request (“CBIR”) System will not be open this legislative year “In light of the fiscal challenges our state is facing and our need to focus efforts on solutions to balance the state’s budget.”
The (attached) memo from Speaker Sansom and Senate President Atwater continued “We also hope to avoid creating unrealistic funding expectations in our communities given the further declining state revenues.”
In a separate statement issued today, November 19, 2008, House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) praised the Senate President and House Speaker on their joint announcement, saying “(The)announcement by Senate President Atwater and House Speaker Sansom regarding their joint decision to forgo CBIR earmarks in the budget underscores their commitment to put fiscal responsibility and the economic well-being of Floridians at the top of their agendas. I commend President Atwater and Speaker Sansom for their commitment.”
Hasner continued, “We understand that every dollar is precious and must be spent wisely. We are committed to taking serious action to deal with a serious budget problem. President Atwater and Speaker Sansom are leading the charge as we take on wasteful and excessive spending in the system by eliminating earmarks like the CBIRs and reducing government inefficiency. Floridians can be confident that their leadership is taking a common-sense approach to getting Florida’s economy going again.”
Letter to Florida Department of Revenue Promises Corrective Legislation on Corporate Deductions
Also on November 18, Speaker Sansom and Senate President Atwater sent a letter to Florida Department of Revenue Executive Director Lisa Echeverri advising her of their joint plan to draft legislation designed to “correct” Florida statutes neutralizing the provisions of the Federal Stimulus Bill that allowed accelerated first-year depreciation deductions and additional first-year expensing by corporate taxpayers.
Speaker Sansom and Senate President Atwater state: “We hope taxpayers will make decisions and elections that affect their Florida taxes in anticipation of the legislation becoming law, particularly after this communication with you.”
The letter concludes by saying “Given the uncertainty created by Chapter 2008-206, Laws of Florida, we also request that you use existing statutory discretion to waive penalties for any taxpayer that takes action in good faith reliance on our plan, but would otherwise be subject to penalties.”
The complete letter to Executive Director Echeverri is also attached for your review
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Colodny Fass.
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