Senator Haridopolos: Amendment 5 Debate Schedule to Begin in Broward

Senator Mike Haridopolos announced dates for 10 public debates to be held across Florida regarding Amendment 5.   The first debate is scheduled to be held at Broward Community College Pembroke Pines campus on Tuesday, July 22 at 1 p.m.

Amendment 5 would replace state-required school property taxes (also known as the “required local effort”) with state revenues generating an equivalent hold-harmless amount for schools through one or more of the following options:  eliminating sales tax exemptions (to be determined by the Florida Legislature); increasing Florida’s sales tax rate up to one percentage point; spending reductions; other revenue options as created by the Florida Legislature.

Amendment 5 also limits the subject matter of laws granting future exemptions, limits annual increases in the assessment of non-homestead real property, and lowers the property tax millage rate for schools.

Sponsored by former Senate President John McKay, who is now a member of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Amendment 5 is estimated to have an impact on the State of $9.5 to $11 billion in lost property tax revenue.

The amendment must be approved by 60 percent of Florida voters in order to pass.

Dates and locations for the debates are as follows:

• Tuesday, July 22nd, 1 p.m., Broward Community College, Pembroke Pines
• Monday, July 28th, 1 p.m., Edison Community College, Ft. Myers
• Tuesday, July 29, 1 p.m., Valencia Community College, Orlando
• Monday, August 4th, 1 p.m., Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville
• Wednesday, August 6th, 1 p.m., Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville
• Thursday, August 7th, 1:30 p.m., St. Petersburg College, Seminole
• Monday, August 11th, 1 p.m., Miami-Dade College, Miami
• Tuesday, August 12th, 1 p.m., Indian River State College, Ft. Pierce
• Wednesday, August 13th, 1 p.m., Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City
• Monday, August 18th, 1 p.m., Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee

To view more information about Senator Haridopolos’ position on Amendment 5, click here. 

News coverage on the issue is below.   

 

Amendment 5 debate intensifies

By Bill Cotterell

FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU POLITICAL EDITOR /Tallahassee Democrat

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos on Tuesday scheduled 10 public forums on a plan to abolish property taxes for school support and make legislators find billions of dollars in replacement revenues.

In a related development, a Tallahassee judge scheduled arguments for Aug. 13 on a suit aimed at knocking Amendment 5 off of the November ballot.

Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, and other opponents of the measure claim it is a “bait and switch” that promises Floridians lower property taxes but would lead to much higher sales taxes, elimination of some tax exemptions and major cuts in state services. 

He challenged former Senate President John McKay, R-Bradenton, to debate him at community colleges from Miami-Dade to Bay Counties late this month and early in August. McKay said that would be “premature” – that they should wait until property-tax notices go out, so voters would know the stakes.

“If property taxes could be cut by 25 to 45 percent with Amendment 5, I think Sen. Haridopolos would want voters to know how much tax relief we’re talking about,” said McKay.

The amendment, which McKay sponsored as a member of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, would eliminate the “required local effort” for school support. To make up for revenues lost by school districts, the Legislature would be authorized to raise the sales tax 1 percent, eliminate exemptions, cut the budget and look for other tax sources.

Estimates of the revenue shift at the state level to compensate the counties for lost property taxes have ranged from $9.5 billion to $11 billion.

To pass, the amendment would have to be approved by 60 percent of Florida voters.

Backed by a wide-ranging coalition of business, education and civic groups, Haridopolos has argued that uncertainty about replacement tax sources and the threat of massive budget cuts would cause chaos for the state’s economy.

He has scheduled debates at Broward Community College on July 22, Edison Community College on July 28, Valencia Community College in Orlando the following day, Florida Community College at Jacksonville on Aug. 4, Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville on Aug. 6, St. Petersburg College in Seminole the next day, Miami-Dade College on Aug. 11, Indian River State College in Fort Pierce on Aug. 12, Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City on Aug. 13 and Tallahassee Community College on Aug. 18.

All of the debates were set for 1 p.m. except the St. Petersburg College session, which was scheduled a half-hour later.

“We look forward to a thoughtful and candid discussion with Mr. McKay on the merits of Amendment 5,” said Haridopolos. “We believe that once voters have a chance to examine all of the facts, they will recognize Amendment 5 for the bait-and-switch that it is.”
 

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Colodny Fass. 

 

Amendment 5 debate intensifies

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos on Tuesday scheduled 10 public forums on a plan to abolish property taxes for school support and make legislators find billions of dollars in replacement revenues. 

 

Related Buzz blog posts from the St. Petersburg Times are below. 

 

Haridopolos setting up debates on Amendment 5, including stop at IRSC in Fort Pierce

Sen. Mike Haridopolos is taking his anti-Amendment 5 show on the road, announcing today 10 public debates across Florida starting July 22 in Pembroke Pines. But it’s unclear whether he will have someone to debate.

 

Haridopolos’ challenge: Debate me, John McKay

Mike Haridopolos this morning challenged his Amendment 5 rival, former Senate President John McKay of Bradenton, to at least 10 debates across the state.

 

 

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