State senator claims sales tax won’t rescue schools

Thursday, May 29, 2008

By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH—Tiger Bay Club members give a stuffed tiger to whoever asks the toughest question of speakers at its meetings.

Picking a winner Tuesday was difficult after the grilling Florida Sen. Mike Haridopolos took for his speech and efforts to oppose a tax reform proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, took questions from both tax reformers and people concerned about slashing priorities, such as education.

Amendment 5 on the November ballot proposes to replace school property taxes with a 1-cent increase in the sales tax.

“Amendment 5 is a death sentence, I believe, for the Florida economy,” said Haridopolos, who came with a five-point argument against the proposal. He said Amendment 5:

· Fails to raise enough money to replace property-tax funding for schools, requiring additional taxes and fees.

· Doesn’t provide enough property-tax relief.

· Creates uncertainty about what the state taxes would be, driving away business prospects.

· Won’t take effect for 2 1/2 years.

· Hits hardest those with the least ability to pay, because sales taxes are regressive.

Maureen France, co-founder of Volusia Tax Reform, said her group backs Amendment 5 because legislators in Tallahassee failed to enact real tax reform.

“Where is the leadership in Tallahassee?” she said.

Haridopolos said he was unable to get enough votes to pass his proposal to prohibit government revenues from growing faster than family income.

Margie Patchett, executive director of Volusia Tax Reform and winner of the stuffed tiger, said Haridopolos’ contention that state education costs would rise to $11 billion is a reason to support, not defeat Amendment 5.

“Isn’t that all the more reason to get that off the back of all property-tax payers?” she said.

Haridopolos said Amendment 5 would allow school property taxes to creep back up over time.

Others in the audience of nearly 100 stressed the need to support essential services.

“If we don’t have proper education, we will not attract business,” said Marylin Megrea, an Ormond Beach resident. “We had to fire 260 teachers in Volusia County. Let’s forget about property-tax (reform) for a while and do something for education.”

C. Allen Watts, a Daytona Beach attorney, asked how local governments would follow state requirements to upgrade infrastructure by $50 billion if government revenues do not grow.

Haridopolos responded: “What grows government revenue is a strong economy.”