FACT: THE GROWTH BOOM APPROVED BY YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS
IS THE CAUSE OF YOUR RISING PROPERTY TAXES !
By Leslie Blackner, Esq., President of Florida Hometown democracy - Response to Derek Catron's story in the August 23rd Daytona Beach News-Journal Online
Here's the latest tally of the wreckage government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer has brought Florida:
- 400,000 vacant homes
- Highest foreclosure rate in the nation
- Highest mortgage delinquency rate in the nation
- Over half of all homes upside down (homeowner owes more than house is worth)
- Crashing real estate values
The developer/government machine big lie is that 'growth' builds the tax base. We just had the biggest 'growth' binge and what happened? The truth is that 'growth' builds government. It always needs more money to fund the 'growth.' Over the past 10 years, local government spending has DOUBLED. High salaries to staff, new roads, schools, infrastructure and services to accommodate never-ending 'growth'-it wasn't cheap.
In Jacksonville in 2000, John Delaney's administration had Arthur Anderson conduct a study about the cost/benefit performance if the Cedar Swamp was developed for residential use. It found that for every $1 in tax revenue, it would cost $2.45 to provide services. An older study by the American Farmland Trust showed that for every $1 in tax revenue, it cost taxpayers $1.39 for services.
What do you get in return? Responsible taxpayers who didn't flip and speculate are left holding the bag. YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP.
It's not surprising that most public officials oppose Florida Hometown Democracy, Amendment 4. Although they are responsible for this disaster, they are desperate to hold onto power. They dream of a quick return to the bubble.
Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 will begin to reign in this utterly irresponsible, corrupt system. Voters will have a veto over speculative 'growth' that voters must pay for. Remember last year's battle cry for property tax reform: "your taxes will drop like a rock!" So what happened?
Amendment 4 will ensure real tax reform!
To read Derek Catron's story in the August 23rd Daytona Beach News-Journal Online click here.