Photo: Moment RF
Just like in Texas, a major push to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce property taxes is underway. Unfortunately, just like here in Texas, there are some major obstacles in the way of major property tax relief becoming a reality.
The biggest of those obstacles, according to James Quintero with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, is the ongoing spending problem that localities in both Texas and Florida continue to exhibit.
He said that, especially here in Texas, "We seem to be caught in this cycle, where the Texas legislature lowers taxes, only for local governments to raise taxes during the interim."
Quintero says in order for major property tax reform or abolition to occur, those localities will have to be reined in. According to him, "One of the ways that we could go about doing that is by instituting a local expenditure limit, that contains the growth of government at the local level."
He also suggested an income cap for local jurisdictions, saying that until these localities are reined in, local tax increases will continue to overshadow the relief offered by the State. A problem that appears to be affecting both the Lone Star State and the Sunshine State.