Special Tax Session Called

Special session on property tax formally called on May 10, 2007 - House and Senate leaders Wednesday formally called a special session on property tax relief for June 12-22 and appointed a joint committee to draft proposed legislation in the interim. Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, and House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, had announced plans for the special session last week after the chambers were unable to sort out their differences on the issue with only two days left in the 60-day regular 2007 session. It ended last Friday. The joint committee is scheduled to meet May 21 to review and discuss options and June 4 to present proposed legislation.

Lawmakers are trying to find a solution to soaring tax bills resulting mainly from rising property values. They also are looking at inequities inthe system that have resulted in some taxpayers getting bills many times higher than neighbors with similar properties. Pruitt and Rubio called the special session to deal exclusively with property taxes, and they have been adamant that lawmakers should focus only on that issue.

Posted by Donald Urschalitz P.A. at May 10, 2007 07:49 PM