Florida Is A Low Tax State
I've lived in Florida for my entire adult life. Some things I take for granted. The summers are uncomfortably hot and by August I wish I lived somewhere else. It is no surprise that the North Carolina is a popular place for those that can afford to escape the tropics for a while.
Another thing I take for granted are low taxes. There are no state income taxes. The state sales tax has a lot of exemptions and the real estate property tax levy has a hefty homestead exemption where the valuation of property a state resident lives in is kept lower than it should be and property appraisers and review boards that make points by keeping official valuations low also.
Miami Dade County and the State of Florida and the Miami Dade School Board levy ad valorem based on the value of real estate. It can be a very significant tax if you live in a wealthy neighborhood, in a big house. In more rural areas where a retiree might live in a trailer, you might pay hardly any taxes.
One way to avoid disappointment is to lower your expectations, in Florida we seem to have taken this to heart big time.
The County Commission is trying to figure out a way to pay for an urban library system without raising taxes. Three years of raiding reserve funds built up in years when property values went up and the unemployment rate was much lower are about to come to an end. a plan to raise the tax rate slightly was not thought of kindly and defeated.
The saddest thing about this problem is the relatively piddling amount of money that is being discussed. My condo is being taxed for the library like it is valued at about $58,000. I bought the property in 1991 for $50,000. It is probably worth slightly more than $160,000 now.
The library is getting $9.93 from a tax bill of $1270.58. I plan on paying my tax bill before November 30, 2013 to receive a discount of almost $50.00.
I know libraries are going through some changes but this is penny wise and pound foolish.
I spent a few afternoons at the library this summer catching up on magazines and checking out a few murder mysteries. I thought it was a cool idea and was amazed how many DVD's you could check out as well.
Another thing I take for granted are low taxes. There are no state income taxes. The state sales tax has a lot of exemptions and the real estate property tax levy has a hefty homestead exemption where the valuation of property a state resident lives in is kept lower than it should be and property appraisers and review boards that make points by keeping official valuations low also.
Miami Dade County and the State of Florida and the Miami Dade School Board levy ad valorem based on the value of real estate. It can be a very significant tax if you live in a wealthy neighborhood, in a big house. In more rural areas where a retiree might live in a trailer, you might pay hardly any taxes.
One way to avoid disappointment is to lower your expectations, in Florida we seem to have taken this to heart big time.
The County Commission is trying to figure out a way to pay for an urban library system without raising taxes. Three years of raiding reserve funds built up in years when property values went up and the unemployment rate was much lower are about to come to an end. a plan to raise the tax rate slightly was not thought of kindly and defeated.
The saddest thing about this problem is the relatively piddling amount of money that is being discussed. My condo is being taxed for the library like it is valued at about $58,000. I bought the property in 1991 for $50,000. It is probably worth slightly more than $160,000 now.
The library is getting $9.93 from a tax bill of $1270.58. I plan on paying my tax bill before November 30, 2013 to receive a discount of almost $50.00.
I know libraries are going through some changes but this is penny wise and pound foolish.
I spent a few afternoons at the library this summer catching up on magazines and checking out a few murder mysteries. I thought it was a cool idea and was amazed how many DVD's you could check out as well.
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