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Newspaper advertisements about tax exemption on personal plots

Posted on by Bobb
Newspaper advertisements about tax exemption on personal plots

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Do you know about Florida Amendments of 2024?

Florida Voters will have to consider six constitutional amendment proposals. in the November 5 newsletter. Each must receive at least 60% of the vote to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

Are you still not sure what each amendment means and whether you are going to vote yes or no? In this story we emphasize Amendment 5 to help you prepare for Election Daythat is, from 7:00 to 19:00 on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

If you’d like to vote early on the candidates and Florida’s six amendments, early voting runs through Sunday, November 3rd, from times and days vary by county.

Early voting: Here’s when it starts in Florida, including time, date and county.

The election is less than two weeks away, and if you’re still not sure what Amendment 5—the “inflation-adjusted homestead exemption”—means and whether you’re going to vote yes or no, we’ll break it down for you. you.

In this article, we highlight Amendment 5 and offer the recommendations, if any, of the editorial boards of two Florida newspapers in the USA TODAY NETWORK and four other newspapers in the Sunshine State. While there are nearly two dozen newspapers in Florida, of which 16 sites are part of the USA TODAY network, a small minority of newspapers provide editorial advice during the U.S. general election. However, every newspaper covered Florida’s amendments for the 2024 election, publishing articles explaining what they mean to their readers. Below is a list of newspapers with links to their websites if you would like to do further research on Amendment 5.

How many newspapers are there in Florida?

The following is a list of Florida newspapers:

Which Florida newspapers offer editorial board recommendations or endorse Florida amendments?

In the 2024 general election, in most cases, the editorial boards of Florida’s six newspapers offered recommendations or advice — an endorsement on how to vote — on the six Florida amendments on the ballot.

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Amendment 5: Provides an inflation adjustment for property tax exemptions.

FLORIDA TODAY reporter John A. Torres discusses Amendment 5 with USA Today Florida Network reporters John Kennedy and James Call.

Florida Amendments 2024: Amendment 5annual adjustments to the value of certain homestead benefits, also known as the “homestead exemption adjustment.”

Sponsor: Florida Legislature

Summary: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution requiring an annual adjustment for inflation of the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply exclusively to levies other than school district levies and to which every person having legal or equitable title to real property, and saves it. the right to permanent residence of the owner or another person legally or naturally dependent on the owner. This amendment comes into force on January 1, 2025.

TCPalm, also known as the Treasure Coast newspaper, is part of the USA TODAY network covering Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County in Florida.

TCPalm: NO

TCPalm Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 5.

Why: “While those of us who own homestead property could potentially benefit from small tax cuts, the seemingly endless process of asking voters to (artificially) cap property taxes through constitutional amendments every few years is exhausting. Potential unintended consequences – from local governments levying tolls to make up for revenue shortfalls or cost shifting, to businesses, small or large, not having backyard gardens – seem to rarely be considered.”

Let’s dig deeper into Amendment 5: Vote up or down on Florida’s amendments? What does Amendment 5 mean, the homestead exemption proposal?

The Palm Beach Post is part of the USA TODAY network.

Palm Beach Post: NO

Palm Beach Post editors recommend There was no vote on Amendment 5.

Why: “The Fifth Amendment sounds good. This will allow the homestead property tax exemption to be adjusted annually for inflation by the amount of the exemption that applies to non-school taxes. Simply put, if the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, rises, so does the tax benefit on your home. Tempting, but problematic for local communities. The Post recommends voters reject the amendment by voting “no.” This creates the misleading impression that state legislators are giving homeowners big tax breaks. In effect, they are proposing a change that will reduce the revenue that counties and municipalities desperately need to operate and provide the many services that make our communities livable.”

Tampa Bay Times: YES

Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board Recommends voting “yes” on Amendment 5.

Why: “Indexing Florida’s inflation-exempt homesteads is a good idea—this smart change would give Florida homeowners the full benefit of the tax breaks they were already promised. Property taxes in Florida are set by local governments—cities, counties, school districts and special taxing districts—to finance their operations. Although taxes are levied on the assessed value of the home, the state constitution provides for a permanent residence homestead exemption, which reduces the amount of tax a homeowner pays.”

Miami Herald: YES

Miami Herald editors recommend voting “yes” on Amendment 5.

Why: “Amendment 5, on the November ballot, is a common-sense proposal that would give Florida homeowners a big benefit from the homestead tax exemption—and some relief they could really use, given our housing affordability crisis. Homeowners in this state are allowed a $25,000 homestead exemption on all property taxes and an additional $25,000 exemption on property values ​​between $50,000 and $75,000, excluding school taxes. Exceptions apply if you live in your home. Amendment 5 will apply to the second exemption of $25,000. The amendment will adjust the exemption amount based on the rate of inflation, meaning that in the current environment the exemption amount will increase, which is a win for homeowners.”

The editorial boards of the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel have combined their recommendations for most of Florida’s 2024 amendments. Below is what the editorial boards of both newspapers have to say about the Fifth Amendment regarding the “homestead exemption.”

Orlando Sentinel: NO

South Florida Sun Sentinel: NO

Orlando Sentinel And South Florida Sun Sentinel The editorial board recommends voting against Amendment 5.

Why: “Voters must say no to maintain current homestead benefits: One of the worst things about the Legislature is cutting taxes at someone else’s expense. And that’s the problem with Amendment 5. It will provide a cost of living adjustment for the homestead portion. an exemption that offsets the taxable value of owner-occupied homes. This is the portion of the $50,000 to $75,000 home value applied to the tax base of all local governments excluding schools. Amendment 5 does not change the basic homestead tax exemption, which exempts real estate taxes. on the first $25,000 of a home’s value, but it could reduce taxes paid by all government agencies except schools, subject to an exception that now excludes assessments between $50,000 and $75,000 of a home’s value. If inflation rises, city, county and special district. County taxes on that other portion will go down unless those governing boards raise their tax rates. In other words, the revenue that pays for police, fire, roads, parks and other municipal and county services could be cut, although this additional exemption may not save. individual taxpayers, this could have devastating consequences for local governments.”