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Suncoast Pasco News

Sky Isn't Falling

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JOHN TISCHNER

Published: February 16, 2008

Editor:

A moment of reflection on Sierra Mision's Feb. 2 op-ed column.

Mision says the recent passage of Florida's Amendment No. 1 is nothing to celebrate, that schools will bear the brunt of reduced state income. The recent enactment doubles the Homestead Exemption to $50,000 in property relief to qualified homeowners and allows portability of the property tax cap.

We heard the same Chicken Little cries when Proposition 13 was put forth to voters in California in 1978. That initiative promised capped property taxes and tighter reins on future increases.

Like Amendment One, it passed unanimously. What was trumpeted by naysayers as having catastrophic effects on the economy of the Golden State proved the opposite – an economic surge in California's economy akin to its 1848 Gold Rush.

Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed $22.8 billion school budget contains additional funding for all phases of education, including an increase of $1.1 billion for K-12. Crist says the state has adequate reserves.

Florida voters spoke and spoke vociferously. I suppose they figured the money might as well be in their pockets than in the coffers of the government whose politicians would find a way to spend it anyway.

John Tischner
Dunedin

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