Florida lawmakers are unlikely to add tax holidays to ther relief package as they consider the state’s budget, and the Tampa City Council voted on a potential Rays stadium.


Florida lawmakers unlikely to consider tax holidays in the state’s budget

Everybody loves a tax holiday, but this time around, Florida lawmakers aren’t expected to get more creative about them.

State residents can expect to see the usual offerings throughout the year like the famous back to school tax holiday, but lawmakers say they are focusing their time and efforts on helping homeowners in Florida.

“People come to the government thinking that we’re going to save them from all the economic problems of the world. We really aren’t the answer. The answer is the market. But what we can’t control are some of the levers that affect those markets,” State Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Hillsborough County, said.

Instead, the big relief Florida Republicans are working on is a plan to eliminate and or reduce property tax.

According to a state analysis, that could save the average homeowner anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 per year.

“I think at the end of the day, we got to do what’s best for Floridians and what that looks like we’re still working through,” State Rep. Danny Nix, R-Port Charlotte, said.

Florida Democrats want lawmakers to deliver more tax relief like suspend the state’s gas tax. Plus fully fund the state’s affordable housing programs using the state’s reserve dollars if needed.

“We hear a lot from the majority party that Florida’s economy is strong and that we have strong reserves. But I don’t know that you get to build up your rainy day fund if you’re not paying the bills that are on your table today, and the bills that are overdue for the people of Florida are making sure that they have some real relief,” State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said.

Tampa City Council, by 4-3 vote, OKs Rays memo of understanding

With Hillsborough County approving a non-binding agreement on the Rays’ $2.3-billion stadium on Wednesday, the Tampa City Council was up to bat Thursday.

By a 4-3 vote, the council on Thursday afternoon gave its support to the stadium proposal memo, which is currently a non-binding agreement.

The no votes were cast by Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak. Voting yes were Alan Clendenin, Naya Young, Luis Viera and Bill Carlson, though Carlson said he would ultimately vote no on the final project.

“The Tampa City Council today sent a strong and positive message to our community by approving the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding and saying ‘yes’ to a Forever Home ballpark and the generational transformation for Tampa Bay that will follow,” the team said in a statement released shortly after the vote.

“We appreciate the thoughtful engagement with City Council members and staff throughout this process, which from the start was focused on one common goal – arrive at an agreement that is smart, fair and a win for everyone. With this step complete, the Rays now look forward to working with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa as we move toward final agreements that will secure Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay for current and future generations.”

On Wednesday, in a 5-2 vote, the county commission approved a memorandum of understanding related to the building of a new stadium.

Also Wednesday, the Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees voted to approve moving forward with the ground lease as part of the next step in its partnership with the team.

The Rays are seeking $976 million in public contributions to the project, with $796 million from the county and $180 million from the city.

Team officials say they want to be in the new facility, targeted for the Hillsborough College campus on Dale Mabry Highway in time for the 2029 season.

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