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<\/a>\nFlorida lawmakers unlikely to consider tax holidays in the state’s budget<\/p>\n
Everybody loves a tax holiday, but this time around, Florida lawmakers aren\u2019t expected to get more creative about them.<\/p>\n
State residents can expect to see the usual offerings throughout the year like the famous back to school tax holiday, but lawmakers say they\u00a0are focusing their time and efforts on helping homeowners in Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople come to the government thinking that we\u2019re going to save them from all the economic problems of the world. We really aren\u2019t the answer. The answer is the market. But what we can\u2019t control are some of the levers that affect those markets,\u201d State Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Hillsborough County, said.<\/p>\n
Instead, the big relief Florida Republicans are working on is a plan to eliminate and or reduce property tax.<\/p>\n
According to a state analysis, that could save the average homeowner anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 per year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think at the end of the day, we got to do what\u2019s best for Floridians and what that looks like we\u2019re still working through,\u201d State Rep. Danny Nix, R-Port Charlotte, said.<\/p>\n
Florida Democrats want lawmakers to deliver more tax relief like suspend the state\u2019s gas tax. Plus fully fund the state\u2019s affordable housing programs using the state\u2019s reserve dollars if needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear a lot from the majority party that Florida\u2019s economy is strong and that we have strong reserves. But I don\u2019t know that you get to build up your rainy day fund if you\u2019re 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,\u201d State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said.<\/p>\n
Tampa City Council, by 4-3 vote, OKs Rays memo of understanding<\/p>\n
With Hillsborough County approving a non-binding agreement on the Rays\u2019 $2.3-billion stadium on Wednesday, the Tampa City Council was up to bat Thursday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Tampa City Council today sent a strong and positive message to our community by approving the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding and saying \u2018yes\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
“We appreciate the thoughtful engagement with City Council members and staff throughout this process, which from the start was focused on one common goal \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n