By Barbara Lumpkin
In accordance with the Florida Constitution, the Legislature will convene on March 4, 2008. The major focus of the 2008 session will be balancing the state budget. As widely reported the 2007 session saw a one billion dollar cut. Because of many factors including the severely depressed housing market, lawmakers are faced with the need to cut at least another one billion dollars from Florida’s budget that will be implemented on July 1 of this year. This budget cutting is being done at the same time efforts are underway to reduce property taxes and the cost of homeowners insurance. With the passage of Amendment 1 on January 29, the efforts to address property taxes may be subdued until implementation of Amendment 1 has occurred and at least preliminary results are analyzed. While property taxes may not be a primary issue for the state legislature in 2008, all Florida residents should closely observe county and city commissions as they implement assessments and fees to fund essential services even with reductions in property taxes. Currently many if not most elected local councils/commissions are considering Fire Protection Assessments or other fees to replace revenues lost because of the passage of Amendment 1. Another public body, the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission chaired by Alan Bense, former Speaker of the Florida House, continues to meet to discuss budget and tax issues. This twenty-five-member commission has the authority to develop legislative proposals and/or constitutional amendments and we urge you to visit their Web site at www.floridatbrc.org where you can find current proposals put forward by commission members. As they meet over the next several months these proposals will be passed or voted down by the commission. With the current budget crisis in Florida, the recommendations of this commission will be taken seriously by the legislature and some will be voted on by citizens as proposals to amend the Florida Constitution.
The legislature is holding three weeks of February committee hearings prior to the opening of the session in March with particular emphasis on how to balance the budget. House Speaker, Representative Marco Rubio announced an additional week of committee/council meetings to address the deteriorating state of the current fiscal year budget. His “charge” is to make $600 million in reductions to the current fiscal budget that he hopes to pass out of the full House during the first week of the regular session. Once the session gets underway then the House and Senate will develop their respective budgets for the 2008-2009 fiscal year that must include another $1 billion in cuts. This promises to be a very lean year for state and other public agencies throughout the state.
The one issue that has widespread support is the need for Florida to pass an Economic Stimulus Package. The Governor and the House and Senate are hearing proposals for such a package with significant input from the private sector. As proposals are put into legislative bill form we will provide information on this site regarding these bills and their progress. Popular themes already emerging include:
Affordable housing for Florida essential employees such as firefighters, nurses, teachers and law enforcement officers.
Address infrastructure such as road development and repair and bridge repair and maintenance.
Maintain Florida’s lead position in space exploration and technology.
Enhance international tourism.
These are just a few of the ideas being floated as primary ways increased funding could stimulate Florida’s sagging economy. With our state resources so dependent on sales tax revenues stimulation of the economy through job production is critical to preserving our communities.
Please visit this Web site often as the 2008 legislative session gets underway and we will keep you informed regarding the progress of bills that will impact your pocketbooks and quality of life.