Using the Ad Valorem System, Ray believes all property owners should pay their proportionate share.
Therefore, totally eliminate the current Homestead Exemption and establish the initial sales price at time of purchase as the assessed value of the property forever until such time as the property is resold.
To implement and establish the assessed value, use the year of 2003 with it's current exemption and cap as the base line value to get started. Like wise for all other properties, use the 2003 assessed values to commence.
Afterwards, the purchase price would establish the assessed value forever until resold AND this would apply to all properties.
This allows people to know going in what their tax base is and within the bounds of the allowed millage rate set by local government what the taxes will be.
Locking in the assessed values might require increasing the top millage rate allowed by local governments. But, that's better then the double wammie we have today!!
The above should eliminate or greatly reduce the expense of operating the Property Appraisers office.
It will also quit punishing those people who improve and maintain their property. "Don't we now emphasize Side Walk Appeal" Permitted type improvements could require a revaluation of assessed value.
AND
Before you think this a squirrelly idea, Do the math.
If Homestead Exemption System is maintained, consider basing it on a seniority system rather then increasing or having the exemption at one set amount. Is it not fair to favor a long time property owner who has been paying the Florida bills for several years over one who has just started. In other words a graduated discount system which could also be carried forward from home to home.
If homestead exemption is continued then rental houses, apartment complexes, etc. should be revised so the Property Tax is based on gross income of the rental property or something similar. Rental housing rates simple can not keep up with the ever increasing property assessments. It currently takes 4 months rent to pay for taxes and insurance.
If property was not designed to be nor used as Rental Property then it should not be assessed a value based on property that is designed and/or used as Rental Property.
Other states have the school taxes exempted for those age 65 and over. What say Florida?
Ray believes property taxes on the Platted Land Scams of 1914 and similar platted land should be based on the value of surrounding land values and not be taxed as sub-divisions or have comparable sales used. See suggestion:.. HERE
Ray believes the Land Assessment and Tax Section of all Property Appraiser's Web Sites should conform to a state wide specification. They currently are widely diversified and some very difficult to understand.
Identities and values should be established state wide on such things as retention ponds, parking lots, out parcels, common areas, etc.
Statutes should be created state wide to assure town house and condo owners control taxes on their own parking lot, swimming pools and other eminities.
Remove the crap about "Highest and Best Use" from the state statute, 193.011 At best an appraisal is just a guesstimate and to tell a bureaucrat "Highest and Best" leaves way too much latitude.
The method of "Mass Appraisal" is very discriminating and should be eliminated because it is in no way accurate. Is not the 3 rules of Real Estate value based on, Location - Location - Location
Tax Deeded sales should be considered a legitimate sale of the property.
A time frame should be established for "Force to Sell" of Tax Certificates and something done about the 4 year wait to obtain title insurance on tax deeded properties. If "Force to Sell" application occurs after 7 years then taxes should be waivered until property is sold and deed recorded as well as waiving taxes during the 4 year wait on Title Insurance.
Looking at the differences in assessed property values shown:.. HERE, it appears the department of Revenue could do a better job of conducting schools to upgrade appraisal skills as outlined in state statute 195.002. Perhaps the schools contents should be reviewed to assure their adequacies.
But, before we do that let's rewrite the rules and the schools contents. In today's computer world we no longer can afford the broad latitude given appraisal personnel who with a few strokes of the keys can climb the ladder of success based on how well they increase assessments or allow personality conflicts to bias the assessment.
It should be recognized that DOR can not do their job adequately if Property Appraisers have 67 different ways of doing things. - A look at their web sites makes is apparent that is the case.
Local governments are required to publish their budget each year which don't tell the public much. Publishing the previous 5 years of income from all sources and the expected income and expenses for the upcoming year would be much more beneficial and paint a clearer picture for the average citizen.
Local Governments, so called "Fees" should be reviewed and statutes revised to control the fees because they are getting out of hand and are being used to supplement the general fund using unscrupulous accounting methods.
