Governor Christ signed the state's $71.5 billion state budget but.....he vetoed almost $460 million. He is making a statement by making our government live within out means. I know that there are some local projects that weren't approved but there were also a great number of projects that were approved. He approved a $1.2 billion increase in the day to day spending of public schools. Read more of this News Journal article.
There was a great concern with the local property tax issues that there would be cutbacks in the school system. I have two children in school and the last thing I want cut are programs in our school system. Children are our future and we need to provide all of the resources we can. It is good to see that they are trying to stay away from school cutbacks.
I have been a strong supporter of VTR who is fighting for our tax reform. The city governments are trying to use scare tactics making people believe that if we do get tax cuts that everybody is going to suffer. There is a threat that city workers are going to lose their jobs if they are forced to make the required cutbacks. I wouldn't want to see anyone lose their job but what about all the construction trades people, builders, mortgage brokers, Realtors, title companies, attorneys, decorators, painters, roofers, masons, and all the retail stores that support the housing industry, and on and on that have lost their jobs or where forced to cut back. The cities aren't even acknowledging what the current tax system has done outside of their world.
I don't believe that we will notice much of a change at all. They just have to trim the fat. As a local Realtor my budget has been cut drastically with the real estate market being what it is. You have to deal with what you are dealt. It is beyond my control so I am forced to reduce my spending. Local governments have received such an increase in their tax revenues over the last five years that they had better saved for a rainy day because you would have to be ignorant to believe that the market would continue at the rate it was forever.
Life will go on as it did before the real estate boom. People weren't complaining about life before 2004. It is what it is and we will survive.
It's a good life,
Ian Anderson - Ormond Beach Real Estate
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