WQCS: Tax Swap Removed from Ballot (2008-08-14)

WQCS Local

Tax Swap Removed from Ballot

By BOBBIE O'BRIEN (2008-08-14)

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TAMPA (WUSF) - Florida voters may not get to vote on the so-called "tax swap" amendment this November. Thursday, a circuit judge ruled the ballot language was misleading and should be taken off the ballot. An appeal is expected.

Constitutional Amendment 5 proposes swapping some school property tax cuts for increases in other state taxes.

Some estimate it could decrease property taxes up to 25 percent. However, the amendment only requires state lawmakers to replace those billions for the first year.

Robert Weissert with Florida Taxwatch says their non-partisan research institute agrees that the ballot language is flawed. He called it unfair to the voters because Amendment 5 states what tax will be cut, but does not specify how that money will be replaced.

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