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Lawmakers will be back at the capitol Monday morning to work on getting a property tax amendment on the January ballot.  The House and Senate bogged down over the House’s proposal to base homestead exemptions on the value of all the homes in a county and to cap business and second home property tax increases at 5 percent a year.  As Chris Casquejo tells us, some voters are confused by it all.

Here it here: Homeowners on Property Tax Cut Plans

On Monday, Florida lawmakers will take their final stab at passing a property tax package in time for a January vote.  The big issue, whether the House and Senate can agree on a plan to create a Save Our Homes type protection for businesses and second homes.  Robert Dodson is skeptical.

“I don’t think they’re doing what the public wants,” Dodson said.

The House and Senate agree on portablity, affordable housing, tangible personal property, working waterfronts and relief for first-time homebuyers.

“They’re getting into these really complicated formulas to ease the tax burden for some, but not for the others,” Dodson continued.  “And I don’t think that’s right.  It needs to be an across-the-board percentage cut for everybody.”

Mary Pridgeon and her husband own three homes.  The retirees pay about $15,000 dollars a year in property taxes.  Only the House plan would help the Pridgeons.

“I do think second homes and small business properties should be limited,” Pridgeon said.  “I know the assessed value has just gone out of sight.”

As lawmakers come dangerously close to their deadline for getting a property tax amendment on the January ballot, a new poll shows a growing number of voters are concerned with the issue.  The Florida Chamber of Commerce says 39 percent of voters believe property tax relief is a top issue.  That’s up 6 percent from February.