A subgroup of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission moments ago unanimously approved a sweeping proposal that would cap local and state government spending and revenue collection.

It still must pass another committee then the full TBRC.

"Taxpayers want to have a say in how government grows and how government taxes," said commissioner Mike Hogan. "Yes, they have a voice at the ballot box, but most feel this isn't working."

The measure is modeled after Colorado's voter-approved Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which said annual tax revenue increases cannot exceed the rate of inflation and population growth combined.

Hogan's proposal limits state and local spending to the rate of inflation adjusted by population and school enrollment. Property tax revenue is also limited at inflation plus growth.

Only voters could approve breaking the limits at a local level. A
supermajority of lawmakers would have vote to exceed the state
restriction. The base year would be 2005-06, the height of property tax
collections. Hogan said he agreed to that more generous year to alleviate any obstacles in getting the proposal passed.

Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards
Association, worried changes are being rushed without fully realizing
the impact of Amendment 1. Further restrictions, he said, would only
hurt schools more. "I believe this makes us below average, and proud of
it, and keeps us there."

Martha Barnett shared concerns over the impact on bonding and infrastructure. She agreed with John McKay, who espoused the virtues of representative government. He went along with the proposal out of courtesy to move it to the next committee.

TABOR has had mixed results. More on that here. Adam Guillette, Florida director of Americans for Prosperity, said the difference is Colorado's base reset each year, whereas Florida's is fixed at 2005-06.