Proponents of the 1.35 percent tax cap said this afternoon that they have collected enough signatures for the petition to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court -- a key first hurdle toward reaching the ballot.

About 61,000 were needed for review, though the group Cut Property Taxes Now Inc. says it has more than 150,000. The Department of State Web site on Friday showed 73,010 valid signatures.

"This is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many Floridians across the state who are determined to see real and substantive property tax relief," said Lee Sullivan, the group chairman and former mayor of Panama City Beach (which, by the way, does not have property taxes.)

The proposal, which would apply to all property types, caps property
taxes at 1.35 percent of taxable value. If the required 611,000
signatures are gathered, the plan would go before voters in November
2010. House Speaker Marco Rubio says he wants the Legislature to tackle
the idea this year, but chances of passing are slim.