Rep. David Rivera is revisiting the 1.35 percent property tax cap.

The Miami Republican said today that he will introduce a bill for the 2009 session. The Senate sponsor will be Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton. "The people of Florida deserve property tax relief," Rivera told the Times/Herald. "Particularly during the difficult economic times, this is the best tool at our disposal to help reinvigorate Florida's economy."

The plan would restrict taxes to 1.35 percent of the taxable value of any parcel of property. On a property with a taxable value of $100,000 with no exemptions, the owner would pay $1,350 in taxes. In 2006, the statewide average tax percentage was 1.84 percent.

The proposal, which has surfaced before under former Speaker Marco Rubio, began as a citizen initiative and is pending review before the Florida Supreme Court, with an eye on the 2010 ballot. But Rivera, who is beginning a run for state Senate, and others think it would save time and money to approve it in the legislature or to correct any deficiencies identified by the high court.

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