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Revenue limiting proposal revisited

In print: Monday, April 14, 2008

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TALLAHASSEE — The third time may be the charm, or it could be a strikeout, for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would cap state and local taxes, fees and other revenues.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will take it up again Monday after twice delaying a vote. The panel ran out of time at each of it's last two meetings after spending hours hearing what officials, lobbyists and taxpayers — mostly taxpayers — had to say about the proposal that could chop billions of dollars from government budgets.

Another postponement is unlikely because the commission is facing a May 2 deadline for placing it on the November ballot.

"It's do or die Monday," said Commissioner Mike Hogan, Duval County's tax collector and the measure's sponsor.

It's a debate Hogan's unsure he can win. It takes 17 of the commission's 25 voting members to approve a constitutional amendment. Some commissioners are expected to be absent, and they in effect will be no votes.

There's also been little consensus among the commissioners, who have offered 29 amendments to the proposal.

The cap would be based on the 2008-09 revenue level with allowances for growth based on inflation and population increases plus 1 percent. It would also allow local government bodies and the Legislature to override the caps with two-third majority votes.

Critics says it still would force drastic cutbacks in schools and other services.