Just kinda interesting how much taxes they arnt paying... I wonder how much they really do pay?
TALLAHASSEE Action in the Florida Legislature to reform a law which has let developers avoid million dollars in property taxes, and has led to a nod-and wink business of renting cows to big development companies, is dead this term due to heavy opposition by special interest groups.
Those cows you see in vacant lots scattered among the growing subdivisions in otherwise urban areas western Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and elsewhere are caused by developers taking advantage of loopholes in Florida's Greenbelt Law, which provides tax breaks to farmers who own agricultural land.
Developers have used the law to cut taxes on property awaiting development by renting cows from farmers, and claiming the land was being used for agricultural purposes.
Critics of the practice, including local governments losing Millions annually in property taxes, calls for reform, and the law was in the crosshairs of state House and Senate reform bills proposed this legislative session to overhaul it.
The 1959 law, which saves Florida agriculture landowners $950 million annually, was intended to keep farmers in business, but critics say it is also used to shelter developers and landholders from big tax bills on property they intend to sell or build upon.
For example, Walt Disney World avoids $1.5 million in Osceola County taxes each year by leasing some of its land to a farmer and claiming almost 650 undeveloped acres as timberland and swamp marsh.
However, opposition from farmers and the political pressure of an election year have already killed the reforms. On March 21, the measure died in its first hearing after the Senate Agriculture Committee decided to postpone a vote and study the issue for a year, with potential changes next session.
"We don't feel that it's fair that these people are getting ag exemptions on these properties. Once we put it on an ag value, the rest of the taxpayers have to pick up the tab for that," said Hope McKinnon, agriculture appraiser for Osceola County.
Opponents of the reform bill, like the Florida Farm Bureau, argued there were already provisions in place to prevent abuses of the law on valuable undeveloped land.
http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_092132803.html
TALLAHASSEE Action in the Florida Legislature to reform a law which has let developers avoid million dollars in property taxes, and has led to a nod-and wink business of renting cows to big development companies, is dead this term due to heavy opposition by special interest groups.
Those cows you see in vacant lots scattered among the growing subdivisions in otherwise urban areas western Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and elsewhere are caused by developers taking advantage of loopholes in Florida's Greenbelt Law, which provides tax breaks to farmers who own agricultural land.
Developers have used the law to cut taxes on property awaiting development by renting cows from farmers, and claiming the land was being used for agricultural purposes.
Critics of the practice, including local governments losing Millions annually in property taxes, calls for reform, and the law was in the crosshairs of state House and Senate reform bills proposed this legislative session to overhaul it.
The 1959 law, which saves Florida agriculture landowners $950 million annually, was intended to keep farmers in business, but critics say it is also used to shelter developers and landholders from big tax bills on property they intend to sell or build upon.
For example, Walt Disney World avoids $1.5 million in Osceola County taxes each year by leasing some of its land to a farmer and claiming almost 650 undeveloped acres as timberland and swamp marsh.
However, opposition from farmers and the political pressure of an election year have already killed the reforms. On March 21, the measure died in its first hearing after the Senate Agriculture Committee decided to postpone a vote and study the issue for a year, with potential changes next session.
"We don't feel that it's fair that these people are getting ag exemptions on these properties. Once we put it on an ag value, the rest of the taxpayers have to pick up the tab for that," said Hope McKinnon, agriculture appraiser for Osceola County.
Opponents of the reform bill, like the Florida Farm Bureau, argued there were already provisions in place to prevent abuses of the law on valuable undeveloped land.
http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_092132803.html