In a luncheon co-hosted by the Chamber and the Tiger Bay Club, Governor Charlie Crist spoke of a Florida economy that is starting to rebound and stressed that all facets of the community must work together to get through these difficult times.

As a means to balance the State budget, Crist supported the federal stimulus package championed by President Obama. He pointed out that these dollars were needed to help plug a $6 billion state budget shortfall -- a position the Legislature supported.

While he is supportive of Florida's use of stimulus money as a “pragmatic and practical thing”, he drew a distinction between those and other federal tax issues, opposing other proposed tax increases being considered in Washington. On another budget note, he supports the $1 per pack cigarette tax adopted by the Legislature to help plug the state's budget shortfall.

He also spoke of the new CoverFlorida health insurance program to provide an affordable alternative means of healthcare to uninsured, low-income individuals, stressing that the new program hadn't cost a single taxpayer dollar.

On the education front, the Governor pointed to Florida as spending more per student and paying teachers more than last year due to the $1.3 billion federal stimulus bill. The total package for Florida stimulus bill was $1.5 billion. “Florida ranked #10 in education”. He also applauded the compact with Seminole Tribe which will provide "over $200 million" for schools.

In closing Crist spoke of his Everglades Restoration efforts - a project that bought land parcels (72,500 acres) near Lake Okeechobee for preservation, and his support for securing our border and the stopping of illegal immigration.

Volusia and Flagler's taxable property valuations dropped about 18 percent and 16.6 percent respectively in 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by county property appraisers. These declines range from 10.6 percent in DeBary; 16.8 percent in Palm Coast; and almost 24 percent in Deltona and Ponce Inlet. (The determinations are based on property values as of Dec. 31, 2008.)

These figures (and subsequent adjustments) will be used by local governments during the next several months to prepare their budgets and property tax rates for the upcoming year.

VCARD's June 5 forum analyzed this process of assessing property values, particularly focusing on the recent economic downturn's impact on property valuations and the assessment process. The forum include an indepth presentation by Volusia County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath. Thanks also to the other participants: Attorneys Mark Watts (Cobb Cole) and Mark Hall; Appraiser Cliff Fisher; and Program Coordinator Ron Nowviskie (Root Organization).

FYI - Legislation passed during the reecnt session (HB521) lends more support to property owners who challenge a county property appraiser's assessment of their property value. The new law refines the "presumption of correctness" for property appraisers when their assessments are challenged, thus giving the impacted property owners equality in the process. Previously, they held the burden to prove the assessor was wrong.