Battle brews over bringing you full tax/fee breaks

While you will already see some big tax cuts coming from new Florida laws, a fight remains over tying up the entire $500 million savings package touted by the Governor.

“A scramble- if you will- for what we’ll do with the next hundred million,” says State Senator John Thrasher.

A law already passed by lawmakers and signed by the Governor gives a roughly $400 million break in auto fees beginning in September. One portion, a cut in your registration, will save you about $25.

The House and Senate are at a divide with what to do with the remaining $100 million- and both have some different ideas from the Governor as well.

A key departure from Governor Rick Scott is keeping the “Back to School” sales tax holiday at the current three days, instead of extending it to ten.

“That’s probably the second largest tax cut of the hundred million in our package,” Thrasher says.

He says Floridians are already accustomed to the three-day “holiday”, and that it provides plenty of time for “back to school” shopping to get done. Extending it longer than the weekend, he believes, would be too great an expense.

The Florida Senate proposal also includes a cut in communication services taxes, like those which appear on your monthly phone bill. The Florida House is looking at other sales tax holidays- like for energy saving appliances- and eliminating sales taxes on child car seats and bicycle helmets.

“Everybody’s going to see something this year,” Thrasher says.

Lawmakers have two work weeks left when they return to Tallahassee next week- following the current Easter/Passover break. Thrasher is confident they will find a compromise in that time in order to bring you the full savings.