I said it; they did it - we're screwed! What am I talking about? NOTHING! That is exactly what the legislators did for homeowners in the state of Florida. NOTHING!
They did nothing to rein in the escalating property taxes, which are forcing people out of their homes, nor did they offer a reasonable solution to the property insurance crisis. Second homeowners and owners of property valued at 1 million dollars or more are going to be hit hard with premium increases and surcharges. Despite all the talk from the legislators, I have not read nor heard of a sensible plan to solve the problem or how to bring other insurers into our state. The silence of our local state representatives is deafening considering that the entire beach community in Pinellas County has a majority of the aforementioned real estate dwellings.
The inaction on these issues is going to choke off the flow of money to the state in the form of documentary stamp revenue.
The politicians either have their heads in the sand or their hand in the pockets of the lobbyists. I suspect is a great deal of both.
Oh! By the way, they did pass some earth shattering legislation! Key Lime is the official pie in the sky - oops - of the state and our official state motto is "In God We Trust." That makes me feel better because we can't trust the politicians.
Ric Cornelius is the Broker/Manager of Sand Key Realty Sales and Rentals, Inc. Sand Key Realty has three offices with 40 agents. One office is at 740 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-443-0032; the second office is at 2701 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-595-5441; and the third office is at 309 Belleview Blvd., Belleair, 727-461-4200.