Scott Pitches Business Friendly Tax Cuts
November 7, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott, who has already asked lawmakers for $250 million that could be used to lure corporations to Florida, rolled out a proposed $1 billion tax-cut package on Thursday.
A Democratic leader decried the tax-cut proposal as a way of gutting state government programs, while a key Republican lawmaker called the requested cuts “bold.”
The bulk of the proposed cuts, which would be amassed over a two-year period, involve permanently eliminating the income tax on manufacturing and retail businesses, a cut the governor’s office estimates at $770 million.
The package also would make permanent the elimination of a tax on manufacturing equipment, reduce a commercial lease tax and extend a temporary elimination of sales taxes on college textbooks.
Scott said in a news release that the tax cut package is “putting job creators on the road to success for years to come.”
“The more we can cut taxes — like the one on commercial lease — the more we can grow our small businesses in Florida and further diversify our economy to invest in our future,” Scott said.
For most Floridians, the cuts will be seen through a pair of sales tax “holidays,” which total just over $70 million. A 10-day back-to-school “holiday” would lift sales taxes on certain school supplies, clothes and some electronics. A separate nine-day period would be set aside to remove sales tax on hurricane supplies.
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said fulfilling Scott’s request would require spending cuts to areas such as the environment and education.
“So we have services that are responsive to the people of Florida, he’s gutting them,” Pafford said. “He’s continuing to move and follow through on his pledge of smaller government. And that pledge is destroying Florida and eating up reserves, paying no attention to what his own agencies are claiming will happen.
“His legacy is going to catch up to him,” Pafford added. “Gov. Scott has led us in to the dark ages and under his control we’re not going to see a renaissance.”
The call for the cuts comes as state economists in September projected lawmakers will have a $635.4 million surplus when crafting the budget for the next fiscal year. In addition to seeking the tax cuts, Scott is pushing for $250 million in economic-development incentive money.
House Finance & Tax Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, called Scott’s tax-cut proposal “bold.” Gaetz’s committee will work on a final tax-cut package during the legislative session that starts in January.
“Who says you should only cut taxes in an amount that equates to the surplus?” Gaetz said. “Some of us believe you should actually shrink the size of government.”
Gaetz said he’s also encouraged that the governor included reducing the commercial lease tax, which the committee chairman said is a personal priority.
“We’re already seeing the governor reflect priorities of the House in his tax plan, and we’ll do all that is appropriate to vet the proposals he’s put forward and determine what impact they’ll have on Florida’s expanding economy,” Gaetz said.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, who in September said $250 million would be a starting point in discussions on tax cuts, “would certainly support increasing that amount provided we can maintain the structural balance within our budget,” spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email Thursday.
A number of the proposals are already moving in the Senate.
Proposals for a 10-day sales tax holiday on back-to-school items (SB 198) and to reduce the tax on commercial leases from 6 percent to 5 percent (SB 116) have each gone through two Senate committees without finding any opposition.
The state Revenue Estimating Conference estimates the “back-to-school tax holiday” could save shoppers $68.7 million, cutting state revenue by $56.1 million and local government revenue by $12.6 million.
Reducing the commercial lease tax by a single percentage point is projected to reduce state and local government revenue by $199.6 million next fiscal year, with the amount growing to $287 million. The reduction would go into place Jan. 1, 2017, which is in the middle of next fiscal year.
Scott announced the proposed tax-cut package at the annual Manufactures Association of Florida Summit in West Palm Beach. He had earlier called for making the manufacturing-equipment tax cut permanent.
Lawmakers in 2013 approved a three-year moratorium on the manufacturing-equipment tax, but the tax is scheduled to be revived in 2017. Scott last year projected that companies will have to pay $142.5 million annually if the tax returns.
Cutting the commercial-lease tax is a priority for a number of business groups.
The conservative-advocacy group Americans for Prosperity-Florida, which considers reducing the commercial lease tax a top priority, wasted little time calling on lawmakers to work with Scott on his proposed cuts. Also, the group reiterated its opposition to requests to fund professional sports stadiums in Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa and Daytona Beach or to create incentives for the film and television industry.
“While legislators and the governor are making great strides to reduce burdens such as the commercial lease sales tax on Florida families and businesses, they should be working to eliminate taxes that stifle growth and competition all together,” AFP-Florida State Director Chris Hudson said in a release.
Throughout his nearly five years in office, Scott has made a top priority of cutting taxes.
As he ran for re-election in 2014, Scott campaigned on a promise of $1 billion in tax cuts over a two-year period. Lawmakers put together a wide-ranging tax-cut package during a June special session that is projected by state economists to cut revenue by $372.4 million this fiscal year.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Over A Month After Homeless Story Goes Viral, Steve Has Been Found
November 6, 2015
Remember Steve the homeless man? He’s been found again and plans are underway to help him make it through the winter.
In late September, NorthEscambia.com published a story about John Brantley, an Atmore elementary school principal, and his encounter with Steve outside a Best Buy store in Mobile. The story of Steve went viral, viewed well over a million times.
It all began when Brantley snapped a photo of Steve, on his knees digging through a trash can looking for bits of food.
Offers poured in from around the country to help Steve….except Brantley and others were not able to find him again. Until Thursday night.
“I had a long conversation with Steve tonight and he has agreed to be helped,” Brantley wrote in a Facebook post. “I have set up this gofundme account to help raise money for Steve a place to stay this winter as well as helping him with basic essentials and ultimately helping him get back on his feet.”
To read our original story about Steve and Brantley’s encounter with him, click here.
To visit the gofundme page and donate to help Steve, click here.
Court Strikes Down Law On Credit Card Surcharges
November 6, 2015
Pointing to the First Amendment, a federal appeals court has struck down a Florida law that bars businesses from imposing a “surcharge” on customers who pay with credit cards.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision Wednesday, sided with four small businesses that faced potential prosecution for telling customers they would face additional costs for using credit cards.
A key part of the ruling focused on part of Florida law that allows businesses to offer discounts to customers who pay with cash — but bars surcharges for credit-card transactions. Judge Gerald Tjoflat wrote that the First Amendment “prevents staking citizens’ liberty on such distinctions in search of a difference.”
“Tautologically speaking, surcharges and discounts are nothing more than two sides of the same coin; a surcharge is simply a ‘negative’ discount, and a discount is a ‘negative’ surcharge,” Tjoflat wrote in the 30-page ruling, joined by Judge David Bryan Sentelle. “As a result, a merchant who offers the same product at two prices — a lower price for customers paying cash and a higher price for those using credit cards — is allowed to offer a discount for cash while a simple slip of the tongue calling the same price difference a surcharge runs the risk of being fined and imprisoned.”
But Chief Judge Ed Carnes wrote a stinging dissent, contending that a state law was “being struck down by a federal court for no good reason.”
Carnes described a scenario in which a store could put a $100 sticker price on an item and surprise a customer at the cash register by charging $103 because of a credit-card surcharge.
“It does not matter whether the store characterizes the difference in price as a credit card surcharge, a cash discount, or both,” Carnes wrote. “The merchant can speak in any way he chooses so long as he does not ambush the credit-card-using customer with a higher price at the register. What matters is when, from the customer’s perspective, the merchant adds the additional amount to the price because a credit card is used, not how the merchant describes it.”
The majority overturned a ruling by a federal district judge, who last year agreed with arguments made by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office and dismissed the case.
The lawsuit was filed in 2014 by four businesses that had received “cease-and-desist” letters from the state related to alleged violations of the credit-card surcharge law, according to the appeals-court ruling. The businesses were Dana’s Railroad Supply in Spring Hill, TM Jewelry LLC in Key West, Tallahassee Discount Furniture in Tallahassee and Cook’s Sportland in Venice.
The credit-card surcharge law says violators can face second-degree misdemeanor charges.
“Based on the belief that it is more effective, transparent, and accurate to do so, all four of the businesses wish to call the price difference a credit-card surcharge rather than a cash discount,” Tjoflat wrote.
In the dissent, Carnes said government can regulate “economic conduct” without violating constitutional free-speech rights. He wrote that “a surcharge openly posted on the store shelf is permissible, while one that comes up for the first time when the customer is paying for her purchase is not. Prescribing when a business can add an additional amount to its price controls the timing of conduct and not the speech describing that conduct. The Supreme Court has long held that the government can regulate economic conduct — including the prices charged by merchants — without violating the First Amendment.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Tate Names Students Of The Month
November 6, 2015
Tate High School has named October students of the month. They are Ian Ruiz and Madison Nelson, pictured with Principal Rick Shackle. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Sex Assault, Kidnapping
November 6, 2015
An Escambia County man has been arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault.
Tristan Maurice Richey, 29, was charged for the October 23 incident. At about 4 p.m. on that date, deputies responded to Baptist Hospital in reference to a sexual battery that had just occurred. The victim told deputies that she was getting into her vehicle when the suspect, that she personally knew as Richey, pointed a gun at her and demanded that she get into her vehicle.
Richey then drove the victim to a house located on Flaxman Street and sexually battered her.
Richey is charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and sexual assault. He was arrested Thursday and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1.4 million.
State Library Association Honors Ingram For Support
November 6, 2015
The Florida Library Association recently presented Rep. Clay Ingram with a 2015 Library Advocacy Award in recognition of his support of Florida’s libraries.
Through the annual advocacy award, the Association thanks legislators and state leaders who took action to support libraries and library funding during the previous Florida legislative session. The group encourages local library supporters to recognize the hard work done by their leaders in maintaining state funding for public libraries. State aid to public libraries grant funding is a priority issue for Florida libraries and the communities they serve, especially in the state’s more rural areas.
“Florida’s libraries and the services that they provide are a tremendous resource for our state,” said Rep. Ingram. “I’m honored to be recognized by the Florida Library Association and look forward to supporting the library system in the coming legislative session.”
Pictured: Rep. Clay Ingram with a 2015 Library Advocacy Award in recognition of his support of Florida’s libraries. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits, Kills Horses On Highway 29
November 5, 2015
The driver of a semi-truck hit at least two horses early Thursday morning on Highway 29 near Cox Road, just south of Century.
The truck driver was not injured, but at least two horses were reportedly killed in the 5:30 a.m. crash.
Highway 29 southbound was shutdown for a long period of time for the cleanup and to try to catch additional horses that were on the run in the area.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Crabtree Church Widening Canceled, Funds Moved To Muscogee Road Project
November 5, 2015
Funds that were set aside to construct paved shoulders along Crabtree Church Road in Molino are being shifted to make improvements on Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
The Florida Department of Transportation provided $1,388,244 in funding to construct the paved shoulders on Crabtree Church Road from Sunshine Hill Road to Highway 97. The lowest bid received by Escambia County for construction was $2,320,000 plus construction engineering and inspection costs of $232,000. The left a difference of $1,163,756 between the project cost to the county and the funded amount from the state.
Escambia County requested that FDOT terminate the Crabtree Church project due to lack of local funding for the difference.
Now, the Escambia County Commission is shifting the $1,388,258 in state funds to a Muscogee Road widening and drainage project. The project includes widening travel lanes on Muscogee Road, not four-laning.
The Escambia County Commission will vote on the funding shift tonight.
Veterans Day Programs Planned For Century, Ernest Ward, Northview
November 5, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School – Friday, November 6
Veterans are invited to attend a special assembly in honor of Veterans Day in the gymnasium at Ernest Ward Middle School on Friday, November 6 at 9:45 a.m. The program will include patriotic music and special presentations from students and staff members. The address will not be from one main speaker, but there will be personal stories from several area veterans. Refreshments will be served following the program.
Northview High School – Tuesday, November 10
Northview High School will have its annual Veteran’s Day program on Tuesday, November 10 in the school’s theater. There will be two programs with the first program starting at 9:35 am. The second program will start shortly after the completion of the first program at approximately 10:30 am.
The guest speaker will be Captain Carl Mock, United States Navy, retired. Captain Mock served 38 years before retiring in June 2005. During his 38 years of service he rose through the ranks from E-1 to O-6. His final active duty tour was as Commanding Officer, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, NAS Pensacola . All veterans, their families and community members are invited to attend.
Town of Century, Tuesday, November 10
Century will celebrate veterans on Tuesday, November 10 at 10 a.m with guests Rep. Mike Hill, the Byrneville Elementary School Chorus and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. The event will be held in Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
Pictured: Last year’s Veterans Day program at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
FluMist Vaccinations Begin Monday At North Escambia Schools
November 5, 2015
The FluMist vaccine will soon be offered in Escambia County Schools. beginning with several in the North Escambia area. This is the second year the vaccine is being made available.
The FluMist vaccine will be available at no out of pocket expense to parents, but parents will be asked to provide insurance information to help offset the cost. But students without health coverage will still receive the vaccine at no cost.
“Last year the FluMist program was offered to the school district by Healthy Schools and over 5,000 students were vaccinated against the flu using the FlueMist product,” explained Martha Hanna, ECSD Health Services coordinator. “It is hard for us to measure the effect this had, but we are confident that it helped save some students from getting the flu, or at least helped reduce the severity of their case. We hope to see even more families sign their children up to participate this year.”
The FluMist vaccine will be administered November 9 to November 19, with Northview High, Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary scheduled for the first round of vaccinations on November 9.
For more information or to download a permission form, visit http://escambiaschools.net/health_services or call your child’s school.