The property taxes you pay in Florida are greatly influenced by when you bought your property.
Two similar properties in the same neighborhood are often taxed at greatly different amounts because of provisions in the Save Our Homes (SOH) law.
Why should this be? Why should someone buying a first home in Florida pay much higher taxes than someone who bought their home years ago?
And why should rental properties be taxed higher because of homestead exemptions and SOH provisions? After all, renters, who are usually poorer than homeowners, are paying these taxes indirectly in the form of higher rent.
Now, the state of Florida wants to eliminate non-school property taxes on homesteaded property, but not the same taxes for rental property. To make up for this loss of revenue, the sales tax will be raised, most likely.
How is this fair to renters, who will have to pay higher rents because their landlords do not get any of the same tax breaks, and who also will have to pay higher sales taxes, too?
Duncan Campbell, Pompano Beach
Oh, the absurdity
In the Sun Sentinel’s Dec. 5 edition, I noticed a photo with a sports story headlined “Welcome at the World Cup?”
A familiar-looking individual was wearing a red hat that read: “Trump was right about everything.” I nearly spat out my coffee at the sheer absurdity of that statement.
To add to this confusion, the side of the hat displayed “45-47.” A hyphen between two numbers typically indicates a range from and to — which raises a question: Was he skipping over the 46th president entirely? For the record, the 46th president was Joe Biden.
I can’t say I was surprised. The individual currently occupying the Oval Office makes a habit of misrepresenting facts, including his own record. It’s disheartening to see such misinformation on display as our country prepares to welcome athletes from around the globe. The “leader of the free world” should inspire confidence, not embarrassment.
David Emert, Wilton Manors
Deregulation robs us
Can any rocket-scientist MAGA supporters cite just one specific expense that has been lowered for the consumer by cutting regulations? No, they can’t.
Cutting regulations to consumers harms the environment. It brings no relief to consumers; only relief to the wealthy.
Wake up, America. You’re being robbed blind by the MAGA business model.
Don Whisman, Stuart
Deregulation works
Your recent editorial began with a wildly false premise: “America has deregulated airlines, railroads and broadcasting — with terrible and unanticipated consequences for us.”
A totally absurd statement. The airlines have never been as safe, or as inexpensive as they are today. Shipping costs by rail or truck are much faster and cheaper than at any point in our history. And we consumers have more choices to view or listen to the various media sources than anyone thought possible 30 years ago.
Deregulation absolutely works. It should be pursued with vigor.
Burt Long, Sunrise
Another Rob Reiner film
After the death of writer and director Rob Reiner, the media cited many of his films.
I found it interesting that “The American President” (1995), which starred Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, and Martin Sheen (who also played a president on NBC’s “The West Wing”) was rarely mentioned.
Steven Graves, Fort Lauderdale
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