Canadian homeowners in Florida having to pay more
Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.
Dear Bird Talk,
The statements made in the Government Relations report of Issue 93 of CSANews are misleading. I quote the following from the Saint Lucie County Property Appraisers’ website:
“Amendment 10 (Save Our Homes): Effective January 1, 1995, Amendment 10 to the Florida Constitution limits any annual increase in the assessed value of residential property with a homestead exemption to 3% or the amount of the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. When the property is sold, the new owner will be assessed at the current fair market value. Assessment limits will apply beginning the year after the property has received a new homestead exemption. Exemptions Persons who have legal or equitable title to real property in the state of Florida, occupy it, and make it their permanent residence as of January 1 are eligible for a homestead exemption. There are additional exemptions available based on eligibility such as an un-remarried widow or a person with a disability. See the exemptions page for details on these exemptions.”
A 10% annual limit for Canadian homeowners is a slap in the face when the locals are limited to only 3%. Furthermore, if you have to get a Florida driver’s licence, Gov. Scott (FLDMV) requires that Canadians pay $55 annually for that privilege, whereas the locals pay the same amount for a six-year period. EEOC would label these actions discriminatory.
Michael Quinn
Niagara Falls, ON
Response:
Ed.: This is all true and there is nothing we can do about it – we have tried. It is not only Canadians who are selected for this extra cost, but also Americans who are resident in a different state and everyone else from other countries, as well. We don’t vote in Florida and are an easy tax target.
