Lawmakers may repeal tax exemptions
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Bottled water, Super Bowl tickets and even wine given away as a free sample are among the dozens of items that could end up getting taxed as a way to solve the state’s budget shortfall.
The House Finance and Tax Council has spent the first two weeks of the session going over 51 sales tax exemptions that could raise up to $385 million if they were all repealed. Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said the council will decide as soon as next week whether to push ahead with legislation.
But it appears that most exemptions will likely survive.
While Bogdanoff called the review of exemptions a “serious exercise” she said that ending many of the exemptions could create more harm to the state’s fragile economy. Florida has at least a $5 billion budget shortfall.
“Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease; we have to make sure we don’t do more damage,” said Bogdanoff, citing the testimony of charter fishing boat operators who say they will go out of business if the state imposes a 6 percent sales tax on them.
The House panel heard testimony from a whole slew of lobbyists on Wednesday contending that ending certain tax exemptions would lead to job losses. Ron Book, who lobbies for Dolphins Stadium, defended the state’s $2 million subsidy given out to most professional sports teams. Book said the money had helped renovate stadiums and attract teams to Florida.