Slate of bills could squeeze Tally budget

A handful of bills moving through the Legislature could create what Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey described as a “doomsday scenario” for the city’s budget. The biggest threat is a proposal (HB 1195/SB 1322) that would require a two-thirds vote for city commissions to raise property taxes.

Lawmakers are also considering legislation that would increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000, which would significantly reduce property tax collections. Another pair of bills (HB 1277/SB 1510) would target Tallahassee and other cities with municipal utilities by putting a limit on how much money they can transfer to the city’s general fund.

–  Drew Wilson, Extensive Enterprises