A Novel Approach

Yesterday, a column was written in the Hernando Times by Jeff Webb in reference to the sales tax surplus of $3.2-billion the state government will see in the budget this year. Mr. Webb's column pointed out that each political party is fighting over how to spend this massive surplus, while reminding his readers that this is an election year, stating that each political party is trying to buy your vote. I agree with Mr. Webb. This is pandering at the highest level and they are using our money to enhance themselves with the voting public, to get the most bang for our buck. Mr. Webb's column focused on Jeff Stabins, who initially introduced the sales tax holiday while he was in Tallahassee. If you remember, Jeff Stabins was a rookie representative in the Florida Legislature, from Hernando County in 1994. He was bursting full of the ideals of smaller government, lower taxes, and more freedom, like we all were, since that was the fevered pitch of that "era". Twelve years later though, County Commissioner Jeff Stabins has had time to reflect on his "sales tax holiday" proposal and he has an entirely different outlook for this tax surplus of today. Mr. Stabins, who describes himself as a moderate, with a middle of the road philosophy, does not like either party's proposal for this sales tax windfall. What a difference twelve years makes, since Commissioner Stabins appears to be listening voices of the citizens that put him into office. He stated that this windfall should be used for more pressing needs, like fixing the critical problems in property insurance industry for homeowners, or supplementing education in our state, and lamented how each of political parties "moderates" need to get on board. Looking at the $3.2-billion sales tax surplus, with the perspective of actually correcting problems, is what it takes to be a good caretaker of the people's money. Yes, there is a surplus this year, just like there has been for many, many years at the state level, so why not put it to good use for the citizens sake, instead of once again having the politicians brag how they gave us something when it was our money in the first place. A more novel approach, if you want to look at it in the truest sense of being conservative, let the Florida Legislature propose a reduction in the state sales tax to 5%for next year and stop taking the money in the first place!