To Tax Or Not To Tax

Back on Saturday The Miami Herald released the results of a Zogby poll of Florida residents regarding the proposed property tax reform.

The results are as confusing as last night's Sopranos finale (OK, enough with the Sopranos).

Actually, the one thing clear from the poll is that despite the fact that the vast majority of South Floridians think that the cost of living is too high, with property taxes among the top culprits, only a slight majority seem concerned enough about it to favor property tax reform. In other words, it's unlikely that a 60% vote would be able to pass if the referendum were to be held today.

As pollster John Zogby said,

''I don't get a sense from my look at this poll that things are going to hell in a handbasket, that there is a crisis situation."

Either that or people don't know what the solution is, and many are simply willing to stick it out until someone comes up with one they like.

I think there are other issues at play here that were not addressed in the poll, such as salaries and wages that are too low compared to the cost of living. However, I have to side slightly with Zogby's assessment that the situation is probably not as bleak as it's made out to be.

Of course, I would still like to see the property taxes eliminated in favor of higher sales taxes, but most people don't seem to be willing to stomach that dramatic a shift.

Let's see what the state legislature can come up with this month.