By: Whitney Ray
This appeared in flanews.com, see link
The battle to eliminate some of the state’s more than 200 sales tax exemptions is picking up steam.
Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit government watchdog, came up with a list of 17 sales tax exemptions they consider ripe for elimination. Bottled water, dry cleaning and valet parking made the list. TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro said it’s time to eliminate some of the tax breaks and adopt new ones to spur growth.
“If we tax some of those we may be able to exempt others that may be able to produce more jobs, more value in Florida. So it’s making sure our tax system is build for the 21st century, not the 20th century of the past,” said Calabro.
The TaxWatch plan is being praise by the Senate, but the House has been slow to jump on the band wagon. House Minority Leader Franklin Sands said the Republicans in his chamber aren’t taking a good enough look at the exemptions.
“I think in the House it’s more, in my opinion, a dog and pony show and I think we have to get down to the bottom of it and take a look and see where is the real bill. What are we suppose to really be doing,” said Sands.
TaxWatch isn’t asking lawmakers to eliminate all 17 of the exemptions it listed, but if all 17 were eliminated, they would generate an estimated 600 million dollars a year in state revenue.
