Brown requests additional $25 K homestead exemption for seniors
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

As the property tax debate rages in Tallahassee, Santa Rosa County Commissioners may consider a property tax break for seniors as 2007 progresses.

On Monday, April 10, county's property appraiser, Greg Brown, spoke to commissioners on behalf of the county's 2,351 lowincome seniors. Brown proposed a resolution that would give the area's seniors an additional property tax break. The proposed county exemption would target residents over the age of 65, who are homesteaded, have a total household income of less than $22,214 per year and whose home is appraised at more than $75,000. Seniors currently receive a $50,000 exemption under the same criteria from the state. Brown's suggestion would take the total exemption to $75,000 for Santa Rosa residents.

Commissioners expressed interest in the idea but not Brown's timing.

"This could be the straw that broke the camel's back as far as our ability to function as a county commission. It's very worthy. There's no question about how worthy it is, it's just that the timing's a little off to me," said County Commissioner John Broxson of Gulf Breeze.

Broxson and other board members expressed concerns about the unclear picture being painted by lawmakers in Tallahassee.

"As worthy as it is, I just think it'd be unwise to proceed until we know what the name of the game is," Broxson said, in reference to proposed state tax reforms that change on a nearly daily basis in Tallahassee.

Commissioner Gordon Goodin of Navarre suggested the exemption be discussed again after the legislature completes its session at the beginning of May. Brown said the resolution would have to be put into place by June 1 for enactment this year.

Jokingly, Commissioner W.D. "Don" Salter asked Brown for the specific qualifications again.

"I don't think he qualifies," Commissioner Tom Stewart said anecdotally at the end of the discussion. Stewart was right, as all five commissioners earn $55,770 a year as a base salary.

The last time Brown appeared before the board of county commissioners last summer to request a lowered millage rate for 2007. The board voted 4 to 5 to retain their millage rate and Commissioner Goodin was the only dissenting vote.