Piddle Drips

A fine mist to those who believe that, if it weren’t for the County Commissioners of the past four years and more, there would have been a different scenario than what has been the tendency to spend beyond fiscal responsibility. Nearly every local, state and federal government has taken part in spending easy moneys garnered from taxpayers.

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A good spraying to Charlie Crist for his absenteeism of governing Florida to resolve issues most worrisome to its residents. His spotlight faded as he shunned the Sunshine State while campaigning with John McCain as a Vice Presidential contender. And where is he right now for McCain, or Florida?

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A steady stream goes to The Blaze, the supporters and self-interest groups who have demonized the three incumbent County Commissioners. The act of contributing thousands of dollars to put a personal brand of politicians in county seats is a bad bet unless the slight of hand will eventually handsomely pay off to make it a wager well pocketed.

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A deluge goes to Wall Street and its history of pandering to questionable lending practices. Overflows go to Congress for buckling in to the unpopular means of bailing out those who have largely contributed to manipulating homeowners to spend beyond their means.

Rambling About Gambling

I began gambling at age 23, greener than a dollar bill at planning my financial security. I knew chances of winning were against me but I succumbed to the temptation strictly because newly found friends had invited me to participate in what they viewed as entertainment at the Sanford-Hernando Kennel Club.

It was then that I was faced with placing my hard earned dollars across a betting window at the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club. It was also then that I came to appreciate the exquisite, intelligent design of greyhounds. They’re not as stately as horses but their physique is envious. If only I could have a waistline like that proportionate to my stature!

I had no idea what I was doing. The racing form was filled with an array of numbers - a history of past wins, places and shows – plus body weights and daily odds. It was all gobbledygook to me. So I resorted to placing my first bet solely on a hunch by the name of the greyhound. There was no rationale whatsoever. Regardless, my chances of winning were about as good as they could get.

I was standing in line, anticipating my initial experience at a betting window. Yes, I was a bit nervous. When I got to the betting window, I made my choice. With the noisy distractions of the crowd, I thought he couldn’t hear me so I repeated the numbers.

When he said, “four dollars”, I was speechless. I hadn’t intended to double the risk factor but here I was with two tickets with the same numbers. This was a very costly mistake. I gambled twice as much as I had wanted, now 20% of my overall acceptable risk.

I couldn’t share my faux pas with my friends. I was alarmed, ready to call it a day at the races and leave, but I put on a show of anticipated joy. I soon heard the words, “Watch the bunny” with an inflection similar to “Here’s Johnny”.

It wasn’t one of those moments when nervous tension makes it seem like time has come to a standstill. Before I knew it, the race was over and my dog was the winner! Momentarily speechless, my jubilation was soon apparent when I announced to my friends that beginner’s “luck of the Scottish” had made me a winner. The tickets rewarded me with $45 each! By the end of the day, I was still pleased to go home with a good amount of winnings in my pocket.

Since then I’ve been taken to a floating gambling casino in Illinois, the Santa Anita Race Track and a few visits to Las Vegas. My biggest win came in 1989 shortly after moving back to Florida after a ten-year period of personal mobility. The moves were risky in themselves but I always came out ahead. This time, I had beaten the odds of choosing five out of six numbers in the Florida Lottery. I cashed in on $1200 in winnings! Today’s dollar values would make it twice as much.

Since then, lady luck has avoided me, most recently putting my financial security at undeserving risk. With no exception, every homeowner in Florida is unjustly in the same situation.
The cause? First it was Jeb. Charlie has followed suit. Citizens Property Insurance is the culprit, drummed up by the Florida Legislature in 2002 for homeowners unable to otherwise obtain coverage in high-risk (coastal) areas.

When I recently reviewed my insurance renewal charges I decided to check out other options for coverage. Come to find out, since few companies are writing new policies, my sole option would be Citizens. My insurance agent forewarned me that Citizens’ rates are currently frozen. In 2010 the fees will most likely double. I nixed the idea, just as I did with thoughts of increasing the hurricane deductible from $2K to $10K. I could save about $500 in yearly premiums. I heard a voice telling me “Don’t do it!” It wasn’t my subconscious telling me - I was talking out loud to myself.

Like a jilted lover, private insurers are most likely to refuse to take back homeowners who choose to switch to the government-owned competitor.

The problem is that politicians and lobbyists in Tallahassee are clueless on risk management. Casino gambling is an individual’s choice but when it comes to protecting the value of a home it’s more than just poor judgment blatant disregard for the financial well being of the homeowner.

Forgoing flood insurance coverage when you’re not in a flood zone is one thing but eliminating sinkhole coverage could be a living nightmare to a homeowner. When you live in a state that assumes the risk of a heavy hurricane season without having sufficient funds to pay for claims, the additional liability is eventually billed to its citizens.

Luck has a price

*This commentary is a supplement to my commentary “Lucky, Lucky Me”

I appreciate the feedback of Christopher Miles to the letter I submitted regarding the passage of Amendment One and how I felt the inequities of property taxes reinforces the shortcomings of Save Our Homes.

I held the same opinion of many major newspapers, including the Tampa Tribune, with their viewpoints that the legislation was poorly written, although Hernando Today’s Editor, Chris Wessel, seemed to have been one of the giddiest of all supporters in his pre-election article.
My primary contention lays to rest with the often-experienced scenario that when I sold my previous home in 2005 and moved to a home that is valued much less, I had to assume a tax bill more than twice the previous amount. In all fairness, a roll back to allow myself and others the newly passed benefit of limiting the increase to the 3% would make us happier homeowners. That would put to test county commissioners throughout Florida to compensate taxpayers for the out of control spending.

Those neighbors I spoke of had initiated the conversation on my property taxes when I first moved to my new home. I didn’t mind them poking their noses in my affairs – they were the ones who were aghast at the difference in tax liabilities. If they had been responsible citizens they would have been justified to support Amendment One but they didn’t vote – their votes weren’t necessary.

Also, I meant no insult to senior citizens. They are the most civic minded of all residents; their needs are immediate and of considerable concern. I wish they could use their “windfall” of lower tax bills for something other than medical expenses, but it is unlikely. (I recently heard an advertisement offering a doublewide mobile home for $39,900 – I would gladly have any of them as neighbors. We would all benefit from the portability of the 3% cap.).

I sincerely hope the constitutionality of the passage of Amendment One proves to be an unwarranted legal matter. Other people’s distresses overshadow my opinion.

A final comment in response to Mr. Miles’ letter, citing his suggestion that I donate my savings to a charity. NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) is my immediate choice. Although I definitely won’t see the annual $3,700 savings of a couple in South Tampa that Governor Crist so proudly brought to our attention during his campaigning for the Amendment and, since I can’t commit to that $240 amount because I doubt the my home is valued at whatever the “typical” value may be, I will keep you posted on the amount of my donation this November when my postal worker delivers the letter that shows a return address of Juanita B. Sikes, CFC, Tax Collector, Hernando County.

At that point, I will forward a copy of the receipt of my charitable contribution to Editor Chris Wessel.

Lucky Lucky Me

Whew! Aren’t I the lucky one! I figure there’s a whopping $240 savings on my typical, average home value now that Amendment One is said and done. And yet, I’ll still have an end-of-the-year tax bill that’s three times that of my neighbors.

A recent call to the Property Appraiser’s office informed me that I had the misconception that I would have an additional savings because the value of my home plummeted in 2007; property taxes are billed a year in arrears. The kind County employee explained that the $25,000 increase in the Homestead Exemption would be closer to $15,000 because school taxes are not inclusive of the tax reduction and that the 3% increase of Save Our Homes still applies. So, that $240 is the total sum of possible savings. Governor Charlie Crist poorly represented the understanding of Amendment One, just as The Times had professed. And yet, I’m still a bit confused!

So, I’ll still owe the County twice the amount of my neighbors who have stayed in their homes in excess of ten years and three times that of those of twenty years. I’ll still be paying a far higher share of taxes than those same neighbors who will continue to benefit from the same level of County services. Hundreds of other homeowners across the state are right there beside me.

Those same neighbors whose tax bills are a third of my own can downsize to another location and save their homes much more easily than myself. If I should downsize, I would still pay three times as much in property and school taxes as they. I’ll cross my fingers when County Commissioners give approval of the 2009 budget and hope they don’t inch up the millage rate.

I can take the overall savings in may devalued property taxes of maybe $240 and apply it to my home insurance premium reduction that failed to materialize as promised by Governor Crist.

Some homeowners made out like bandits from the passage of Amendment 1, but there are just as many of us still behind the proverbial bars of financial woes with little chance of reprieve. We’ve been sentenced to a foreseeable future of inequity because the Florida Legislature will rest easy that the people have mandated what boils down to the status quo. It may be deemed unnecessary to pursue other tax reform.

Demographics of voter approval of the Constitutional Amendment would surely prove to be retirees. They are more astute to issues and have the wherewithal to get out and vote at their leisure. I applaud each and every one of them for their fortitude, but the outcome may have been different if a broader range of homeowners had participated in the Primary Election.

Keep in mind that a class action lawsuit that claims the Save Our Homes portability provision discriminates and violates the State Constitution. So, don't county those dollars saved because Amendment One may be one big goose that laid a fool’s golden egg.

I feel the only way for me to make out ahead in this economic mess is to sell my current home and relocate to a cozy trailer valued little more than $50,000; my property tax and insurance relief would finally give me financial relief of owning a home in Florida. I can’t expect it otherwise.