Florida House OKs New Taxes to Pay for Population Growth
The Florida House joined the state Senate and adopted a $1-billion sales tax measure Thursday to help pay for the state’s 1,000 person-a-day growth.
The 84-35 vote approving additions to the state’s 5% sales tax came after a lengthy debate. The Senate approved a similar bill Wednesday, and a weekend conference committee is expected to work out minor differences.
Both proposals would, for the first time, impose the sales tax on services such as legal fees, advertising and real estate transactions. But groceries, medicines and doctor bills would remain exempt.
Gov. Bob Martinez, a Democrat, and legislative leaders campaigned for swift approval of the proposal, which officials said was needed to help fund $53 billion worth of new roads, schools, prisons and services needed by the year 2000 to cope with Florida’s population explosion.
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