November 3, 2008

ISSUE 1243

Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis dismissed on Oct. 27 a lawsuit by a Tallahassee couple who had challenged the Save Our Homes property tax cap. The plaintiffs, Robert and Katherine Bruner, new residents of Florida, argued that they unfairly pay thousands of dollars more in property taxes than the previous owner of their $650,000 home because the seller benefited from years of cumulative property tax caps under Save Our Homes.

But Judge Francis said the claims were so flimsy and dismissed them “with prejudice,” meaning the plaintiffs could not ask him for a re-hearing.

He also ruled that the Bruners have the same opportunity as anyone to take advantage of Save Our Homes. The Save Our Homes language in Florida’s Constitution places a 3 percent increase cap on homesteaded property taxes and saves homeowners $404 billion in property taxes each year.

William Slaughter, an Alabama attorney who filed the suit for the Bruners, vowed to appeal the ruling. Slaughter blamed the adverse ruling on Florida politics

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