Florida Legislature Considers Hurricane Relief Funding

The Florida Legislature will vote this week on providing close to $500 million for hurricane relief efforts.

Included in debates Tuesday were a bill to establish a $20 million fund to help homeowners who had to pay more than one hurricane insurance deductible and a bill that would reimburse homeowners up to $10,000 to pay out-of-pocket home repair costs.

House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, confirmed that various hurricane relief bills expected to be voted on would provide close to $500 million. He said the money is available due to expected increases in tax collections because of hurricane rebuilding. Taxable sales on rebuilding materials are expected to boost state revenue by several hundred million dollars during the next few years.

The Florida House Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a bill that would refund $1,500 to homeowners unable to occupy their property for more than 60 days due to hurricane damage. Before the bill can be approved it has to clear the Florida House and Senate.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and the House Fiscal Council both approved a measure to reimburse homeowners up to $10,000. The measure still must be reconciled because the Senate and House haven’t agreed on where to get the money.

The refund amount is based on the total days the house was uninhabitable, but can’t exceed $1,500.

While the property tax measure was approved easily, some lawmakers don’t think that $20 million will be enough to provide the rebates. The most vocal is Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, who called it a “token gesture.”

“It’s basically teasing my constituents,” Johnson said. “There needs to be enough money in it for it to matter.” Johnson, long a big proponent of tax breaks, proposed boosting the amount available for the rebates to $50 million, but his amendment was defeated.

Some lawmakers also discussed trying to help mobile home residents, who generally don’t pay property taxes, but many of whom suffered serious financial problems in the wake of the storms. One proposal would offer a sales tax break to people buying replacement mobile homes.