Highlands County Property Tax Abatement Measure (August 2010)

A Highlands County Property Tax Abatement Measure was on the August 24, 2010 ballot in Highlands County.

This measure was approved

• YES 9,814 (61.25%)a
• NO 6,208 (38.74%)

This measure sought to allow the abatement of local property taxes on local businesses up to 100 percent per year. The process of how the process would be conducted is not certain yet, commissioners just wanted to give voters the chance to approve the issue before the decided on how a business would get this tax advantage. County commissioners had till June 18 to write the official ballot language and give the measure a title. A few Council members had expressed their concerns over the tax abatement measures in that the rules for who qualifies and how it would be determined a company could benefit from this had not been set. Lack of rules made it unclear what really voters voted on.

Proponents noted that if this measure had not approved, new business would go to those counties that did pass similar legislation. The county would potentially loose out on businesses that are looking to invest. While opponents noted that it would hurt local businesses already established because they still would pay normal property taxes, proponents saw the measure rather as a way to entice new businesses to the area.