Florida Sales Tax Exemptions

Florida is facing a budget shortfall, members of the House Finance & Tax Council were asked what sales taxes should be repealed. Tom Grady (R-Naples) came out against repealing any sales tax. Jim Waldman (D-Coconut Creek), Rich Workman (R-Melbourne) and John Tobia (R-Satellite Beach) mentioned bottled water as a possibility. No one went on-record supporting a bottled water tax. Ron Schultz (R-Homosassa) brought up "satellites which are up there." I think Schultz is confusing satellite television taxation with outer space satellites. Satellite tv is taxed in Florida. I have questions about if taxes on outer space satellites are legal under Florida law.

The Florida Department of Revenue estimates repealing the bottled water sales tax would raise an estimated $42.3 million. I would support repealing the tax. Especially since so many Florida communities go through water shortages. A bottled water tax alone isn't going to solve Florida's budget woes.