By the time you read this column, it will all be over. Hopefully! I am talking about the mid terms --- elections that is. If we don't experience any hanging chads, power failures, hurricanes or tsunamis, we can all get back to the business of solving our problems.
No matter which talking heads are elected to the state office, we the citizens need to increase the pressure for Tallahassee to put forth a viable solution to our real estate tax problem and our hurricane insurance crisis. The bottom line is there are no more important items facing this state then the aforementioned. And mind you, this is not a local problem. When the legislature meets in March, they need to construct a BUDGET! Guess what happens. Less real estate sales equals less spendable income for the state, which equals deficits or tax increase. You pick it.
Depending on what or who you believe real estate sales are down from 30 percent to 50 percent. To me, that correlates to a similar percentage of income to the state.
Hold on to your wallet because this is not going to be pretty.
Ric Cornelius is the Broker/Manager of Sand Key Realty Sales and Rentals, Inc. Sand Key Realty has three offices with 40 agents. One office is at 740 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-443-0032; the second office is at 2701 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-595-5441; and the third office is at 309 Belleview Blvd., Belleair, 727-461-4200.