State panel imagines new ways to tax

DAYTONA BEACH -- Imagine a future where the property taxes of snow-cone vendors weren't taxed at the same rate as nearby condominiums on the waterfront.

Think of what might happen if sheriffs and clerks of courts were obliged to publish detailed descriptions of their annual budgets in the local newspaper.

Or how about a Florida where the revenue growth of government could not exceed the annual growth of population and inflation by more than 4 percent?

What would happen if Florida imposed a sales tax on ostrich feed or luxury sky box suites at sports stadiums?

Allan Bense, speaker of the Florida House from 2004 to 2006, floated these ideas during a Friday luncheon of the Civic League of the Halifax League at the Daytona 500 Experience.

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