South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
December 15, 2005
Author: Buddy Nevins Political Writer

An angry Republican state representative lashed out Wednesday at Broward County Commissioner John Rodstrom for blocking a vote on extending the 4 percent property tax discount because of the recent hurricanes. Rodstrom’s abstention at Tuesday’s commission meeting caused the tax break to fail because of a parliamentary requirement in state law. He said he abstained on the issue because he would benefit by paying $250 less in taxes.
Because the measure failed to pass, Broward County property owners must pay their taxes by today to be eligible for the discount. The measure would have extended the discount period to Jan. 31. “He denied thousands of people a tax break,” charged state Rep. Adam Hasner, the Delray Beach Republican who sponsored the bill extending the discount period.
The bill was designed to give Florida residents, who face huge payments to repair homes from this year’s series of hurricanes, more time to pay property taxes and still get a discount. The bill covers counties affected by the storms and was filed by state Sen. Jeff Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican who represents northeast Broward, in the Senate. The bill was passed by the Legislature in a special session last week and signed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Hasner, who represents a portion of northeast Broward, said Rodstrom misinterpreted the laws governing a conflict of interest and that the commission didn’t have to abstain from the voting. His interpretation was bolstered by Rodstrom’s colleague, Commissioner Ilene Lieberman. She equated voting for the tax break to voting for a decrease in property taxes, from which any property owner, including Rodstrom, would benefit. “It would have to be a unique benefit to require an abstention. He would get the same benefit as thousands of other Broward residents,” she said. Rodstrom said he was not persuaded by Hasner and Lieberman. “I pay my taxes in January so my vote would have had a direct benefit to me,” he said. “I’m not going to do what I feel is wrong.” Rodstrom’s abstention killed the tax break in Broward County because it was being considered as an emergency measure without the required advertising to notify the public. State law mandates that eight of the nine county commissioners approve waiving the advertising requirement. Since Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin missed the meeting, leaving only eight commissioners, Rodstrom’s vote was vital to waive the rules.

Political Writer Buddy Nevins can be reached at bnevins@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4571.