Reforming Florida's tax system subject of meeting

Wilkinson Initiatives to reform Florida's tax system and establish limitations on government spending will be presented at the Real Estate Investment Society April 8 luncheon meeting. Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson, a member of the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, will be the featured speaker.

Wilkinson will provide an overview of Florida's tax system and the rationales for the various reform proposals now being considered by the state legislature. He has served as Lee County Property Appraiser since 1980. In 1992 he led the effort to establish "Save Our Homes," which provides a 3 percent cap on assessment increases on homesteaded property. In the late nineties, Wilkinson successfully led the "Enough is Enough State Spending Limitation Initiative" to curb government spending. Over the past few years, as president of Save Our Homes / Portability, Inc., he has advocated portability for the Save Our Homes cap, which was approved by the legislature and Florida voters and becomes effective this year.

Wilkinson is also expected to provide an update on mapping, aerial photography, and real estate data services available through the Property Appraiser's office and Web site. Under Wilkinson's guidance, the office has been a leader in making property information accessible to the public. Following the presentation, Wilkinson will address questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry.

The meeting is sponsored by McGarvey Development, Inc., and will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8 in the Magnolia Room at Pelican Preserve's Town Center, on Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers. Admission is $25 for members and $35 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required by April 3 and may be made by calling Sharon Heston, (239) 410-1253, or visiting the REIS web site: www.reis-swfl.org.