State Aims To Boost Economy

Jan. 10--TALLAHASSEE -- With Florida's economy slowing, legislators will focus heavily on economic development efforts at this year's legislative session, especially ways to beef up Florida's high-tech industries, Florida business and legislative leaders said Wednesday.

Their ideas range from abolishing or consolidating government agencies that impede business, to increasing incentives for technological research, to an effort to lure retirees to Florida.

Gov. Charlie Crist and leaders of the Florida House of Representatives, the Senate, Florida's public universities and the Florida Chamber of Commerce spoke to reporters and editors Wednesday on the status of Florida's economy. The occasion was a business editors summit sponsored by the Florida Press Association and the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.

Crist appeared the most optimistic Wednesday, suggesting that despite reports of deep economic problems across the country, Florida's population continues to grow by about 1,000 people a day, a figure Crist has cited before in past speeches. However, new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau this week appear to contradict Crist's data. Census figures show that Florida grew by 193,735 people between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, a rate of 531 people a day.

Crist also said that despite Florida's continuing battles with property insurers over insurance rates, some rates have started falling. The lieutenant governor's office is researching ways that Florida might litigate to get insurers to lower their rates further, Crist said.

Crist also used the forum Wednesday to urge voters to pass a property tax amendment on Jan. 29, which would double the homestead exemption and put a 10 percent assessment cap on nonhomestead properties. It also would make homeowners' savings from the Save Our Homes program portable, allowing them to move without losing it.

If passed, it is expected to save homeowners about $240 in taxes statewide on average, or $300 in Hillsborough County.

Despite Crist's optimism, several business, government and academic leaders said there are "warning signs" in Florida's economy, if not signs of a recession. These include rising unemployment, which hit 4.3 percent recently. This is low by historical standards but higher than in the recent past. Mark Wilson, president-elect of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is pushing legislators to address a host of issues to prop up the economy and beef up the life sciences, aerospace and other high-tech industries.

Among other issues, the chamber has recruited lawmakers in this year's legislative session, which starts March 4, to sponsor bills addressing: lowering commercial property insurance, new economic incentives, and additional property tax relief. One chamber proposal is to provide incentives to companies that move to Florida, create jobs, and do research and development here.

At one point during the conference, Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, suggested that the state should consider eliminating or consolidating certain state agencies that duplicate services already available. He didn't mention any agencies specifically, but his comment came after a reporter asked about the Florida Department of Community Affairs, a land planning agency.

Rubio said earlier in a speech that DCA and some other agencies have made it difficult for small businesses to open, particularly in his home turf of Miami-Dade County. Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, said the Senate would discuss anything the House proposed, but stopped short of saying he advocates eliminating any agencies.

Rubio suggested that Florida also should start an effort to lure baby boomer retirees to the state. Other states, including Tennessee, have launched such efforts, he said. The Tribune reported recently that Florida has dropped from first in the nation in net migration of seniors (seniors moving to Florida minus those leaving the state) to fourth in the nation over the past two years.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at msasso@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7865.

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