THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR A BIG TAX BREAK FOR SOME HOMEOWNERS.

THE MEASURE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT ON FLORIDA IF HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES ARE ELIMINATED.

A LEGACY OF LOVE AND SERVICE.

A LOOK AT A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PIONEER WHOSE NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND A TRADITION AT THE BRINK OF GOING EXTINCT.

WE'RE FINDING OUT FROM AMISH QUILTERS.

WHY ONE ART FORM THEY BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FLORIDA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP IN 3 WEEKS.

THE HOUSE APPROVED A SWEEPING MEASURE TO ELIMINATE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TAKING TO TWITTER OFFERING HIS SUPPORT FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, BUT CAUTIOUS ABOUT RUSHING A PROPOSAL.

THE GOVERNOR SAYING, QUOTE, IT'S BETTER TO DO IT RIGHT THEN DO IT QUICK.

FLORIDIANS QUESTION.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT RELY ON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES FOR FUNDING?

>> STATED DIFFERENTLY.

ONE PERSON'S EXEMPTION.

IS ANOTHER PERSON'S TAX INCREASE.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE FUND THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, HOW WE PAY THE SALARIES OF THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK RATING, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT.

>> FOR MORE ON THE LATEST FROM TALLAHASSEE, INCLUDING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

PRIORITY OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS.

WE ARE JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR THE BIG FOCUS IS THE ELIMINATION OF HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES.

IT HAS TAKEN FRONT AND CENTER STAGE IN TALLAHASSEE AND THEY'VE RECENTLY PASSED THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A MEASURE AND IT IS A REVISED MEASURE.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THIS BILL PRIOR TO THE START OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY'VE NOW AT LEAST THE HOUSE HAS AGREED ON ONE AND THEY'RE MOVING THAT FORWARD.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF THIS?

RIGHT?

SO HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION, 203 IS THE ONE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO LAST THURSDAY.

THIS PASTOR FLOOR VOTE IN THE HOUSE LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES.

>> THIS SPECIFIC PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE NON-SCHOOL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES BUT INCREMENTALLY.

SO IT WOULD INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BY ABOUT $100,000 A YEAR FOR 10 YEARS UNTIL THAT TAX HAS EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATED IN 2037.

SO IT'S A PHASED IN METHOD VERSUS AN IMMEDIATE.

RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S JUST INTENDED TO GIVE THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO HISTORICALLY HAVE RELIED ON THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF A DECADE.

SO THE HOUSE PASSED IT ALONG PARTY LINES.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SENATE WITH REGARD TO A MEASURE THAT WOULD CUT PROPERTY TAXES.

SO YEAH, IT'S BEEN FORMALLY REFERRED TO THE SENATE.

IT'S BEEN GIVEN A COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT.

>> BUT BY AND MARCH, SENATE LEADERSHIP IS NOT AS AGGRESSIVELY GUNG ON THIS PROPOSAL AS THE HOUSES.

THEY'RE KIND OF TAKING A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH.

AS IS GOVERNOR DESANTIS, SENATOR SENATE PRESIDENT BEN ALBRITTON HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS AND WE DON'T WANT TO PASS SOMETHING JUST TO PASS IT.

IF IT MIGHT COME BACK AND BITE US IN THE LATER WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

A MEASURED APPROACH IS OBVIOUSLY A GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS CUTTING.

>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD AFFECT FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL MEASURE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

SO THE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION THAT PASSED LAST WEEK AND IS NOW GONE TO THE SENATE DID INCLUDE AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE TO FUND FIRST RESPONDER SERVICES, FIREFIGHTER, EMS POLICE AND TO NOT DROP THOSE FUNDING LEVELS BELOW A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD.

AND THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR OR THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.

WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.

JUST BECAUSE THAT AMENDMENT IS IN THERE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE THERE.

THIS COULD END UP IF THIS PASSES JUST BEING AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A STATE MANDATE TO KEEP THESE FUNDING LEVELS.

THE SAME.

>> AND THIS ULTIMATELY WILL BE DECIDED BY THE VOTERS.

>> THEY SAID THE EXTEND THAT FAR.

SO COVID AND WALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF.

STILL A LONG WAY OFF.

EVEN IF THE SENATE DOESN'T APPROVE THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE HAVE A BILL THAT'S PASSED IN THE NEXT 3 WEEKS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO NO VOTERS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND IT NEEDS TO GET AT LEAST 60% VOTER APPROVAL.

SO I LIKELY FOR SEE AND THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER.

JUST THIS WEEK, THE HERALD TRIBUNE PRINTED A EDITORIAL FROM A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR FLORIDA'S 16TH CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

AND HE'S VERY VOCALLY AGAINST THIS WHOLE PROPERTY TAX ELIMINATION IDEA.

>> I ALSO KNOW WE HAD DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF FLORIDA'S PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET CRISIS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING MANY CITIZENS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP WITH US.

>> NOTHING THAT I CAN SEE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN RAISING THIS AS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS AS WELL, SAYING THAT THE PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET CRISIS IS ACTUALLY A BIGGER ISSUE.

AND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY DATA.

THERE'S A RECENT POLL FROM THE NONPARTISAN FLORIDA POLICY INSTITUTE.

BUT YOU ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF FLORIDA VOTERS SAY REDUCING PROPERTY INSURANCE COSTS SHOULD BE A BIGGER PRIORITY, THEN REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES.

IT WAS REALLY ONLY 32% OF POLL RESPONDENTS WHO THOUGHT THAT THE PROPERTY TAX ISSUE SHOULD BE AT THE BIGGER PRIORITY.

THERE'S EVEN A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH.

THAT WAS AIMED AT ADDRESSING SORT OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE REPORTING PROFITS VERSUS LOSSES.

AND THIS WAS BASED ON A 2022 REPORT THAT INITIALLY WAS KEPT FROM THE PUBLIC AND LAWMAKERS.

IT SHOWED 53 INSURANCE COMPANIES BETWEEN 2017 2019.

WE'RE REPORTING LOSSES IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BUT THEN THESE AFFILIATED COMPANIES, WE'RE POSTING PROFITS OF LIKE 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS.

SO JUST KIND OF SHOWING IT WAS A BIT OF A SHELL GAME.

THEY COULD MANIPULATE THE NUMBERS TO TRY TO GET LAWMAKERS TO PASS REFORMS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE INDUSTRY AS OPPOSED TO REFORMS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE PEOPLE HAVING TO PAY THE PROPERTY INSURANCE COSTS.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET ADDRESSED AT SOME POINT.

>> YOU KNOW, THE BILL HASN'T MOVED AT ALL.

SO ONCE I DON'T THINK IT WELL.

>> GOODNESS.

WELL, I DO KNOW THAT LAWMAKERS DO NEED TO WORK OUT A BUDGET.

THEY ARE STILL, I BELIEVE ABOUT A BILLION OFF AND WE DON'T AGREEMENT YET AND THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE MARCH.

13TH.

>> CORRECT.

TO PASS A BUDGET?

WELL, I WOULDN'T MESS WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN BY MARCH 13TH IN ORDER FOR SESSION TO END ON TIME.

BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A GIVEN.

YOU REMEMBER IN 2025, THE SESSION EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 45 DAYS JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO HAMMER OUT A BUDGET.

SO EVEN IF EVEN IF SESSION ENDS ON TIME, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS SESSION THIS YEAR.

THERE'S ALREADY A SPECIAL SESSION.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS CALLED IN APRIL TO DEAL WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING EXCLUSIVELY.

AND IF NOTHING PASSES BY MARCH 13TH ON PROPERTY TAXES, THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING THE GOVERNOR FROM CALLING ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE ARE ISN'T THE END OF SESSION.

THEIR DEADLINE IS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

SO THEY'RE NOT ALL SUMMER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING THEY CAN GET ON THE BALLOT.

THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE TRACKING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS?

THAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.

ANYTHING OF I I WE HAD DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT A MEASURE WHERE THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

>> YEAH, I WAS READING A I WANT TO GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS PRIORITIES AS THE I'M BILL OF RIGHTS.

THIS IS JUST BEEN A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT WANTS TO DO.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS RAPIDLY ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF CREATING A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, BUT DOING IT ON A STATE-BY-STATE BASIS AS OPPOSED TO ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT AND TO WORK ON.

ARE LAWMAKERS HAVE A LOT OF WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM THIS YEAR AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING AND TRACKING ALL THE CHANGES GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.

THANKS, JENNIFER.

THANK YOU, JOHN DAVIS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LATEST HAPPENINGS DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU CAN, OF COURSE, FOLLOW ALL OF JOHN'S COVERAGE.

>> AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE LOCAL FALLOUT FROM A POSSIBLE AND TO SOME PROPERTY TAXES.

WE SIT WITH LEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.

MATT CALDWELL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CHANGES.

AS THE FLORIDA SENATE WORKS ON ITS OWN VERSION OF A PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BILL QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHAT DO ANY PROPERTY TAX CUTS MEAN FOR THOSE SERVICES RELIANT ON THOSE FUNDS?

AT A RECENT NEWS CONFERENCE, FLORIDA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLAISE INGOGLIA WAS OUT OF IT THAT THE PROCESS IS NOT BEING RUSHED AND ANY PROPOSAL WOULD NOT IMPACT EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> WE WERE WAITING FOR EVERYONE TO START COMPLAINING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

WE SAW SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WERE HAVING A CROSS THIS STATE.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

WE START TO BE AGGRESSIVELY START TALKING ABOUT REFORMING A PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE STARTING TO GET OUT OF HAND HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND WHILE I'M HERE, WHILE MY LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS.

I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.

I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT.

THE FIRST ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS.

AND YOU DO THAT THAN BY MAKING SURE THAT OUR FIRE AND OUR POLICE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

SO IF ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS OUT THERE SAYING THAT WITH PROPERTY TAX REFORM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAUGHT FIRE.

YOU DIRECT THEM TO ME.

BECAUSE I WILL TELL THEM NO, THEY DON'T.

>> FOR MORE ON THE DEBATE OVER PROPERTY TAXES, WE ARE NOW JOINED BY LEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.

MATT CALDWELL.

>> AT CALDWELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> A PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES IN FLORIDA WAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT IF THIS WERE TO BE PASSED, ULTIMATELY, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A MAJOR FEATURE OF THIS YEAR'S SESSION.

WITHOUT A DOUBT.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PUT FORWARD 7 DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSALS.

THE ONE THAT'S READY FOR THE FLOOR THIS MOMENT HJR 2 OR 3 WOULD ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAX FOR ALL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS.

IT WOULD PHASE THAT IN OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.

SO BETWEEN 2027 2037.

IF IT PASSED AND THAT IS A KEY THING FOR A LISTERS TO REMEMBER VIEWERS TO REMEMBER IS THAT THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

SO ANY REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE TO PROPERTY TAX HAS TO GO TO THE BALLOT AND THE VOTERS ULTIMATELY DECIDE.

>> AND THERE'S ANOTHER VERSION.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE VERSIONS, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND ONE VERSION WOULD ELIMINATE ALL PROPERTY TAXES BY 2027.

>> POTENTIALLY THAT IS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR AT THE MOMENT ABOUT WHERE THIS IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO LAND.

YOU'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR WHO'S BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

YOU'VE GOT THE HOUSE, AS WE MENTIONED, HAS PUT FORWARD 7 DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.

ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT FLAVOR OF HOW TO DO THIS AND THE SENATE AT THE MOMENT.

KIND OF WATCHING THIS UNFOLD AND LOOKING TO REACT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, CERTAINLY I WOULD SAY WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY.

BUT SOME OF THE PROPOSALS ULTIMATELY COME WITH WITH A RATHER HIGH FISCAL COST.

>> WELL, WE WERE DISCUSSING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT IF THIS WERE TO COME TO FRUITION, THEN THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WOULD YOU NEED TO BE MADE UP ELSEWHERE.

WHAT HOW WOULD THAT BE RECOUPED?

>> THAT'S REALLY A PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND ISN'T ADDRESSED YET TO SAY IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, YOU WOULD STILL NEED AN IMPLEMENTING BILL.

AND SO THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK TO IT.

WHETHER THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE MADE UP FROM THE SALES TAX.

EITHER SALES TAX INCREASE OR SHERIFF STATE REVENUE FROM THE EXISTING 6% SALES TAX OR WHETHER IT'S SIMPLY GOING TO BE ATTACK SHIFT.

IF THERE IS NO OTHER SOURCE OF REVENUE THAN ESSENTIALLY HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS PAY LESS OR 0 AND THE BALANCE IS MADE UP BY ALL THE NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, THE GROCERY STORES, THE APARTMENT EVERYONE THAT HAS A DOES NOT HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

>> AND WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR SERVICES LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMS LIBRARIES, INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY IS A CRITICAL CONSIDERATION.

PART OF THE STRUCTURE OF OUR TAX SYSTEM IN FLORIDA REQUIRES THAT PROPERTY TAX CODE TO FUND THE BASIC ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF WHY IT CAN'T BE CHANGED WITHOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT THERE.

BASIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BE FUNDED IN TO BE STRUCTURED.

SO IF YOU ELIMINATE OR SHIFT THE PROPERTY TAX, BUT YOU CERTAINLY NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT UP BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF FUNDING THAT GOES TO THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES OF POLICE AND FIRE AND THE VARIOUS OTHER COUNTY AND CITY LEVEL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE PAID FOR THROUGH PROPERTY TAX.

>> SOME VOTERS MIGHT WONDER IF WE REDUCE OR CUT PROPERTY TAXES.

COULD THAT INCREASE ULTIMATELY THE VALUE OF THEIR HOME STUDDED.

>> PROPERTY AS TIME GOES ON WITH SUPPLYING THE MAN IS A REAL THING.

AND AT THE MOMENT, THE EVERY SINGLE STATE IN THE COUNTRY LEVEES A PROPERTY YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY 3 WAYS TO DRIVE REVENUE AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL PROPERTY SALES OR INCOME TAX.

OF COURSE, FLORIDA PROHIBITED INCOME TAX.

THERE'S ONLY ONE STATE, I BELIEVE NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT HAS NO SALES TAX.

SO WE'D BE THE FIRST STATE TO NOT HAVE A PROPERTY TAX, AT LEAST ON THIS CATEGORY OF PROPERTY AND WOULD BECOME AS A RESULT OF VERY, VERY APPEALING FOR INVESTORS.

AND FOR FOLKS TO MOVE HERE, WHEN YOU GET MORE DEMAND PRICES, YOU CAN DRIVE UP PRICES UP.

SO IN LEE COUNTY.

>> CAN YOU GIVE ME A SNAPSHOT?

WALK US THROUGH WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FAIRLY COUNTY IF THIS ULTIMATELY WAS ELIMINATED, THE PROPERTY TAX.

>> ABOUT HALF OF THE PROPERTIES IN LEE COUNTY HAVE A HOMESTEAD.

WE'VE GOT AROUND 550,000 PARCELS AND ABOUT 225,000 HOMESTEAD ACCOUNTS.

AND SO IF YOU SAY TOOK THE PROPOSAL THAT ZEROED OUT THE TAX LIABILITY FOR THOSE 225,000 HOMESTEADS, THE BALANCE THAT HAS TO BE MADE UP ON THE REMAINING HALF OF THAT ACTUAL AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE NON HOMESTEAD, THE GROCERY STORES AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS, ET CETERA.

AND THAT SIGNIFICANT, I THINK YOU MENTIONED MAYBE 350 MILLION DOLLARS JUST ABOUT RIGHT, JUST FOR THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND IS AROUND 700 MILLION THIS LAST YEAR.

AND SO IF YOU FIGURE ROUGHLY ABOUT HALF OF THAT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 3 TO 50 MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS MEASURE THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THIS IS STILL A VERY FLUID PROCESS.

AND SO WHERE WE SIT TODAY IN EARLY FEBRUARY, CONSTITUENTS NEED TO COMMUNICATE THE NEED TO TALK TO THEIR HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATE MEMBERS.

THEY NEED TO TELL THEM WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.

THIS IS AGAIN, STILL GETTING VERY MUCH NEGOTIATED.

THERE'S NO FINAL VERSION OF THIS.

BUT IF YOU WANT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON IT TO BE WEIGHED IN ON, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO CONTACT THEM SOONER THAN LATER.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THIS COULD ACTUALLY BE DISCUSSED IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> YEAH, THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE THINKS IT'S WORTHY OF A SPECIAL SESSION.

ALL OF ITS OWN.

NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THAT YET.

BUT TYPICALLY THOSE ARE FOR A WEEK OR MAYBE 2 WEEKS.

SO I WOULD LOOK TO SEE THIS POSSIBLY HAPPEN LATER THIS SPRING.

IT'S CERTAINLY VERY INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND EXPLAINING THIS SUPER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATT CALDWELL, COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.

ABSOLUTELY.

FOR MORE ON OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

PLEASE HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG.

IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE BRING YOU A MOMENT AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HISTORY.

WGCUS BRYANT.

MONTEILH LOOKS AT THE ICONIC DOCTOR ELLA MAE PIPER AND HER LASTING INFLUENCE WHEN IT COMES TO CHARITY AND THE COMMUNITY ARE ALUM.

A PIPER WAS A PIONEER, A PROMINENT BUSINESSWOMAN.

>> AND PHILANTHROPIST IN FORT MYERS, SHE WAS BORN IN GEORGIA IN 18.

84 PIPER ATTENDED SPELMAN COLLEGE, THEN GRADUATED FROM ROARS INSTITUTE OF BEAUTY CULTURE IN NEW YORK CITY.

SHE CAME TO FORT MYERS IN 1916, TO OPEN THE FIRST BEAUTY PARLOR AND PODIATRY OFFICE.

PIPER ALSO OWN THE BIG 4 BATTLE COMPANY WHERE CUSTOMERS LIKE THOMAS AND BIDEN HAD A SON ENJOYED SOFT DRINKS FOR $0.05 DR.

PIPER ALSO CONTINUED HER MOTHER'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR DUNBAR HEARTS CHILDREN.

AN EVENT STILL GOING STRONG.

HER GENEROSITY EARNED HER THE NICKNAME FAIRY GODMOTHER.

HER LEGACY CONTINUES THROUGH THE D R L A PIPER CENTER IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

TUNE INTO WGCU EVERY DAY THIS MONTH FOR MORE MOMENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

BLACK HISTORY.

>> THE QUEST TO KEEP A GENERATIONAL TRADITION ALIVE.

HOW ONE COMMUNITY IS MAINTAINING AN OLD WORLD MENTALITY TO PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SAY IT'S A LOST ART AND IT TRULY DOES BECOME A LOST ART.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE SHOWS US AN EXAMPLE THAT HAS LASTED FOR GENERATIONS AND HOW IT JUST MAY BE COMING TO AN END.

>> EVERY THURSDAY, A TROLLEY PULLS UP OUTSIDE SCHOOL SHOP IN SARASOTA.

A FEW DOZEN TOURISTS AND THEIR CAMERA PHONES.

THEY'VE COME TO SEE SOMETHING RARE.

AMISH AND MENNONITE WOMEN.

HE AND QUILTING.

HERE'S WHAT THE TOURS DO NOT KNOW.

THE DAUGHTERS OF THESE WOMEN PROBABLY WILL NOT DO THIS.

AND MOST OF THEIR GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE INTERESTED EITHER.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LAST GENERATION FINISHES ITS FINAL QUOTES?

THERE AREN'T NEARLY AS MANY PEOPLE.

IN INTERESTED IN DOING.

WHAT WE DO.

THE YOUNGER KIDS.

THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT?

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT GEN Z IS.

IT JUST SAYS AND THE OTHER OBVIOUS LADIES, THEY WOULD RATHER THE WORK AND HAVE A JOB.

>> BEFORE PHONES, EVEN BEFORE CARS, QUILTING WAS HOW ISOLATED FARM WOMEN.

SO ONE ANOTHER, IT WAS COMMUNITY AND THERAPY ROLLED INTO ONE.

>> IT'S TIME TO GET THE OTHER WITH FRIENDS AND PEOPLE COME IN HERE.

WE CAN VISIT THAT.

GETS US OUT OF THE HOUSE.

>> HELLO TOY.

NEVER WANTED TO RUN A CLOTHES SHOP.

SHE HAD A BUSINESS DEGREE AND A DIFFERENT LIFE PLANNED.

>> MY MOM AND DAD WERE SNOWBIRDS IN MY IT WAS THE SNOWBIRD.

I SAID YOU NEED SOMETHING TO DO.

SO I'LL OPEN A LITTLE SHOP FOR YOU INTENDING TO BE JUST A SMALLER PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO AND IT'S EQUIPPED WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

I DIDN'T INTEND TO REALLY BE A RETAIL STORE TO BE A FABRIC STORE.

WE WERE JUST GOING TO.

>> KEEP THEM BUSY.

THE INTEREST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD GREW FAST, PUT A SIGN UP DOWN AT THE PINE CRAFT.

>> AND SAID ANY LADY THAT WANTS TO DO SOME HAND QUOTING.

AND THEN I PAY THEM A LITTLE BIT.

NEXT THING I KNEW I HAD PEOPLE THAT CAME UP CITIES AND STATES WITH MY MOM AND MY AUNT.

AND THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED.

>> THE SHOT BECAME A GATHERING PLACE.

THEN CAME A TURNING POINT.

THEN MY MOM DIED.

>> AND THEN MY AUNT DIVE IN HERE WE HAD THIS COULD SHOP IF THIS TRADITION WAS SO VALUABLE.

>> WHY ISN'T A YOUNGER GENERATION TAKING PART?

>> WHEN WE ASKED EACH OF THE QUILTERS ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER'S, YOU COULD SEE IT ON THEIR FACES.

THIS WAS THE QUESTION THEY DID NOT WANT TO ANSWER.

MY DAUGHTER'S NEVER CARED FOR IT.

DO YOU?

>> HAVE ANY WORRY IF THEY DON'T TAKE AN INTEREST IN, IT WILL HAPPEN.

SOMETHING USEFUL ALIGNED.

HE KNOW.

DOES BOTHER ME AT ALL KNOW.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMETHING ON HIM >> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO THAT AND WE DID TOO.

>> I I THINK ARE WHEN THEY GET OLDER, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THIS.

>> YOU THINK THEY'LL GROW INTO?

I THINK SO.

YES, I HOPE THEY DO.

MAYBE THEY'RE RIGHT.

>> REGIONAL BURKE HOLDERS, 28 FROM SUGARCREEK, OHIO AND 3 GENERATIONS OF WOMEN IN HER FAMILY HAVE QUILTED.

WELL, MOM USED TO PUT A BUILDING IN THAT HOME AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP HER.

>> SO I DON'T KNOW IN MY TEENS PROBABLY IS WHEN I STARTED.

>> HE TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT IT.

HER GRANDMOTHER CAN'T ANYMORE.

>> SHE SIC AND BACK HOME.

MY GRANDMA USED TO COME END QUOTE.

>> DID THAT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND >> SHE CALLED IT A LOT AND IT WAS AN INCOME FOR HER.

SO SHE COULD BE DOWN HERE FOR THE WINTER.

>> TOY KNOWS BURKHOLDER IS THE EXCEPTION.

>> YEARS THAT THE OLD GUARD AND THOSE LADIES LIKE MY MOTHER AND MY AUNT THAT WERE RAISED IN AN ERA WHERE THEY HAD TO DO THIS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BLANKETS FOR THEIR FAMILY.

>> WELL, THE LAST GENERATION OF CULTURES IS GONE.

THE TRADITION CHANGES.

>> IT'S REALLY AN ART FORM AT THIS POINT.

IT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

SOMETHING HEALTHY.

IT INSTILLS PATIENTS.

>> JUST THE COMPANIONSHIP.

>> AS MOSTLY WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT IT.

I WOULDN'T ENJOY DOING IT BY MYSELF.

SO, YEAH, I I COME IN HERE MOSTLY FOR THE COMES ME.

>> FOR NOW, THE TOURISTS KEEP COMING AND THE WOMEN KEEP QUILTING.

BUT IN THE DECADES TO COME, THE FRAMES MAY BE PUT AWAY.

WHAT WILL REMAIN ARE THE QUILTS AND THE YOUTUBE TUTORIALS LEFT BEHIND FOR WGC.

YOU NEWS.

I'M LISBETH AND RG.

>> COMING UP TOMORROW, THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY WITH THE SPECIES ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION.

SOME GROUPS ARE FIGHTING FOR PROTECTIONS TO AND FLIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG OR YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS THOSE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT DAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.