Q&A: When are we snowbirds going to get a break?

> Posted by John Dahlburg at 12:07 PM

Q. When can the snowbirds expect a break in real estate taxes? They're killing us, and we contribute so much to the state in revenue.

---T.S., Hollywood

A. Many people are asking elected officials in Florida the same question. One of the major criticisms of the proposed constitutional amendment is that it does not do enough for snowbirds. For example, they would not benefit from "portability," in which homesteaded property owners would be able to carry their tax savings with them to a new home.

Under the proposal, however, snowbirds would get a 10 percent cap on annual increases in assessed value. Critics of the plan wanted the cap to be much lower.

---Paul Owers, business writer

BONNE NOUVELLE CONCERNANT AIR TRANSAT

Les passagers ne pourront plus se plaindre de manquer d'espace pour les jambes, puisqu'à partir de mai, tous les appareils d'Air Transat auront été réaménagés. L'empattement moyen (l'espace entre l'emprise de chaque rangée de sièges) passera de 29 pouces à 32 pouces, soit davantage que la norme adoptée par les grands transporteurs européens comme Air France, Swiss ou KLM (31 pouces).