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Krazy Koan Friday!

When is a tax increase not a tax increase?

Gov. Jeb Bush's support for raising local taxes to deal with Florida's exploding growth seems to put him at odds with a previous pledge he made.

He strongly disagrees.

The governor's push for local tax increases without voter approval is not the same as supporting higher taxes, Bush spokeswoman Alia Faraj said Thursday.

"He has said very clearly he will never raise state taxes," Faraj said. "He's offering flexibility to local governments to address taxes that already exist."

Citing $5.3-billion in tax sources local governments could tap, Bush urged legislators to lift a longstanding requirement that voters approve them.

Some legislators are wary, viewing it as a back-door tax increase. Some county commissioners say the state is trying to force them to increase taxes. Bush also is advocating a referendum in November to ask voters to approve borrowing all but $1-billion of $9.5-billion for roads.

Faraj said Bush was upset that the St. Petersburg Times reported Wednesday that his new position breaks a 1994 campaign pledge that voters should have "the right to approve all tax increases."

When Bush rolled out his growth management plan Wednesday, he emphasized that he opposes state tax increases. But his support for dropping voter approval of new local sales and gasoline taxes for schools and water system projects caused a major stir in the state House.

A tax increase is not a tax increase when it serves to make Florida's highly regressive tax system even more so by raising the sales tax and other fees that disproportionately impact low income residents. It also helps if there's a huge break in the works for the very rich.