Newcomers, nonresidents challenge Save Our Homes basis

Retired Florida State University President Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte regaled an appellate court with a "magic potion" tale and invited the judges to a "house of mirrors" as he challenged homeowner tax breaks in two cases today. D'Alemberte, now a law professor at the school, represented recently arrived Florida residents in one argument to the 1st District Court of Appeal and out-of-state owners of second homes in another. They are challenging the 1992 Save Our Homes Amendment that limits assessment increases on primary homes to 3 percent annually and a "portability" provision voters added to the Florida Constitution last year. The latter lets homeowners take at least part of their Save Our Homes benefit with them when they move. D'Alemberte also argued the tax breaks impair interstate commerce by discouraging Floridians from moving to other states that don't offer a similar incentive.

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