29.54%	Yes
63.63%	No

Comment: They should not increase taxes to offset cuts. They need to find other means. from Crestview, FL by Robert

Comment: I think it is time for the state of Florida to impose an income tax of 1%.Most people would not feel this crunch becase the money would never reach their pockets.Any sales tax is an increase in costs-that everyone will feel. The new Powerball should take care of any cuts that were made to the education system from Pensacola,Fl by Lizz

Comment: We should be looking at all programs to trim more fat from them and some to do away with completely . Our elected officials need to learn how to live with in a budget. from Davisville , Fl by clyde

Comment: NO ! NO! New taxes we pay to much in taxes now,our leaders needs to live on a budget like all familys,gov. crist promised us help with our home owners ins. and taxes on our homes he has not lived up to his promise. So many familys have have lost their homes and jobs,and they want more of our money to waste i don't think so. Thank You, Betty from milton by Betty

Comment: i said when crist cut the state tax it would just cause other taxes to go up. that cut only saved me $100 a year! so for all of you who voted for the tax cut this is the results. and no to raising taxes is not an option. crist cutting the tax in the first place caused all this!!!! from fl by linda

Comment: No increase in any taxes. The state and federal government needs to do what the citizens do, suck it up and live within their means. from Pensacola, Fl by Pam

Comment: Government in all it's forms, local county, state and federal have all grown way too much and is very bloated. Cuts are what is needed, and those cuts need to include staff. If a program is cut, then the people administering the program need to go as well, not just reassigned. The benefits the government provides are much too generous compared to the private sector. Take a look at the retirement packages out there it is unbelievable. from Pensacola, FL by Dave

Comment: Use the additional tax to offset the budget cuts for the social service agencies. The taxpayers will end up paying anyway (either through additional services, medical, etc) from Navarre, FL by A

Comment: reduce the size of government and the shortfall will go away. If new revenue is absolutely necessary for essentials after all of the frills have been eliminated, don't pick on one segment of the population from Pensacola by Paul

Comment: I do not think that raising taxes is the best approach. Too long we have increased "programs" when the economy was booming - now that it not. we should scale back proportionally. More taxes are just greater expenses at a time when we cannot afford them. Let the Gov't learn to live with the 'new economy' like the reat of us have to do. from Pensacola by Jon

Comment: yes, it is time for certain items to be increased in tax. cigarettes, alcohol, and other "luxury" items needs to be increased for a long time. an additional 1% in sales tax would be very helpful in these trying times. from p'cola by h

Comment: No. Taxation is not the panecea for all evils. It riles me to no end, the amount of people that have money on the brain. People wanting money is what gets us jammed up everytime. It's true: those that don't have it want it, and those that do have it want more of it. It's a vicious cycle, where does it end? Certainly not with taxation. from Mary Esther, FL. by Tom

Comment: NO, NO, HECK NO. There is not eonugh money in the whole State to satisfy eery ones desie. The fact is that 4O% of the population is now governmental dependent. How much longer before Communism? from Baker,FL by Thomas

Comment: From a former Pensacola resident. Lawmakers should be finding every way possible to not only cut programs, but ALSO to cut taxes. The ONLY spending that should not be cut is for infrastructure. Each and every entitlement handout should be cut severely. from Seymour, Tennessee by Keith

Comment: i think cigarette tax should be increased,beer tax and liquor tax increased,this would make up the short fall. from pensacola,fl by glen

Comment: Raising taxes during a recession is the stupidest possible option, which is why Democrats always want to do it. No amount of tax hikes can keep pace with our current spending. I'd rather lose any and all programs that benefit me personally than see tax hikes that will result in fewer jobs for Floridians. from Pensacola, FL by Faith

Comment: i think that every paid politial leader should take a 5% pay decrease than we wouldn't need any cuts or taxes from pensacola by valerie

Comment: The State needs to learn to live within it's budget like the rest of us. from Ft. Walton Beach, Fl. by Bob

Comment: Everytime this state wants to increase taxes they turn to cigarette taxes first. Why do they keep attacting one group of people. Why not increase the tax on liquor. It is as deadly and costly as the harm cigarettes do. If Florida would cut the wasted spending that is done in the government offices than it would not need to raise taxes. In fact it would lower them. from Pensacola by Billy

Comment: When lawmakers increase our taxes they are inadvertantly damaging our national economy. The money we pay to taxes prevents us from spending it on goods and services that would help our economy recover. All current taxes need to go down not up. from Crestview by JC

Comment: Something is wrong here. We need a tax increase to offset the decrease in revenue caused in large part because of the passing of Ammendment 1, in which everyone got a tax break. The first budgets to get cut are education, law enforcement and social programs. The system needs fixing. Would our legislators consider taking a cut in pay? Would they be willing to take 2 weeks of unpaid leave as they're considering state employees (cops, correctional officers and Dept. of Health staff)to sacrifice? from Jay,FL by N

Comment: if we hike taxs lets do not just cigarette's how about alcohol also. from niceville/fl

Comment: auction the offshore oil leases we bought in the gulf subject to a rapid development clause and spill strict liability for economic damages to riparian owners. the auction fees will fund the shortfall and the production royalties will provide a recurring fund source without taxes. require the extraction be done to maximize natural gas and minimize oil extraction. (The Destin Dome was fractured and much of the oil converted to gas by the chicaxilhub meteor strike off yucatan. The entire formation was tilted shoreward so that the oil has moved onshore in the impact cracks hence the long production run of the field at Jay, and the great potential of the wicassa swamp basin in Franklin County from niceville, fl by brian

Comment: Every time there is a revenue shortage the cigarette tax pops right into everyones mind. If higher taxes are to be imposed then EVERYONE pays! Not just a segregated few. More revenue will be generated by every citizen being taxed EQUALLY. Local Officials as well as Educators need to tighten their budgets just like everyone else is having to! As far as losing federal funding in the future if cuts are made to the budget, this is a classic case of misuse and abuse of the budgets in place.Use it or lose it as they say. by Barbara

Comment: bring in the casinos

Comment: Cost saving measures: pay reductions for state employees, ending state funded pensions by converting to 401k's, requiring state employees to contrubute more to their health insurance costs, eliminating some paid holidays. Close loopholes allowing state employees to "retire" with a huge payout and then go back to work. (example: Bob Richburg of Northwest Florida State College.) Everyone needs to tighten their belts, our state/federal leaders need to lead by example. from ft walton beach, fl by c

Comment: cut spending from milton fl by richard

Comment: Its amazing, with all the dui issues and deaths by dui- you want to tax cigarettes. Tax boozei it start immediatly also. Wait, our politicians would be impacted in the pocket immediatly also. Tax drug users more on income tax each year after convicted. You cant stop em so tax em when thier caught. Lets not have casinos here- it might actually create revenue! from Pensacola/FL by DD

Comment: "No new taxes" was the pre-election promise. If they raise taxes, throw them all out on their ear. What makes them think we have more money than they do? I'm on a fixed income. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Don

Comment: If we want to provide and use public services there must be taxes levied. AFTER cleaning up duplication of services and waste and corruption I would be willing to pay additional taxes. Please note that I do not have discretionary income, I shop sales, use coupons, and cut corners where I can but I do believe that we, as a democratic and free people, must care for children, the elderly, and the less fortunate. from Pensacola FL by R.

Comment: start cuts at the top,we have to many assittance to the person elected to do his job. if cuts start let them start at the top. from milton,fl by david

Comment: Please no more increases. The gas tax is supposed to being increased 10 cents per Fed Congress,our property tax will likely increase as it does every year based on home value, Ins. is increasing for some. I am on a fixed income/pt job with my husband disabled and we cannot do anymore. We have to help our children who have lost jobs or taken cuts in salary. What more do you want/ How about legislature taking a cut in salary? instead of an increase. from Holt/Fl by Kathleen

Comment: no, i think its time for legislatirs to tighten thier belts and cut spending. like i am having to do with the prospect of increased taxes and expenses. you cant get blood out of a stone and we are taxed out. there are no more revunues. sorry parents, 140 a child loss to the school system per child isnt a great amount of money. get your local school boards to cut back on expendetures. by john