Florida Citrus Growers Get Box Tax Relief

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) has voted to cut taxes collected on citrus boxes in the 2014-2015 season, providing welcome relief to the state’s growers.

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The one-year tax cut is expected to have an impact on Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) revenue of $4.6 million and can be achieved, according to executive director Doug Ackerman, without cutting existing FDOC programs.

Growers will pay $.03 less for the processed orange category and $.07 less for fresh and processed grapefruit and fresh specialty categories and $.16 less for processed specialty during the 2014-2015 season.

The cut will reduce the FDOC’s reserve fund balance, but it will not affect the overall operating budget of the department.

FCC Chairman Marty McKenna made the motion to move forward with the cut with a reminder that the assessment rate will be reviewed again at the start of next year’s season and underscoring the Commission’s intention that the abatement would impact only the current year.

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