Amendment 2 getting mixed reactions

 Midterm elections are a week away and many issues in Florida are driving people to the polls - one of them is Amendment 2, which would allow military members to get discountson their property taxes.

Amendment 2 is what many call a chance to give active military members a tax break while serving overseas.

If this amendment were passed it would allow active military, military reserves, the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard to cut down on property taxes based on the time they have served overseas.

Officials explained that the county tax appraiser would base a percentage of time spent overseas in a war zone and relay that to a property tax cut.

But there are many disagreements about this issue. Some people are arguing that everyone has to pay property taxes and it isn't fair that anyone should get a discount. Others believe that since they are risking their lifes for us and the country they should be thanked and this is one way to show them we are grateful.

Using tax data from 2009, the state's independent revenue estimating conferences says the breaks would add up to $13-million. If approved, Amendment 2 would go into effect on January 1, 2011.

Meanwhile the Florida Legislature needs to decide what is considered an active war zone, so military members would know if they qualify.