In the final weeks leading up to the August 20 election, City Commissioner Jack Porter and her supporters are trying hard to convince voters she is against tax increases, despite her public comments supporting a tax increase.
In a recent campaign text message, Porter told voters she “voted against the tax increase three times.” The message referred to the city property tax increase approved in 2023.
However, the public record indicates she supported raising city property taxes until it was revealed additional funding would be allocated to the Tallahassee Police Department.
The Public Record
On February 10, 2023, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that “City Commissioner Jack Porter said the city should consider raising its tax rate in the coming years to account for the need for more services and increased costs” and she “noted how over the last 20 years the millage rate has only increased incrementally.”
“Sometimes the needs are not being met where maybe they used to be met by the federal government or the state government and it might not be fair, but cities have to step in,” she said.
When asked what the new tax revenue would fund, Porter stated, “an across-the-board minimum wage increase to $15 an hour, small scale events to be held at city parks, light snacks at City Commission meetings and for a social worker to be hired to help with housing case management and other issues.”
However, just months after Porter’s comments on property taxes, a proposal was made to increase the property tax to increase the Tallahassee Police Department’s budget by $9.5 million to address the spike in violent crime. The new funding would support an additional 20 new officers and provide investment for advanced video software and artificial intelligence technology.
Porter and her colleague, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, voted no on the proposal.
Property Tax Fact Check: Porter Supported Property Tax Increase Until Police Needed More Funding added by Steve Stewart on
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For those of you critical of my use of the the term “way back,” when referring to an old news story from 2/10/23, that was about a year and a half ago. In today’s fast-paced world, even stories just a few weeks, sometime days, old are considered “yesterday’s news.”
The fact that Steve has to resurrect an old story like that to write ANOTHER trash piece about a candidate running for a city commission seat is just a low, cheap shot not worthy of even being called journalism.
@ Common-nonsense… “… an old story dating way back to 2/10/23”
Really, 02/10/2023 is “way back”? Lay off the meth, slick.
Jackboot Porter is a progressive tool. Pizza Boy won’t even let her answer, speak, or think for herself. And now he’s trying to fool voters into voting for Do(n)t Johnson so he can grab control and DEI our city right into disaster.
Pizza Boy and Jackboot made a political calculation is all. Ish is correct on Jackboot Porter’s motives… In fact, they both voted against the tax and salary increase initiatives because they knew the votes were there to pass them anyway. And also, in hopes that doing so would fool some voters into thinking they are at some level, fiscal conservative.
@Commonsense … those stories are in TR all the time. They certainly will not be found elsewhere in the local media – print or TV. Local legacy media outlets want to be buddies with the elected. It’s a tradition: Remember Gabordi’s long walks with Scott Maddox? And “way back?” LOL. That’s hilarious. That’s the last time Jacqueline offered an opinion on property tax which was very different than the one she has taken now. Did she suddenly become a fiscal conservative? Nope. It’s highly important to wade through the issue and look at motivations. @Jameson … If that’s all it takes for you to surrender the City to extremism, you get what you deserve. Taxes should NOT have been raised, no doubt, but you’re logic misses the motivation behind the no vote by Jacqueline … Police funding. Don’t forget there’s a signficant ethics issue under investigation and it’s a slam dunk. She ignored the City attorney’s advice and has concealed her trips to extremist hosted conferences and was the guest of the host. Her votes are calculated to fool locals. Please look deeper.
Jaqueline Porter is a liar. If you want a liar on the city commission vote for her.
P.S. She also wants you to call her Jack. She’s not a Jack, she’s a Jackie.
So they wanted taxes for one service but not another…. this is a news story how?
She voted no to the tax increase every time it came up. for an illiberal I’ll take it.
To use a famous phrase, “Here you go again.” TR now has to dust off an old story dating way back to 2/10/23 to find content to publish another “trash piece” about Porter. What’s next? Perhaps we might read about the time when Porter was 5 years old and stepped on an ant thus making her a “killer.”
When will we start reading about important issues related to the quality of life for the citizens of Tallahassee and Leon County? All the items the City Commission and County Commission should be working on 24/7. Crime, safety, infrastructure problems, and homelessness to name just a few.
As per this weeks Patty’s Playhouse, republican run Thomasville, Georgia has never had an increase in property taxes in over a decade and has actually reduced taxes. As opposed to Tallahassee. Keep voting for the liberal/progressive candidate so your tax burden will always increase.