HAINES CITY – The Florida Citrus Commission agreed Wednesday to support a legislative proposal that will limit its authority to increase state citrus taxes.
The Florida Department of Citrus receives about 85 percent of its annual revenue from a tax paid by Florida growers, commonly called a "box tax" because it is levied on every box of commercial citrus harvested in the state.
By law, the Citrus Commission must set the seasonal tax rates, currently ranging from 25 cents per box on oranges processed for juice to 36 cents on all grapefruit, before Nov. 1.
State Sen. J. D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, inserted into the proposed 2011-12 state budget an amendment to the Citrus Code, stating, "Any proposal by the commission to increase the box tax rate from the previous year's rate is subject to review and approval by the Legislative Budget Commission."
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