Fla. lawmaker, counties seek lower taxes on Gulf Coast properties after oil spill

Lower Gulf Coast property taxes sought in Fla.

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Some advocates are calling for Florida legislators to allow tax appraisers to lower Gulf Coast property values immediately because of the BP oil spill.

Appraisers from three Panhandle counties and a state representative say the state should then push BP PLC to compensate the counties for lost revenue. They say that otherwise the tax burden would shift to inland property owners.

State Rep. Dave Murzin and the appraisers from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties say the Legislature should call a special session soon to deal with the crisis.

The spill began April 20 when a BP drilling rig off Louisiana exploded. Tar balls and other oil products from the spill began washing up on Panhandle beaches last weekend.