FACT CHECK: Yes, Andrew Gillum REPEATEDLY Voted To Raise Property Taxes In Tallahassee

Florida Democrat Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign has a problem with the truth.

Over the weekend, Gillum was caught parroting a Socialist talking point that received a “Pants on Fire” rating from Politifact.

Now, in response to the RGA’s recent TV ad, Gillum’s campaign is misleading voters about his record on tax hikes, falsely claiming that he “opposed raising property taxes in Tallahassee.”

But the record shows that Gillum has repeatedly voted to raise property taxes in Tallahassee – both as Mayor and a City Commissioner. Gillum even argued publicly that a 13 percent property tax hike didn’t go far enough.

In 2009, Gillum voted for a 15 percent increase in property taxes. Then, just six years later, Gillum advocated for hiking property taxes an eye-popping 27 percent, ultimately voting for a 13 percent increase when the other Commissioners balked at his radical stance.

Here are the facts on Gillum’s record of raising property taxes in Tallahassee:

BACKGROUND:

In 2009, as a member of the City Commission, Gillum voted for a 15-percent property tax increase. (Source: TaMaryn Waters, “Tallahassee budget, property-tax hike pass 4-1,” Tallahassee Democrat, Sept. 24, 2009)

In July 2015, the Tallahassee City Commission voted to approve a 23-percent increase in the city property tax rate. (Source: Byron Dobson, “City commissioners approve tax hike in split vote,” Tallahassee Democrat, July 8, 2015)

Gillum supported a 27-percent property tax increase, which critics said was too high. (Source: Byron Dobson, “City commissioners approve tax hike in split vote,” Tallahassee Democrat, July 8, 2015)

In September 2015, the Gillum and the Tallahassee City Commission approved a final $706-million budget and a 13-percent property tax increase. (Source: Sean Rossman, “City approves 13-percent property-tax hike,” Tallahassee Democrat, Sept. 24, 2015)