ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For the second time since Florida passed the Live Local Act, Pinellas County leaders have voted to opt out of part of the law’s affordable housing property tax exemption — a move supporters say protects local land-use control, while critics argue it does little to help workers struggling with rising rent.
The unanimous vote from the Pinellas County Commission removes a tax incentive for developers building units priced for households earning 80 to 120% of the area median income (AMI).
County officials say that range is too close to market-rate housing and does not address the needs of the county’s most rent-burdened residents…