Commissioner Diaz supports sales tax holiday for veterans

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – The Miami-Dade County Commission on October 17 passed a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz urging the state to adopt an annual sales tax holiday for military veterans and their families.

“Giving veterans a sales tax holiday not only would be a great way to show our respect for veterans, but it would also provide a financial boost for struggling veterans and their families,” said Commissioner Diaz, who sponsored a similar resolution last year.

During the 2016 and 2017 sessions of the Florida Legislature, companion Senate and House bills were filed that would have created an annual sales tax holiday for veterans for the purchase of certain retail items, but both bills died in committee. Commissioner Diaz hopes the Florida Legislature recognizes the sacrifices by our veterans and their families and passes this sales tax holiday for military veterans and their families in the 2018 session.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation, with more than 1.5 million veterans, comprising 12 percent of the state’s 18-and-over population. Of those veterans, more than 773,000 are over the age of 65. According to the Census Bureau, Miami-Dade’s veteran population is over 56,000.

Commissioner Diaz has served in the United States Marines and also currently serves as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Military Affairs Board.