State lawmakers have sent to Gov. Crist a property tax bill designed to help those mom and pop businesses out there.

For Jack Bishop, owner of some businesses on the beach, he can't be more excited. Three years ago he saw the appraisal on one of his businesses jump 53 percent in one year because of nearby development.

"The bill will help a business owner and a developer with a more realistic appraisal values of the property as it stands at the time," he said.

In the past, county property appraisers would tax waterfront land based on what could be built on the property, not on what's actually there. So in turn, small businesses were taxed the same rate as land sold to build those huge condos.

"They can't be taxing us on what we're hopefully going to develop or what the future will bring," Bishop said.

State lawmakers say the bill will help mom and pop businesses up and down the beach, and for Bishop, he's looking forward to the possible change.

"I think it will probably favorably effect a developer or the people who did not sell there during 2004 or 2005 and are sitting here today in the realistic world where property values have gone back down to more realistic levels," Bishop said.

The bill is on its way to the governor and many small business owners are hoping he will sign it without hesitation.

If Crist signs the bill in law, Bishop hopes it will increase development for small businesses in our area.