A controversial tax swap plan is causing a stir in Tallahassee. Tuesday, the Florida Association of Realtors announced a million dollar effort to pass Amendment 5. The amendment would cut property taxes and raise the sales and other taxes. Teachers say the amendment would short change schools.

In November Floridians will be asked to change the way public schools are funded. A proposed tax swap plan would eliminate the portions of property tax earmarked for schools. The plan would lower property taxes.

The tax cut would save home owners about 9 billion dollars, but a one cent sales tax increase would only raise 3 billion. State Rep. Frank Attkisson of Kissimmee says that leaves state lawmakers looking for ways to keep schools open.

“The one penny sales tax is just an option. There are another menu of options to make up the difference. We’re not trying to short change schools at all. We’re going to fund them but we’re going to fund them with a much more dynamic economically strong activity.”

Mark Pudlow of the Florida Education Association says the plan leaves schools in limbo…

“It’s one of those things were, they’ve left the commitment as vague as possible.”

The Florida Association of Realtors has vowed to spend a million dollars campaigning for Amendment 5. Realtors spent a million dollars pushing Amendment One, which passed in January and promised to save the state’s housing market.

John Sebree of the FAR says its strong.

“This is Amendment one on steroids. This is Amendment one times 5 or 6.”

Realtors credit amendment one for the recent increase in statewide home sales, but sales are down when compared to last year’s numbers.