Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 1

103rd year, No. 13. Jan. 13, 2008 $1.25 11 V' I fill 1 HAlINfi TlMr' TMH hnnoc nnoninrf nf nrrtanf.nora renter xax! 1 1 mH.mn timnc 1 CA I niiitoi iiiiii nuVj upvillllg Ul UlgVlll UUH UVMlVl will ItUUbC VVQIl UIMCO xjn PLENTY OF HOLES FSU can offer football recruits a rare opportunity: a chance to play CLEMSON'S RALLIES BURY SEMINOLES IN DOUBLE 0T1C RETIREMENT? NOT QUITE Painter, artist Yrabedra is hanging up his professor's hat, but work goes on Living the Arts ID if War 1 Iff Ti Sports 1C Promoting democracy since 1905 Sunday, January 13. 2008 1 ill 1 Stun WJ, fy.

17 7 Apalachicola This isn't the first shocking slaying LOCAL FSU professor serves on committee that decides 'notable children's books. Page 7A National Forest. Someone called the Sheriffs Of DEMOCRAT STAFF REPORT Some look at time it took for Hilton's arrest fice to report that a suspicious home less-looking Hilton In the days after Cheryl Dunlap's disappearance and death, people began fearing that a serial killer was on the loose and worrying about their own safety. It wasn't the first killing to spark fear and near panic in Tallahassee. II In 1966, three members of the Sims family were killed in their home.

In 1978, Ted Bundy strangled two women and brutally attacked three others. And in 1984, state worker Jeanne Bickner was beaten and burned alive. For the story, see Page 4A. Go to Tallahassee.com and keep the conversation going. Visit Tallahassee.com for videos, photo galleries and continuing coverage.

INSIDE Hikers more aware after Dunlap slaying, 4A. until recently, an outstanding warrant. Also, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell last week defended his agency's handling of a tip that came in Dec. 19, four days after Dunlap's body was found in the By Julian Pecquet DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER The arrest of Gary Michael Hilton in the death of a Georgia hiker and news that he's a prime suspect in Cheryl Dunlap's killing has brought cautious relief to the community. But questions remain about Hilton and the death of Dunlap.

Hilton, 61, was charged with murder in the death of Meredith Emerson man with a knife and a large dog was seen in the woods Dec. 7 and that a white van was spotted Jan. 8 and 9. Deputies didn't go to the woods to look for the man, now thought to be Hilton, when they got the tip. But Campbell said no link Please see DUNLAR 2A SPORTS FAMU men's basketball team overcomes woeful first half to beat Howard; FAMU's women fall.

Page 2C LOCAL CONVERSATION in the woods of North Georgia, and he also is a suspect in the slaying of an elderly couple in North Carolina. It's not clear why law-en forcement agencies in Florida and Georgia didn't arrest Hilton after various encounters with him. He had a revoked driver's license and, Amendment 1 awaits a vote, but some hope cuts won't stop there House Speaker Marco Rubio is losing stature after he lets loose a hasty mix of retro rhetoric. Page IB Mary Ann Lindley Editorial Page Editor GET ANSWERS DIRECT rostques jLj m.amjj jt tions on By Jim Ash FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF All eyes are on Jan. 29 and the first great property-tax battle of 2008 as Gov.

Charlie Crist stumps mightily for a constitutional amendment that, over the next five years, would put $9.3 billion back in taxpayer pockets. Crist confidently predicts it's the tonic Florida's ailing economy needs. Firefighter, teacher and ACCESS FORUM for David Coffman, chief of forensics for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Tallahassee Regional Operations Center. Coffman will field questions about forensics. (He can't discuss ongoing criminal investigations.) "This is local government's worst police organizations warn that voters are gambling with no less than their nightmare.

OA JCL safety and Thie nnh- their chil- drens fu- he safety's ture, risking worst ONLINE nightmare." declining schools and emergency service layoffs for an average windfall of Wondering what's hot, what's new and what's coming up on Tallahassee.com? Check out Page 2 to see what's the latest for our Web site. Ken Small property-tax expert MIKE EWEN Democrat Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is pushing for more tax cuts than Amendment 1 would provide. INDEX H0m6St6dd aPProved' Amendment 1 would cut overall taxes $9.3 billion over five years. An expanded homestead 6X6 IT) ptlOn exemption, which would provide a second $25,000 exemption on the non-school taxes for assessed value over $50,000, is one element of the amendment and is estimated to cut taxes $4.7 billion over five years. Here is how local governments counties, cities and special districts would be hit, by the expanded homestead exemption.

Business 15A Horoscope 5E Classifieds IE Lottery 2A Corrections 2A Movies 30 Crossword Nation 17A Editorials 2B Obituaries 5B Today: High 60s Tonight: Low 30s Rain: 20 Weather: 12C 5-YEAR 5-YEAR 5-YEAR 5-YEAR TOTAL HOMESTEAD TAX COUNTY MUNICIPAL SPECIAL DISTRICT COUNTY IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT Leon $57,959,258 $44,349,987 $13,322,803 $286,468 Franklin $1,141,493 $892,252 $162,964 $86,277 Gadsden $5,756,570 $5,236,852 $493,433 $26,286 Jefferson $1,526,802 $1,345,457 $157,429 $23,916 Wakulla $4,852,398 $4,754,496 $68,672 $29,231 AM I'M 1 m. $240. But lost in the debate and looming larger on the horizon is another constitutional proposal that would jolt Florida's property-tax structure to its foundation, a magnitude 10 to Amendment l's comparative jostle. Leaders of the citizen-driven tax revolt include one of Crist's most powerful political rivals. They promise to return $8 billion in property taxes in the first year alone.

The average taxpayer would see a 26-percent cut. If implemented, it would slash one county's tax revenue nearly in half and another half dozen counties by more than a third. Critics say the "flat-tax" would be so sweeping, there's no comparison with Amendment 1. "If you're in a rural area, it could bankrupt the schools and probably the county government," said Ken Small, a property-tax expert Please see TAX, 2A CONTACT US Source: Office of Economic and Demographic Research ADVERTISING 599-2331, 599-2225 NEWS TIP HOTLINE 8505992233 MAIN NUMBER 850-599-2100 CIRCULATION 800-999-2271 MIKE EWEN Democrat Gov. Charlie Crist continues to push for voters to approve Amendment 1 as they go to polling locations on Jan.

29. TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT 103rd year. No. 13, Jan. 13, 2008 $1.25 A Gannett newspaper Copyrlgit 2008 Tallahassee Democrat INSIDE Amendment 1 will help some more than others, 8A.

One homeowner sees benefits to property-tax plan; another homeowner sees problems, 8A. Amendment 1 8A. Property-tax graphic, 9A. Go to Tallahassee.com and keep the conversation going. 0i ii-j 2mm A Recognized as Thomson 100 Top Hospitals Pcrtbnnancc Improvcnicnt Leaders 2006 THOMSON TOP HOSPITALS Tallahassee Memorial HealthCarc.