Donegan says don't shoot the messenger.

"90 percent of our telephone calls so far have been 'my value is going down, why are my taxes going up?'"

The calls are a reply to letters he has mailed to property owners, the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes.

Donegan explained that taxing authorities are using the tax roll-back practice in reverse this time.

In the past, when values rose each year, the tax rate was cut so the cities and county would receive the same amount of money, he said.

Now, with values plummeting, the rates are rising to compensate.

"Some of our cities and school board have proposed some pretty hefty tax rate increases," said Donegan.

He cites Apopka as looking at a 14% increase, Edgewood 27%, Oakland 17%, Ocoee 14% and Winter Garden 14%.

He said Orlando and Orange County are holding the line, while Winter Park and Maitland are proposing fractional rate increases.

Donegan says some cities may claim they are not raising taxes, but they are also not letting declining values give you a full break.

"I mean, that's like a shell game," he argued.