Missed the latest Newsletter?

Missed the latest Newsletter?

Missed the latest Newsletter?

Amendment 1; Winners and Losers…

With Amendment 1, most benefits go to only a handful of homeowners. That’s not fair. Florida’s tax system should work for all homeowners, across the board—not just a few.
WITH AMENDMENT 1, SOME WIN—BUT MOST LOSE Amendment 1 isn’t a tax cut, it’s a tax shift. Just a handful of homeowners get most of the benefits and the rest of us get most of the burden, meaning either fewer local services or higher local taxes.
AMENDMENT 1—ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL Amendment 1 is a one-size fits-all scheme devised by Tallahassee politicians. But what’s good for some communities isn’t always good for others. Changing local property taxes should be done locally, not through a statewide constitutional amendment.
AMENDMENT 1 MEANS HIGHER TAXES FOR MILLIONS OF FLORIDIANS. Amendment 1 isn’t what it seems. The politicians call it a tax break, but it’s really a tax SHIFT that will leave millions of hardworking homeowners with a bigger share of the property tax burden.
AMENDMENT 1 WILL MEAN HIGHER TAXES FOR MANY COMMUNITIES One senior Senator even argued for local communities “raising their millage” to pay for Amendment 1, which means higher property taxes. It’s like giving out free coffee, but charging $5 for the cup.
WITH AMENDMENT 1, SOME PAY LESS BUT MILLIONS PAY MORE While some would pay next to nothing, millions would pay more. If the value of your home is too high or too low, this amendment isn’t for you. Even if communities don’t raise taxes or slash services, the smaller base will face a bigger tax burden.
AMENDMENT 1 DOESN’T FIX FLORIDA’S TAX SYSTEM—IT MAKES IT WORSE. Florida’s property tax system is a complicated mess and Amendment 1 makes it worse, more complicated and less fair—shifting a bigger burden onto small business owners, manufacturers and working families.
AMENDMENT 1 HURTS SMALL BUSINESSES Amendment 1 is a double-whammy for small businesses. First, it shifts taxes onto small businesses—everything from pet stores and drycleaners to retailers and restaurants. Second, Amendment 1 exposes small businesses to bigger tax hikes later because a business’s taxable value grows faster than that of a home. That means business owners will shoulder a larger share of the tax burden. That’s bad for small business and bad for our economy.

Amendment 1 …

What you need to know…

A quick informational video from Florida League of cities.

If the video doesn’t function for you please CLICK HERE and you will be redirected to the YouTube video.

 

VOTE  11/6/2018

AMENDMENT 1; FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…

This is not designed to provide a legal opinion or analysis of any action taken by a city or city official. It is meant to provide direction and guidance. Please consult with an attorney if you have specific questions.

Q: Can a city enact a resolution that expressly advocates for or against an issue, referendum or amendment that is subject to a vote of the electors?

A: Yes. A city may adopt a resolution that expressly advocates for or against an issue, referendum or amendment that is subject to a vote of the electors.

Q: Can a city and city staff spend public funds on communication devoted to the constitutional amendment?

A: The answer is a qualified “yes”; however, public funds cannot be used for a communication that is a “political advertisement.” A political advertisement is defined in Florida law, Section 106.011 (15), Florida Statutes. A political advertisement “means a paid expression in a communications medium prescribed in subsection (4), whether radio, television, newspaper, magazine, periodical, campaign literature, direct mail, or display, or by means other than the spoken word in direct conversation, which expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or the approval or rejection of an issue.” (Emphasis added) Section 106.011 (4), Florida Statutes, defines “communication media” very broadly as “broadcast stations, newspapers, magazines, outdoor advertising facilities, printers, direct mail, advertising agencies, the Internet, and telephone companies;…” As long as you do not expressly advocate for or against a ballot issue, public funds can be spent on citizen communications.

Q: What are elected officials allowed to do?

A: Elected officials are allowed to talk with editorial boards, write a guest column for a local newspaper and meet with interest groups such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, Tiger Bay, League of Women Voters, community senior groups and neighborhood/homeowners associations. They may write letters to the editor and encourage others to do so. Most importantly, they may expressly advocate for or against an issue if they choose.

Q: What if my city did not adopt a resolution taking an official position on Amendment 1? What are we allowed to do?

A: Even if your city did not take a position on Amendment 1, you are allowed by law to designate someone from the city to be a primary point of contact on the issue for citizens and the media. You can ask staff to prepare a document on the potential impact the amendment may have to your city and its residents. You may also put informational content on your city website, which could include links to various other sources. Information on the proposal can be included in regular communications with residents, i.e. the city newsletter, water insert. However, the communication cannot expressly advocate for or against the ballot measure.

 

Information provided by Florida league of Cities

AMENDMENT 1; BALLOT SUMMARY AND LANGUAGE …

This is the language that will be on the November ballot:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6 ARTICLE XII, SECTION 37 INCREASED HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.—Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to increase the homestead exemption by exempting the assessed valuation of homestead property greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000 for all levies other than school district levies. The amendment shall take effect January 1, 2019.
Click here to read the official summary from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections.

 

2018 Constitutional Amendments…

THE THREE WAYS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION CAN BE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT.

1. Florida Legislature – requires single subject issue; NO bundling of issues.
2. Citizen petition/initiative – requires single subject issue; NO bundling of issues.
3. Constitution Revision Commission – (37 members); meet every 20 years; allows bundling.

These Constitutional Amendments require a supermajority to pass, 60% of those who vote.

 

VOTE 11/6/2018