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Florida voters will cast ballots on at least six proposed
changes to the state Constitution this fall. The Florida
Legislature reconvenes this month and can place additional
amendments on the ballot as long as three-fifths of its members
vote to do so.
Business groups are
lining up to oppose Amendment 3 and Amendment 4. Leaders say
these amendments have potentially devastating consequences to
Florida’s economy at a time when attracting new business is
essential for the future recovery and prosperity of the state.
Amendment 3
Under current law,
the assessed value of non-homestead property cannot increase
more than 10% a year.
Amendment 3 changes the limit to 5%. It also provides an
additional $25,000 homestead exemption for taxpayers who haven’t
owned a principal residence over the past
8 years.
While the idea of
limiting assessments may sound appealing, critics claim the
proposal strips away millions of dollars from already
cash-strapped schools, cities and counties.
Others worry that
it creates tax disparities among businesses, rental, and
vacation properties similar to what “Save Our Homes” has done to
homesteads. Since the assessment cap is lifted when property is
sold, new homeowners end up paying much higher taxes than owners
who have been in the same house for years.
Opponents say a 5%
cap places the same types of gross inequities on owners of
commercial and vacation homes. It would discourage new
development based on the higher tax burden
that new owners face.
Amendment 4
Amendment 4 allows citizens to vote directly on whether to
make changes in local comprehensive land-use plans, which
determine what kind of development goes where.
Florida cities and
counties regularly make more than 8,000 changes a year to their
comprehensive plans. Opponents say this forces local governments
to hold dozens of special elections or offer a giant ballot
during regular elections that overwhelms and confuses voters.
A
study by the Washington Economics Group, Inc. suggests
Amendment 4 will lead to heavy
job losses and higher costs for all Floridians.
Florida Hometown
Democracy Inc. started collecting petition signatures to get
Amendment 4 on the ballot back in 2003. The group has raised
nearly $1.5 million to get the measure passed. Meanwhile,
business groups responded by starting their own group,
Floridians for Smarter Growth, which has raised nearly $4
million in cash since 2007.
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