CURRENTS November 2018 | Page 3

Currents November 2018 3 Decennial O nce every 20 years, Florida’s Constitution pro- vides for the creation of a 37- member Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). Its task is to propose changes to the docu- ment for voters to consider. This decennial, the 37 Mem- bers have narrowed the myriad submissions down to 12 amend- ments on the ballot. The Florida Supreme Court removed Amend- ment 8, and three others are being challenged. The CRC put eight amendments on the ballot. The rest were generated by citi- zens’ petition. The following is the recom- mendation from the Miami Herald Editorial Board. AMENDMENT 1: VOTE NO Increased Homestead Prop- erty Tax Exemption: This amend- ment is an oddity. It would put money in homeowners’ pockets by providing another $25,000 homestead tax exemption for properties assessed at $100,000 or more. Typical property owners would see their tax bills drop by about $250 per year, officials estimate. School taxes would be exempt. Tax savings, aside, homeown- ers will pay, one way or another. Statewide, the exemption would cost counties and cities about $750 million the first year, according to the Florida Associa- tion of Counties. But proponents counter that property values are expected to rise in the coming years, so local governments should be able to make up short- falls. We think that the impact to services would be too great, and it may cost taxpayers far more in the long run if this tax break is approved. AMENDMENT 2: VOTE YES Limitations on Property Tax Assessments: This amendment would permanently adopt an already- existing cap that limits property-tax assessment increases to 10 percent annually for “non- homestead” property such as commercial or rental properties. The purpose is to pre- vent the repeal of the cap sched- uled to expire in 2019. Small business-owners and renters would be hit especially hard. Three South Florida property appraisers have written an op-ed supporting the amendment, we’ll follow their advice — voters should, too. AMENDMENT 3: VOTE YES Voter Control of Gambling in Florida: If approved, this high- interest amendment gives voters the exclusive right to authorize expansions of casino gambling in Florida. That authority currently continued on page 5 > S TOP Y OUR W INDOW L EAK P ROBLEMS Be Hu Prepa re rr Fi x you icane d for t r W Sea he NO indow son W! Lea ks Dried out gaskets and window stripping will cause window leaks. I have the proper window stripping to repair all types of windows. I also do Screening, Wrol-up Repair and Sliding Glass Doors. E FRE ATES M I EST C ALL P ATRICK Cell No. 954-829-4348 [email protected] FPL Independent Participating Contractor 3621 Washington Street • Hollywood, FL 33021