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 >
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