Here are few useful links as
you form your opinion and try to better understand what each proposed
Constitutional amendment will do!
Below is a handy table with
recommended votes based on my research of various political sites,
newspapers and Blogs.
There is a column to record your vote and you
can print it and take it with you to speed up your voting process at the polls.
2018 PROPOSED FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
|
YOUR
VOTE
|
1
|
Increased
Homestead Property Tax Exemption
|
YES
|
|
2
|
Limitations
on Property Tax Assessments
|
YES
|
|
3
|
Voter
Control of Gambling in Florida
|
YES
|
|
4
|
Voting
Restoration Amendment
|
NO
|
|
5
|
Supermajority
Vote Required to Impose, Authorize, or Raise State Taxes or Fees
|
YES
|
|
6
|
Rights
of Crime Victims; Judges
|
NO
|
|
7
|
First
Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits; Public Colleges and
Universities
|
YES |
|
8
|
REMOVED
|
|
|
9
|
Prohibits
Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces
|
YES
|
|
10
|
State
and Local Government Structure and Operation
|
YES |
|
11
|
Property
Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statutes
|
YES
|
|
12
|
Lobbying
and Abuse of Office by Public Officers
|
YES
|
|
13
|
Ends
Dog Racing
|
YES
|
|
|
|
|
|
Below is the official description of the proposed
constitutional Amendments
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
No. 1 Constitutional Amendment - Affects: 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.
No. 2 Constitutional Amendment - Affects: Article XII, Section 27
Limitations on Property Tax Assessments - Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to
permanently retain provisions currently in effect, which limit property tax
assessment increases on specified non-homestead real property, except for
school district taxes, to 10 percent each year. If approved, the amendment
removes the scheduled repeal of such provisions in 2019 and shall take effect
January 1, 2019.
No. 3 Constitutional Amendment - Affects: Article X, Section 29
Voter Control of Gambling in Florida - This amendment ensures that Florida voters shall have the
exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling by requiring
that in order for casino gambling to be authorized under Florida law, it must
be approved by Florida voters pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Florida
Constitution. Affects articles X and XI. Defines casino gambling and clarifies
that this amendment does not conflict with federal law regarding state/tribal
compacts.
The amendment’s impact on state and local government revenues and
costs, if any, cannot be determined at this time because of its unknown effect
on gambling operations that have not been approved by voters through a
constitutional amendment proposed by a citizens’ initiative petition process.
No. 4 Constitutional Amendment - Affects: Article VI, Section 4
Voting Restoration Amendment - This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with
felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including
parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder
or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting
unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case
by case basis.
The precise effect of this amendment on state and local government
costs cannot be determined, but the operation of current voter registration
laws, combined with an increased number of felons registering to vote, will
produce higher overall costs relative to the processes in place today. The
impact, if any, on state and local government revenues cannot be determined.
The fiscal impact of any future legislation that implements a different process
cannot be reasonably determined.
No. 5 Constitutional Amendment - Affects: Article VII, Section 19
Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize, or Raise State
Taxes or Fees - Prohibits the
legislature from imposing, authorizing, or raising a state tax or fee except
through legislation approved by a two-thirds vote of each house of the
legislature in a bill containing no other subject. This proposal does not
authorize a state tax or fee otherwise prohibited by the Constitution and does
not apply to fees or taxes imposed or authorized to be imposed by a county,
municipality, school board, or special district.
No. 6 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article I, Section 16, Article V, Sections 8 and
21, Article XII, New Section
Rights of Crime Victims; Judges - Creates constitutional rights for victims of crime; requires
courts to facilitate victims’ rights; authorizes victims to enforce their
rights throughout criminal and juvenile justice processes. Requires judges and
hearing officers to independently interpret statutes and rules rather than
deferring to government agency’s interpretation. Raises mandatory retirement
age of state justices and judges from seventy to seventy-five years; deletes
authorization to complete judicial term if one-half of term has been served by
retirement age.
No. 7 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article IX, Sections 7 and 8, Article X, New
Section
First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits; Public
Colleges and Universities - Grants mandatory payment of death benefits and waiver of certain
educational expenses to qualifying survivors of certain first responders and
military members who die performing official duties. Requires supermajority
votes by university trustees and state university system board of governors to
raise or impose all legislatively authorized fees if law requires approval by
those bodies. Establishes existing state college system as constitutional
entity; provides governance structure.
No. 8 Removed
No. 9 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article II, Section 7, Article X, Section 20
Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in
Enclosed Indoor Workplaces - Prohibits drilling for the exploration or extraction of oil and
natural gas beneath all state-owned waters between the mean high water line and
the state’s outermost territorial boundaries. Adds use of vapor-generating
electronic devices to current prohibition of tobacco smoking in enclosed indoor
workplaces with exceptions; permits more restrictive local vapor ordinances.
No. 10 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article III, Section 3, Article IV, Sections 4 and
11, Article VIII, Sections 1 and 6
State and Local Government Structure and Operation -Requires legislature to retain department of veterans’
affairs. Ensures election of sheriffs, property appraisers, supervisors of
elections, tax collectors, and clerks of court in all counties; removes county
charters’ ability to abolish, change term, transfer duties, or eliminate
election of these offices. Changes annual legislative session commencement date
in even-numbered years from March to January; removes legislature’s
authorization to fix another date. Creates office of domestic security and
counter terrorism within department of law enforcement.
No. 11 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article I, Section 2, Article X, Sections 9 and 19
Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statutes
- Removes discriminatory language related
to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by voters. Deletes
provision that amendment of a criminal statute will not affect prosecution or
penalties for a crime committed before the amendment; retains current provision
allowing prosecution of a crime committed before the repeal of a criminal
statute.
No. 12 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article II, Section 8, Article V, Section 13,
Article XII, New Section
Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers - Expands current restrictions on lobbying for compensation by
former public officers; creates restrictions on lobbying for compensation by
serving public officers and former justices and judges; provides exceptions;
prohibits abuse of a public position by public officers and employees to obtain
a personal benefit.
No. 13 Constitutional Revision - Affects: Article X, New Section, Article XII, New Section
Ends Dog Racing - Phases out commercial dog racing in connection with wagering by
2020. Other gaming activities are not affected.
LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS
For City and County Ballot initiatives and Referendums check your local County Supervisor Elections web site
City of Clearwater, City of Madeira Beach, City of St. Petersburg, City of St. Pete Beach, Town of Redington Beach, City of Tarpon Springs
I
have noticed over the last few months my favorite donut seems to have gotten
smaller and the amount of filling, which once was quite generous now seems to
be administered with an eye dropper.
