AMENDMENT 4: WHAT EVERY FLORIDIAN SHOULD KNOW

What are the facts?

On November 2^nd, you will be asked to vote yes or no on a plan to alter Florida’s Constitution called Amendment 4. Special interest lawyers, adult entertainment interests and population control groups have designed, funded and proposed this amendment to our Constitution.  Take a moment to learn more about who’s backing Amendment 4 and why. 

What is the issue?

Amendment 4 will prolong the recession and put recovery out of reach for thousands of working Floridians.  As a result, leading business, labor, and civic groups oppose Amendment 4   

What will the measure do?

This proposed change to Florida’s Constitution would require a taxpayer-funded referendum for every single change to a local government comprehensive plan.  Simply stated, Amendment 4 would force Floridians, not the representatives they elect, to decide hundreds of minor, technical comprehensive plan changes each year on issues like drainage, traffic circulation, and intergovernmental coordination.

What does that mean for you?

Here is what Amendment 4 means for you: (1) a Florida with drastically fewer jobs, (2) a significantly weaker economy, and (3) unbearably higher taxes to feed the Amendment 4 “litigation” bureaucracy.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce asked leading economists to study the impact of Amendment 4.  The study indicates that Amendment 4 would likely put more than 267,000 Floridians out of work, shrink Florida’s economic output by more than $34 billion annually, and take nearly $12 billion out of the pockets of working families.

With Florida’s jobless rate reaching well into double digits, our state’s top business and labor groups have put politics aside to oppose Amendment 4.  Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce wrote: “If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.”  Frank Ortis, executive board member with Florida’s AFL-CIO noted that “Amendment 4 will devastate Florida's economy by costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving the unemployment rate even higher.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “The cost to local governments of [Amendment 4] would soar into the millions.” Those costs would be shouldered by Florida’s taxpayers who could expect to see not only more government waste, but also nonstop lawsuits as special interests wage war in court over the technical wording of endless ballot summaries.  Referencing a failed experiment in Amendment 4-style rule in the small Florida town of St. Pete Beach, the St. Petersburg Times wrote that Amendment 4 leads to “short-term thinking” and “invites lawsuits…”

What is the conclusion?

Florida’s jobless rate is high—but it could get much, much worse with the passage of Amendment 4.  At a time when many families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, that’s the last thing we need.  Please take the time to learn more about Amendment 4 by visiting www.Florida2010.org.  

Paid political advertisement - paid for and sponsored by Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc. 610 South Blvd, Tampa FL 33606

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is enabling legislation allowing Florida’s local municipalities to finance sustainable improvements to existing commercial structures. California first passed PACE in 2008, with its first bond issued by Berkeley in January 2009. Funded through public or private financing, and touted as a significant job creation tool, a PACE bond allows commercial property owners to finance energy efficient improvements today with a repayment term up to 20 years as an annual non-ad valorem assessment on their property tax bill. BOMA Florida is committed to the preservation of our environment, the reduction of consumption in commercial real estate operations, and implementation of energy efficient retrofits throughout Florida. Therefore, BOMA Florida supports PACE as a job creation tool, energy efficiency initiative, and viable green retrofit financing option for property owners. However, BOMA Florida has presented a few business case questions, attached in the linked Position Paper, that may affect a commercial property owner’s decision to consider PACE financing.

Click here for the Position Paper and a list of questions. 

New Reporting Requirement for Criminal Convictions

During the 2009 Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 425, which became law on October 1, 2009. Beginning October 1, 2009, Chapter 455.227(1)(t)requires all licensees to report to the department within 30 days of being convicted or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. This law also requires that any conviction prior to October 1, 2009 be reported by November 1, 2009. A licensee who fails to report that information, may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail to the department as provided on the form.

There are two parts to this change that licensees need to be aware of:  1) In most cases the law previously required the reporting of felony convictions only, not misdemeanors.  The law now requires the reporting of misdemeanors.  2) The law change now requires retroactive reporting for any crime that was not previously reported to the state, whether it occurred prior to getting a license, or after the license was obtained.

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