Opinions on the Florida Constitutional Amendments and Polk County Referendums

??Amendment 1- Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement

?Proposing the repeal of the provision in the state constitution that requires public financing of campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.

NO- Voting Yes would encourage more special interests.

?Amendment 2- Homestead Ad Valorem Tax Credit For Deployed Military Personnel

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require the Legislature to provide an additional homestead property tax exemption by law for members of the United States military or military reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard who receive a homestead exemption and were deployed in the previous year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of military operations designated by the Legislature. The exempt amount will be based upon the number of days in the previous calendar year that the person was deployed on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of military operations designated by the Legislature. The amendment is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2011.

YES- I would never deny those who serve our country any financial exemptions.

?Amendment 4- Referenda Required for Adoption and Amendment of Local Government Comprehensive Land Use Plans

??Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice. Provides definitions. ??The amendment’s impact on local government expenditures cannot be estimated precisely. Local governments will incur additional costs due to the requirement to conduct referenda in order to adopt comprehensive plans or amendments thereto. The amount of such costs depends upon the frequency, timing and method of the referenda, and includes the costs of ballot preparation, election administration, and associated expenses. The impact on state government expenditures will be insignificant.
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YES- People should always have the right to make decisions on what affects their community.

?Amendment 5 Standards For Legislature To Follow In Legislative Redistricting ??

Legislative districts or districting plans may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party. Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous. Unless otherwise required, districts must be compact ??

YES- A yes vote would create an opportunity to balance government

?Amendment 6- Standards For Legislature To Follow In Congressional Redistricting ??

Congressional districts or districting plans may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party. Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous. Unless otherwise required, districts must be compact, as equal in population as feasible, and where feasible must make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries. The fiscal impact cannot be determined precisely. State government and state courts may incur additional costs if litigation increases beyond the number or complexity of cases which would have occurred in the amendment’s absence. ??

YES- A yes vote would create an opportunity to balance government

?Amendment 8- Revision Of The Class Size Requirements For Public Schools ??

The Florida Constitution currently limits the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms in the following grade groupings: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 18 students; for grades 4 through 8, 22 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 25 students. Under this amendment, the current limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms would become limits on the average number of students assigned per class to each teacher, by specified grade grouping, in each public school. This amendment also adopts new limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom as follows: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 21 students; for grades 4 through 8, 27 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 30 students. This amendment specifies that class size limits do not apply to virtual classes, requires the Legislature to provide sufficient funds to maintain the average number of students required by this amendment, and schedules these revisions to take effect upon approval by the electors of this state and to operate retroactively to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

NO- Due to the numerous restrictions placed on teachers and parents, it is very difficult in allowing the educational process to take place. Smaller class sizes are a must. This was already decided in 2002, and was to be funded by the state. A yes vote will place an additional tax burden on the people.

?Balancing the Federal Budget A Nonbinding Referendum Calling for an Amendment to the United States Constitution??

In order to stop the uncontrolled growth of our national debt and prevent excessive borrowing by the Federal Government, which threatens our economy and national security, should the United States Constitution be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes? ??

NO- We have too much government intervention and taxes. Channeling the taxes for the needs of people and children is not being accomplished by our elected officials in all levels of government. Electing people who will create a balanced budget is an important goal.

?Countywide Public Transit System Construction, Equipment, Operations Through Levy of One-half Percent Sales Surtax ??

Shall Polk County fund existing and expanded bus services an d facilities for Auburndale, Bartow, Lakeland, Poinciana, Winter Haven, Highway 27 Corridor, USF Polytechnic, and surrounding areas; enhanced countywide transit services and facilities for seniors, disabled persons, and students; provide commuter connections to Tampa and Orlando transit systems by levying a one-half percent sales surtax from January 1, 2011, until repealed; remit surtax proceeds to the Polk Transit Authority with spending monitored by citizens' oversight committee? ??

YES- Due to the economy many people cannot afford cars. Mass transit gives them the opportunity to get to their workplace. The operation hours of the mass transit system must be expanded. This will allow us to boost our economy when people have the means to get to work. The expansion of the mass transit system will connect to nearby cities (e.g.- Tampa and Orlando) to meet peoples' needs; especially those of our veterans by giving them access to the VA hospitals.

County Property Tax Exemption ?

Shall the board of county commissioners of this county be authorized to grant, pursuant to s. 3, Art. VII of the State Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses? ??

NO- It should only be for small businesses who are having financial difficulty. Example: these new businesses, namely developers, move in and reap the harvest and when they realize they have overdeveloped they leave us holding the bag and exit with our money. They also take private property through eminent domain.

?Polk County Charter Amendment Clarifying Scope and Authority of Polk County Efficiency Commission?

Shall the charter be amended to clarify the authority of the Polk County Efficiency Commission, directing the scope of its required review to the mission, goals and objectives of selected governmental units rather than a comprehensive review of all operations conducted by the county and clarifying its authority to request assistance from the school board and any other governmental units in conducting its review of any intergovernmental operations?

??NO- In fact, there should have been a statement asking to dissolve the charter form of government to go back to the government controlled by the people. At the present time, our county form of government is controlled by one person; namely, the county manager.