3 Charter Amendments proposed by CTLAC WILL be on the ballot 

The three charter amendments proposed by the Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability (CTLAC) WILL appear on the November ballot. An analysis of these ballot amendments, as well as the Florida Constitutional Amendments, can be accessed from the Homepage of our website, www.clayactionnetwork.org . We strongly support the CTLAC’s efforts to limit the County Commission to 5 members. Therefore, we recommend a YES vote on the following amendment: Reduction of the number of Clay County Commissioners from seven (7) to five (5)

1.Brief Analysis of 5 County Charter Amendments

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALE

Alcoholic beverage sales could begin 2 hours earlier on Sundays.

CASINO GAMBLING

Clay County citizens would have the power to decide about casino gambling in their own county.  In other words, casino gambling in Clay County CANNOT be approved by the County Commission or any other government entity without the citizens voting on it first.

REDUCTION OF AND APPROVAL OF SALARIES OF CLAY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (initiative by CTLAC- Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability)

Commissioners’ salaries would be reduced, and any changes in their salaries from now on cannot be made without a ballot vote by Clay County citizens.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR VOTER APPROVAL OF ALL CHARTER AMENDMENTS. (initiative by CTLAC)

This amendment would change the percentage of votes required for any change in the County Charter to be made. From now on, an amendment in the County Charter, whether it is introduced by citizen initiative, the Charter Review Commission, or The Board of County Commissioners, must be approved by 60% of voters, not by a simple majority of 50% plus one vote. (There is some history behind this ballot proposal, which was made, as was the one before it and the one after, by the Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability. When the voters approved the increase of the Board of County Commissioners from 5 to 7, it was by a slim margin of 2 or 3 %, a margin which was achieved by heavy advertising sponsored by moneyed interests who had their own reasons for wanting a larger board of commissioners. If the 60% rule was in effect then, they would not have achieved their aim. However, this change from 50% plus one to 60% could also result in the failure of some good ballot initiatives. So it’s a tricky decision for voters.)

REDUCTION OF THE NUMBER OF CLAY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM 7 TO 5 (initiative by CTLAC)

The two At-large Commissioner positions, which include the permanent chairman and an at-large commissioner, would be abolished, and the Board of Commissioners would be left with 5 district representatives. (This amendment would remove a lot of the big money, and the big influence of wealthy special interests, from elections for county commissioner. )

2. UPDATE ON THE 3 CHARTER AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY CTLAC (Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability)

● In September, Circuit Judge Frederic Buttner on Friday rejected two Clay County charter amendments from the Nov. 4 general election ballot: the reduction of County Commissioners from 7 to 5, and the 60% vote required to change the Clay Charter. He left on the ballot the third amendment proposed by Term Limits, to reduce commissioner salaries to $37,000. 

● CTLAC is appealing the ruling, and has also requested a stay to the ruling. That means all 3 amendments will remain on the ballot.

● CAN has taken a position on only one of the amendments: the vote on removing the 2 At-Large Commissioners. We believe a “YES” vote will best protect Clay Citizens from the undue influence of wealthy special interests.

●CAN urges those who support our position to contribute to CTLAC’s legal defense fund: Please send contributions to CTLAC  P.O. Box 65847   Orange Park, FL  32065.  Or, access PayPal at www.ctlac.com         

3. Constitutional Amendment Summery (1, 3, 4, 6, & 8)

A brief review of what happens when you vote on them

Please note that this is our interpretation of the amendments, and you are advised to pursue your own research.

Amendment 1. Declaration of Rights

Proposes the deletion of provisions in the Florida Constitution which authorize the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship

Vote yes if you want to allow aliens to own property in Florida.

Vote no if you want to keep property in Florida owned by U.S. Citizens.

Amendment 3. Changes and improvements not affecting the assessed value of residential Real Property.

Authorizes the Legislature to prohibit the assessment of real estate taxes on capital improvements associated with increased protection for wind damage and the installation of renewable energy source devices. This will repeal the expired exemption already written in the Constitution.

Vote yes if you want the Legislature to be able to decide on whether or not you can be taxed on the above improvements to your home.

Vote no if you do not. 

Amendment 4.  Enhances property tax exemption for perpetually conserved land. Sets up a classification and assessment of land used for conservation. Applies to property taxes levied effective 2010.

Vote yes if you want to allow expanded tax exemptions on the above described properties.

Vote no if you do not.

Amendment 6. Provides for the assessment of working waterfront properties to be based on current use.

Provides the language to maintain assessments on marinas, commercial fishing docks, boat building and repair facilities at rate commensurate with their use of the property.  Designed to slow the conversion of waterfront businesses to condos.

Vote yes if you favor waterfront businesses remaining as such and perhaps being taxed at lower assessment.

Vote no if you favor taxing waterfront businesses as upscale property.

Amendment 8. Proposes to require the Legislature to authorize the counties to levy an added sales tax amount to support community college funding. Such a tax increase must be supported with voter approval and the duration of such an initiative will expire in five years.  Sets the stage to shift the funding of community colleges from the state to the counties.

Vote yes if you favor funding your community colleges with an increased local sales tax.

Vote no if you do not.

EARLY VOTING IN CLAY COUNTY