Before you go to the polls here are a few tips from the First Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce
1. Vote. Every eligible individual has a right and responsibility to vote in an effort to help shape our communities.
2. Review the Nolan Chart to determine where your own individual values lie. Understand which issues are important to you and which candidate is running on them.
3. Research candidates rather than depending solely on paid advertisements. Too often voters align themselves with one party and miss the issue at critical levels in their immediate community. Use a search engine for local newspapers and carefully read what has been investigated and what has been reported. There is a difference between the two.
4. Review a sample ballot prior to voting. Do not allow yourself to be surprised in the ballot box and then choose a candidate solely because of party affiliation.
5. Pay attention to the issues beyond the popular names on the ballot:
a. The order of the names on the ballot mean nothing.
b. Attorney General
c. Chief Financial Officer
d. Commissioner of Agriculture
e. County Commissioner
f. Supreme Court (retained?)
g. District Court of Appeal (retained?)
This is a critical year for Florida Voters regarding amendments. They will shape our future for the next decade in some very key areas. Read them now and do not allow yourself to be surprised in the booth. Are your candidates in alignment with your values on these key amendments? You will be voting Yes or No on each amendment listed below:
NO. 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VI, SECTION 7
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.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO 2
(Vote Yes or No)
NO. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 3
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 31
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.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO 4
(Vote Yes or No)
NO. 4
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE II, SECTION 7
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.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO 5
(Vote Yes or No)
NO. 5
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE III, SECTION 21
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, 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.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO 6
(Vote Yes or No)
NO. 6
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE III, SECTION 20
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.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO 8
(Vote Yes or No)
NO. 8
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE IX, SECTION 1
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 31
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
REFERENDUMS
YES
NO
NONBINDING STATEWIDE ADVISORY
REFERENDUM
(Vote Yes or No)
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?
YES = For authority to grant
exemptions
NO = Against authority to grant
exemptions
PROPOSED REFERENDUM
(Vote Yes or No)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD
VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION
UNDER SECTION 196.1955 FLORIDA
STATUTES
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?
YES = For the Tourist Development
Tax
NO = AGAINST the Tourist
Development Tax
PROPOSED REFERENDUM
(Vote Yes or No)
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX
UNDER “LOCAL OPTION TOURIST
DEVELOPMENT ACT”,
SECTION 125.0104, FLORIDA
STATUTES
Shall an ordinance, as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, be approved, which provides for a two
percent (2%) tourist development tax on motels, hotels, and other transient or short term living accommodation rentals? The tourist development tax will not be on food or beverage, or other items for sale. The tax proceeds are to be used to enhance, promote, and advertise Desoto County, and develop tourism, as described in the ordinance.
YES = FOR giving the authority to the school board to levy 0.25 mills for CRITICAL OPERATING NEEDS for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years by an annual super majority
vote of the board.
NO = AGAINST giving the authority to the school board to levy 0.25 mills for CRITICAL OPERATING NEEDS
for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years by an annual super majority vote of the board.
PROPOSED REFERENDUM
(Vote Yes or No)
REFERENDUM REGARDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO LEVY, BY AN ANNUAL SUPER
MAJORITY VOTE, 0.25 MILLS FOR CRITICAL OPERATING NEEDS.
The school board shall have the authority by an annual super majority vote for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years to levy 0.25 mills for CRITICAL OPERATING NEEDS pursuant to 1011.71(3)(b), Florida Statutes.
