General

Here are the November BALLOT QUESTIONS for Florida and Sarasota County

Written by Tom Walker on Sunday, September 16, 2018

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Last Wednesday, September 19, the Peace & Justice Report’s first guest was Ron Turner, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections. He talked about the TWENTY different questions which will be on the November ballot. His official Sarasota SOE website is sarasotavotes.com. In the upper right of that web page you can click on and download a list of all of these “BALLOT QUESTIONS.” That list is shown below.

For more information see Ballotpedia. For the recommendations of the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus go here. For the League of Women Voters recommendations, go here.

Progressive Sarasota recommends yes only on 3 (gambling), 4 (rights restoration), 9 (vaping, drilling),11 (property rights, criminal statues) and 13 (dog racing).

As for the local Sarasota County questions, Progressive Sarasota currently recommends yes on Legacy Trail extension, no on raising needed signatures to 10%, yes on not selling county parks/beach right-of-ways, yes on single-member districts, and no on ‘move the date’.

Sarasota County Ballot Questions | November 6, 2018 | General Election

No. 1 Constitutional Amendment, 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.

Yes

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment, 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 nonhomestead 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.

Yes

No. 3 Constitutional Amendment, 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.

Yes

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment, 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.

Yes

No. 5 Constitutional Amendment, 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.

Yes

No. 6 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

No. 7 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

No. 9 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

No. 10 Constitutional Revision, 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 counterterrorism within department of law enforcement.

Yes

No. 11 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

No. 12 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

No. 13 Constitutional Revision, 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.

Yes

County Bond Referendum

Sarasota County General Obligation Bonds for Legacy Trail Extension with Enhanced Safety and Connections

To acquire and improve the Legacy Trail Extension railroad corridor as a safe trail for walking, running, and cycling with enhanced connectivity from North Port through Venice to downtown Sarasota, with additional improvements including safe crossings, overpasses, amenities, and increased accessibility, shall Sarasota County issue General Obligation bonds, not exceeding the

maximum lawful interest rates, maturing within 20 years from each issuance, not exceeding $65 million payable from ad valorem taxes restricted to these purposes?

Yes, for Bonds

No, against Bonds

County Charter Amendment

Process for Citizen Initiated Petitions for Charter Amendments to be Placed on the General Election

Shall Sarasota County Charter Section 7.1 be amended to place citizen-initiated Charter amendments on the next general election ballot upon receiving signatures from 10% of registered voters, provided that signatures are gathered within a set general election cycle timeframe, instead of having an unlimited time to obtain signatures of 5% of registered voters for placement of citizen-initiated amendments on a special election ballot that is held 60 days after certification of the signatures?