ARTICLE V REVIEW COMMISSION FILES

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON BALLOT, NOVEMBER 1992

#1. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OR DELAY OF GENERAL ELECTION. Proposing an amendment to Section 5 of Article VI of the State Constitution to allow for suspension or delay of the general election due to a state of emergency or impending emergency pursuant to general law.

#2. ACCESS TO PBULIC RECORDS AND MEETINGS. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution, effective July 1, 1993, to grant public access to records and meetings of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of state government, and other governmental entities; to allow the legislature to enact exemptions and rules; continuing existing exemptions until repealed; and to apply existing exemptions relating to records of other governmental entities to judicial and legislative records.

#3. HISTORIC PRESERVATION AD VALOREM TAX TXEMPTION. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution, effective January 1, 1993, to permit any county or municipality to authorize ad valorem tax exemptions for owners of historic property to encourage the rehabilitation or renovation of such structures, subject to general law.

#4. IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC REVIEW IN SPENDING TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AND MAINTAINING A BALANCED BUDGET. A revision requiring: 72-hour public review for appropriation bills; a budget stabilization fund; performance measurement and productivity programs; a state planning document and department and agency planning processes; appropriation bills format; appropriations review; annual state budgeting and planning processes; processes for creating and sunsetting trust funds; maintain a balanced budget and to direct planning and budgeting. Expanding use of education capital outlay funds. (“For the purposes of this subsection, the terms department and agency shall include the judicial branch.” Adding also, “The Governor shall be the chief administrative office of the state responsible for the planning and budgeting for the state.”)

#5. TAXPAYERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS. Requiring the legislature to adopt a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights in clear and concise language that sets forth taxpayers’ right and responsibilities and government’s responsibilities to deal fairly with taxpayers under the laws of this state.

#6. AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES TO LEVY A ONE-CENT SALES TAX WITH LOCAL VOTER APPROVAL. The proposal authorizes counties and municipalities to levy up to a one-cent sales tax, if approved by the voters of the county or municipality, to be used for local government services. The referendum vote shall be called for by an ordinance of the county or municipality, and the one-cent sales tax, if approved, shall be based on the state sales and use tax base as defined by the Legislature, with certain exceptions.

#7. AD VALOREM TAXATION OF GOVERNMENT LEASHOLDS. Subjects leaseholds in government owned property entered into since 1968 to ad valorem taxation. All leaseholds in government owned property entered into prior to 1968, and subsequent renewal options and extensions provided in the initial lease, shall be taxed as intangible personal property.

#8. BONDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. Proposing an amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution to: (1) Continue indefinitely the current dedication of gross receipts taxes to fund construction of educational facilities for the state’s public education system. (2) Continue indefinitely the current dedication of some motor vehicle license taxes to fund construction of educational facilities for public schools and community colleges. (3) Remove interest and maturity restrictions on education bond refunding.

#9. LIMITED POLITICAL TERMS IN CERTAIN ELECTIVE OFFICES. Limits in terms by prohibiting incumbents how have held the same elective office for the preceding eight years from appearing on the ballot for re-election to that office. Offices covered are: Florida Representative and Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Florida Cabinet, and U.S. Senator and Representative. Terms of office beginning before amendment approval are not counted.

#10. HOMESTEAD VALUATION LIMITATION. Providing for limiting increases in homestead property valuation for ad valorem tax reassessment of market values upon changes in ownership. (Appearance on ballot subject to Supreme Court interpretation: Oral arguments to be heard October 13th.)