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Senate Bill 0578
    Florida Senate - 1998                                   SB 578

    By Senator Ostalkiewicz





    12-141-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to special districts; requiring

  3         certain special districts to conduct a

  4         referendum on their continued existence and

  5         certify the results to the Legislature;

  6         requiring certain special districts to obtain

  7         the approval of their electors before imposing

  8         or raising taxes; providing an effective date.

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10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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12         Section 1.  At the general election held in November

13  1998, each special district, as defined in section 189.403,

14  Florida Statutes, which has the power to impose ad valorem

15  taxes shall have placed on the ballot a referendum in which

16  the electors of the district may vote on the following

17  question:

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19         Shall the            District be abolished?

20         Yes      

21         No      

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23  The governing body of each district shall certify the results

24  of the referendum on that district to the Legislature by

25  January 1, 1999.

26         Section 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

27  each special district, as defined in section 189.403, Florida

28  Statutes, which has the power to impose ad valorem taxes may

29  not impose such a tax, or increase the rate of one already in

30  existence, unless the electors of the district approve such

31  change in a referendum.

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                   SB 578
    12-141-98




  1         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  2  law.

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  5                          SENATE SUMMARY

  6    Requires each special district that has the power to levy
      ad valorem taxes to:
  7         (1)  Conduct a referendum on whether the district
      should be abolished and certify the results to the
  8    Legislature.
           (2)  Obtain the approval of the electors of the
  9    district, by referendum, before imposing such a tax or
      increasing the rate of one that is already in place.
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