(LATE FILED)	Amendment
Bill No. 7001D

Amendment No. 090045

CHAMBER ACTION
Senate		House
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1	Representative(s) Randolph offered the following:
2
3	Amendment (with ballot statement and title amendments)
4	Remove line(s) 24-484, and insert:
5	That the following amendments to Sections 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9
6	of Article VII and Section 1 of Article VIII and the creation of
7	Sections 27, 28, and 29 of Article XII of the State Constitution
8	are agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this
9	state for approval or rejection at the next general election or
10	at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law
11	for that purpose:
12	ARTICLE VII
13	FINANCE AND TAXATION
14	SECTION 1.  Taxation; appropriations; state expenses; state
15	revenue limitation.--
16	(a)  No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law. No
17	state ad valorem taxes shall be levied upon real estate or
18	tangible personal property. All other forms of taxation shall be
19	preempted to the state except as provided by general law.
20	(b)  Motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, trailers, trailer
21	coaches and mobile homes, as defined by law, shall be subject to
22	a license tax for their operation in the amounts and for the
23	purposes prescribed by law, but shall not be subject to ad
24	valorem taxes.
25	(c)  No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in
26	pursuance of appropriation made by law.
27	(d)  Provision shall be made by law for raising sufficient
28	revenue to defray the expenses of the state for each fiscal
29	period.
30	(e)  Except as provided herein, state revenues collected
31	for any fiscal year shall be limited to state revenues allowed
32	under this subsection for the prior fiscal year plus an
33	adjustment for growth. As used in this subsection, "growth"
34	means an amount equal to the average annual rate of growth in
35	Florida personal income over the most recent twenty quarters
36	times the state revenues allowed under this subsection for the
37	prior fiscal year. For the 1995-1996 fiscal year, the state
38	revenues allowed under this subsection for the prior fiscal year
39	shall equal the state revenues collected for the 1994-1995
40	fiscal year. Florida personal income shall be determined by the
41	legislature, from information available from the United States
42	Department of Commerce or its successor on the first day of
43	February prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. State
44	revenues collected for any fiscal year in excess of this
45	limitation shall be transferred to the budget stabilization fund
46	until the fund reaches the maximum balance specified in Section
47	19(g) of Article III, and thereafter shall be refunded to
48	taxpayers as provided by general law. State revenues allowed
49	under this subsection for any fiscal year may be increased by a
50	two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the
51	legislature in a separate bill that contains no other subject
52	and that sets forth the dollar amount by which the state
53	revenues allowed will be increased. The vote may not be taken
54	less than seventy-two hours after the third reading of the bill.
55	For purposes of this subsection, "state revenues" means taxes,
56	fees, licenses, and charges for services imposed by the
57	legislature on individuals, businesses, or agencies outside
58	state government. However, "state revenues" does not include:
59	revenues that are necessary to meet the requirements set forth
60	in documents authorizing the issuance of bonds by the state;
61	revenues that are used to provide matching funds for the federal
62	Medicaid program with the exception of the revenues used to
63	support the Public Medical Assistance Trust Fund or its
64	successor program and with the exception of state matching funds
65	used to fund elective expansions made after July 1, 1994;
66	proceeds from the state lottery returned as prizes; receipts of
67	the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund; balances carried forward
68	from prior fiscal years; taxes, licenses, fees, and charges for
69	services imposed by local, regional, or school district
70	governing bodies; or revenue from taxes, licenses, fees, and
71	charges for services required to be imposed by any amendment or
72	revision to this constitution after July 1, 1994. An adjustment
73	to the revenue limitation shall be made by general law to
74	reflect the fiscal impact of transfers of responsibility for the
75	funding of governmental functions between the state and other
76	levels of government. The legislature shall, by general law,
77	prescribe procedures necessary to administer this subsection.
78	(f)  The rate of taxation imposed by provisions of general
79	law existing on the effective date of this amendment imposing
80	state taxes upon sales, use, and other transactions involving
81	tangible personal property shall be increased by one percent.
82	All revenues from the additional one percent rate of tax shall
83	be applied to reduce any required local effort for school
84	districts imposed by general law.
85	SECTION 3.  Taxes; exemptions.--
86	(a)  All property owned by a municipality and used
87	exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be
88	exempt from taxation.  A municipality, owning property outside
89	the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment
90	to the taxing unit in which the property is located.  Such
91	portions of property as are used predominantly for educational,
92	literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be
93	exempted by general law from taxation.
94	(b)  There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulatively, to
95	every head of a family residing in this state, household goods
96	and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less
97	than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or
98	person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled,
99	property to the value fixed by general law not less than five
100	hundred dollars.
101	(c)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
102	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
103	subsection and general law, grant community and economic
104	development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and
105	expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law.
106	Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county
107	or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or
108	municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize
109	the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances.  An
110	exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real
111	property made by or for the use of a new business and
112	improvements to real property related to the expansion of an
113	existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal
114	property of such new business and tangible personal property
115	related to the expansion of an existing business. The amount or
116	limits of the amount of such exemption shall be specified by
117	general law.  The period of time for which such exemption may be
118	granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business
119	shall be determined by general law.  The authority to grant such
120	exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by
121	the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable
122	by referendum as provided by general law.
123	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
124	therein, there may be granted an ad valorem tax exemption to a
125	renewable energy source device and to real property on which
126	such device is installed and operated, to the value fixed by
127	general law not to exceed the original cost of the device, and
128	for the period of time fixed by general law not to exceed ten
129	years.
130	(e)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
131	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
132	subsection and general law, grant historic preservation ad
133	valorem tax exemptions to owners of historic properties.  This
134	exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county or
135	municipality.  The amount or limits of the amount of this
136	exemption and the requirements for eligible properties must be
137	specified by general law.  The period of time for which this
138	exemption may be granted to a property owner shall be determined
139	by general law.
140	(f)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
141	therein, twenty-five thousand dollars of the assessed value of
142	property subject to tangible personal property tax shall be
143	exempt from ad valorem taxation.
144	SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
145	regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
146	valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
147	(a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
148	to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
149	noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
150	law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
151	(b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
152	held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
153	taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
154	classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
155	(c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
156	Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
157	just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
158	date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
159	provided herein.
160	(1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
161	annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
162	assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
163	a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
164	year.
165	b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
166	urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
167	successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
168	reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
169	Labor Statistics.
170	(2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
171	(3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
172	law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
173	January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
174	paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
175	as provided herein.
176	(4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
177	as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
178	homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
179	assessment shall only change as provided herein.
180	(5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
181	homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
182	law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
183	addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
184	assessed as provided herein.
185	(6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
186	property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
187	(7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
188	of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
189	unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
190	decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
191	provisions of this amendment.
192	(8)a.  For all levies other than school district levies, a
193	person who establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2009, or
194	January 1 of any subsequent year and who has received a
195	homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6 of this Article as of
196	January 1 of either of the two years immediately preceding the
197	establishment of the new homestead is entitled to have the new
198	homestead assessed at less than just value. A person who
199	establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2008, is entitled
200	to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value only
201	if that person received a homestead exemption on January 1,
202	2007. The assessed value of the newly established homestead
203	shall be determined as follows:
204	1.  If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
205	or equal to the just value of the prior homestead of the person
206	establishing the new homestead as of January 1 of the year in
207	which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
208	the new homestead shall be the just value of the new homestead
209	minus an amount equal to the lesser of $1 million or the
210	difference between the just value and the assessed value of the
211	prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior
212	homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the homestead shall be
213	assessed as provided herein.
214	2.  If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
215	just value of the prior homestead of the person establishing the
216	new homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior
217	homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of the new homestead
218	shall be equal to the just value of the new homestead divided by
219	the just value of the prior homestead and multiplied by the
220	assessed value of the prior homestead. However, if the
221	difference between the just value of the new homestead and the
222	assessed value of the new homestead calculated pursuant to this
223	sub-subparagraph is greater than $1 million, the assessed value
224	of the new homestead shall be increased so that the difference
225	between the just value and the assessed value equals $1 million.
226	Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as provided herein.
227	b.  By general law and subject to conditions specified
228	therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this
229	paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
230	(d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
231	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
232	counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
233	historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
234	character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
235	only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
236	requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
237	general law.
238	(e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
239	provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
240	property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
241	that property which results from the construction or
242	reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
243	living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
244	or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
245	if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
246	living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
247	reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
248	(1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
249	construction or reconstruction of the property.
250	(2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
251	property as improved.
252	(f)  As defined by general law, real property that is used
253	to provide affordable housing and is subject to rent
254	restrictions imposed by a governmental agency may be assessed as
255	provided by general law, subject to conditions or limitations
256	specified therein. This subsection shall apply to all levies
257	other than school district levies.
258	(g)  As defined by general law, land that is used
259	exclusively for commercial fishing purposes or that is open to
260	the public and used predominantly for commercial water-dependent
261	activities or for public access to waters that are navigable may
262	be assessed as provided by general law, subject to conditions or
263	limitations specified therein. For purposes of this paragraph,
264	the term "water-dependent activity" means any activity that can
265	be conducted only on, in, over, or adjacent to waters that are
266	navigable and that requires direct access to water and involves
267	the use of water as an integral part of such activity. This
268	subsection shall apply to all levies other than school district
269	levies.
270	SECTION 6.  Homestead exemptions.--
271	(a)  Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
272	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
273	owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
274	shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
275	special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of twenty-five
276	five thousand dollars and, for all levies other than school
277	district levies, on the assessed valuation greater than fifty
278	thousand dollars and up to seventy-five thousand dollars, upon
279	establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by law.
280	The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by the
281	entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or indirectly
282	by stock ownership or membership representing the owner's or
283	member's proprietary interest in a corporation owning a fee or a
284	leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years. The
285	exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment roll
286	until such roll is first determined to be in compliance with the
287	provisions of Section 4 of this Article by a state agency
288	designated by general law. This exemption is repealed on the
289	effective date of any amendment to Section 4 of this Article
290	that provides for the assessment of homestead property at less
291	than just value.
292	(b)  Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
293	individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
294	unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
295	assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
296	or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
297	which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
298	value of the property.
299	(c)  As provided by general law and subject to conditions
300	specified therein, each person who establishes the right to
301	receive the homestead exemption provided in subsection (a)
302	within one year after purchasing the homestead property and who
303	had not previously owned property receiving the homestead
304	exemption provided in subsection (a) is entitled to an
305	additional homestead exemption in an amount equal to twenty-five
306	percent of the homestead property's just value on January 1 of
307	the year the homestead exemption is established, not to exceed
308	twenty-five percent of the median just value of homesteads in
309	the county in which the homestead is located in the year prior
310	to establishing the new homestead. This exemption is not
311	available if any owner of the property has previously owned
312	property that received the homestead exemption provided in
313	subsection (a). The additional homestead exemption shall be
314	reduced each year by the difference between the homestead's just
315	value and assessed value as determined under subsection (c) of
316	Section 4 of this Article until the value of the exemption is
317	reduced to zero. The exemption provided under this subsection
318	shall apply to all levies other than school district levies.
319	(c)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
320	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of twenty-
321	five thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate
322	for each school district levy. By general law and subject to
323	conditions specified therein, the exemption for all other levies
324	may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand
325	dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner
326	has attained age sixty-five or is totally and permanently
327	disabled and if the owner is not entitled to the exemption
328	provided in subsection (d).
329	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
330	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of the
331	following amounts of assessed value of real estate for each levy
332	other than those of school districts: fifteen thousand dollars
333	with respect to 1980 assessments; twenty thousand dollars with
334	respect to 1981 assessments; twenty-five thousand dollars with
335	respect to assessments for 1982 and each year thereafter.
336	However, such increase shall not apply with respect to any
337	assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in
338	compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency
339	designated by general law.  This subsection shall stand repealed
340	on the effective date of any amendment to section 4 which
341	provides for the assessment of homestead property at a specified
342	percentage of its just value.
343	(d)(e)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
344	therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
345	permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
346	levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
347	amount established by general law.
348	(e)(f)  The legislature may, by general law, allow counties
349	or municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax
350	levies and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant an
351	additional homestead tax exemption not exceeding fifty thousand
352	dollars to any person who has the legal or equitable title to
353	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
354	owner and who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
355	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed twenty
356	thousand dollars. The general law must allow counties and
357	municipalities to grant this additional exemption, within the
358	limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in
359	the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the
360	periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this
361	subsection for changes in the cost of living.
362	(f)(g)  Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is
363	partially or totally permanently disabled shall receive a
364	discount from the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on
365	homestead property the veteran owns and resides in if the
366	disability was combat related, the veteran was a resident of
367	this state at the time of entering the military service of the
368	United States, and the veteran was honorably discharged upon
369	separation from military service. The discount shall be in a
370	percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran's permanent,
371	service-connected disability as determined by the United States
372	Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount
373	granted by this subsection, an applicant must submit to the
374	county property appraiser, by March 1, proof of residency at the
375	time of entering military service, an official letter from the
376	United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the
377	percentage of the veteran's service-connected disability and
378	such evidence that reasonably identifies the disability as
379	combat related, and a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge.
380	If the property appraiser denies the request for a discount, the
381	appraiser must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons
382	for the denial, and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature
383	may, by general law, waive the annual application requirement in
384	subsequent years. This subsection shall take effect December 7,
385	2006, is self-executing, and does not require implementing
386	legislation.
387	(g)  Real property owned and used as a homestead by a
388	person who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
389	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed $23,604 is
390	exempt from ad valorem taxation. The legislature shall provide
391	for an annual adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in
392	this subsection for changes in the cost of living and may
393	provide additional financial eligibility requirements or other
394	eligibility requirements.
395	SECTION 9.  Local taxes.--
396	(a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
397	and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
398	valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
399	taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
400	intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this
401	constitution.
402	(b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
403	payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
404	two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
405	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
406	shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
407	assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property:
408	for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
409	ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
410	management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
411	west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
412	for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
413	state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
414	authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
415	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
416	county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
417	authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
418	for municipal purposes.
419	(c)  By general law, the legislature shall limit the
420	authority of counties, municipalities, and special districts to
421	increase ad valorem taxes.
422	ARTICLE VIII
423	LOCAL GOVERNMENT
424	SECTION 1.  Counties.--
425	(a)  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  The state shall be divided by
426	law into political subdivisions called counties. Counties may be
427	created, abolished or changed by law, with provision for payment
428	or apportionment of the public debt.
429	(b)  COUNTY FUNDS.  The care, custody and method of
430	disbursing county funds shall be provided by general law.
431	(c)  GOVERNMENT.  Pursuant to general or special law, a
432	county government may be established by charter which shall be
433	adopted, amended or repealed only upon vote of the electors of
434	the county in a special election called for that purpose.
435	(d)  COUNTY OFFICERS.  There shall be elected by the
436	electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a
437	tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections,
438	and a clerk of the circuit court; except, when provided by
439	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors
440	of the county, any county officer other than a property
441	appraiser may be chosen in another manner therein specified, or
442	any county office other than the office of property appraiser
443	may be abolished when all the duties of the office prescribed by
444	general law are transferred to another office. When not
445	otherwise provided by county charter or special law approved by
446	vote of the electors, the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex
447	officio clerk of the board of county commissioners, auditor,
448	recorder and custodian of all county funds.
449	(e)  COMMISSIONERS.  Except when otherwise provided by
450	county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a
451	board of county commissioners composed of five or seven members
452	serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial
453	census the board of county commissioners shall divide the county
454	into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in
455	population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each
456	district shall be elected as provided by law.
457	(f)  NON-CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties not operating under
458	county charters shall have such power of self-government as is
459	provided by general or special law. The board of county
460	commissioners of a county not operating under a charter may
461	enact, in a manner prescribed by general law, county ordinances
462	not inconsistent with general or special law, but an ordinance
463	in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective
464	within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.
465	(g)  CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties operating under county
466	charters shall have all powers of local self-government not
467	inconsistent with general law, or with special law approved by
468	vote of the electors. The governing body of a county operating
469	under a charter may enact county ordinances not inconsistent
470	with general law. The charter shall provide which shall prevail
471	in the event of conflict between county and municipal
472	ordinances.
473	(h)  TAXES; LIMITATION.  Property situate within
474	municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services
475	rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the
476	property or residents in unincorporated areas.
477	(i)  COUNTY ORDINANCES.  Each county ordinance shall be
478	filed with the custodian of state records and shall become
479	effective at such time thereafter as is provided by general law.
480	(j)  VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES.  Persons violating county
481	ordinances shall be prosecuted and punished as provided by law.
482	(k)  COUNTY SEAT.  In every county there shall be a county
483	seat at which shall be located the principal offices and
484	permanent records of all county officers. The county seat may
485	not be moved except as provided by general law. Branch offices
486	for the conduct of county business may be established elsewhere
487	in the county by resolution of the governing body of the county
488	in the manner prescribed by law. No instrument shall be deemed
489	recorded until filed at the county seat, or a branch office
490	designated by the governing body of the county for the recording
491	of instruments, according to law.
492	ARTICLE XII
493	SCHEDULE
494	SECTION 27.  Additional one percent state sales tax;
495	application of revenues to required local effort for school
496	districts.--Within six months after the adoption of the
497	amendment to Section 1 of Article VII of this constitution, the
498	legislature shall provide by general law for an increase of one
499	percent in the rate of taxation in the state tax imposed upon
500	sales, use, and other transactions relating to tangible personal
501	property. The legislature shall appropriate all revenues
502	generated from such increased rate to any required local effort
503	applicable to school districts pursuant to general law.
504	SECTION 28.  Elected property appraisers; application.--The
505	requirement in Section 1(d) of Article VIII for a property
506	appraiser to be elected by the electors of the county shall
507	apply in each county, including each charter county, regardless
508	of whether the charter was adopted pursuant to Section 1(g) of
509	Article VIII or pursuant to Section 9, Section 10, Section 11,
510	or Section 24 of Article VIII of the Constitution of 1885, as
511	amended and incorporated by reference in Section 6(e) of Article
512	VIII. Any county that does not have an elected property
513	appraiser on the effective date of the amendment to Section 1 of
514	Article VIII of this constitution shall provide for electing a
515	property appraiser at the next general election as provided by
516	general law.
517	SECTION 29.  Property tax exemptions and ad valorem tax
518	limitations.--The amendments to Sections 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9 of
519	Article VII, providing for a l percent increase in the states
520	sales and use tax and dedicating revenues from the increase to
521	reducing any required local effort, providing a $25,000
522	exemption from ad valorem taxation for tangible personal
523	property, providing an additional $25,000 homestead exemption,
524	authorizing the transfer of the accrued benefit from the
525	limitation on the assessment of homestead property, providing an
526	additional homestead exemption for first-time homestead property
527	owners, providing a complete homestead exemption for low-income
528	seniors, providing for assessing rent-restricted affordable
529	housing and commercial and public-access waterfront property
530	pursuant to general law, and requiring the legislature to limit
531	the authority of counties, municipalities, and special districts
532	to increase ad valorem taxes; the amendment to Section 1 of
533	Article VIII, requiring property appraisers to be elected; the
534	creation of Section 27 of this Article, requiring the
535	Legislature to increase the state sales and use tax by 1 percent
536	and appropriate revenues from the increase to any required local
537	effort applicable to school districts; the creation of Section
538	28 of this Article, providing for election of county property
539	appraisers; and this section, if submitted to the electors of
540	this state for approval or rejection at a special election
541	authorized by law to be held on January 29, 2008, shall take
542	effect upon approval by the electors and shall operate
543	retroactively to January 1, 2008, or, if submitted to the
544	electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
545	general election, shall take effect January 1 of the year
546	following such general election.
547
548	== B A L L O T  S T A T E M E N T  A M E N D M E N T ==
549	Remove line(s) 488-562, and insert:
550	ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 1, 3, 4, 6, AND 9
551	ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1
552	ARTICLE XII, SECTIONS 27 AND 28
553	SALES AND USE TAX; PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS; AD VALOREM TAX
554	INCREASES LIMITATIONS; ELECTED PROPERTY APPRAISERS.--This
555	revision proposes changes to the State Constitution relating to
556	the state sales and use tax, ad valorem taxation, and elected
557	property appraisers. With respect to the state sales and use
558	tax, this revision 1) requires an increase in the tax and
559	applies the additional revenues to the required local effort for
560	school districts. With respect to homestead property, this
561	revision 2) adds an additional homestead exemption for most
562	homestead owners, 3) exempts certain low-income seniors from ad
563	valorem tax on their homesteads, 4) provides an additional
564	homestead exemption that diminishes over time for first-time
565	Florida homebuyers, and 5) provides for the transfer of
566	accumulated Save Our Homes benefits. With respect to non-
567	homestead property, this revision allows the Legislature to
568	limit ad valorem assessments on 6) affordable housing and 7) on
569	working waterfronts under specific circumstances, 8) provides a
570	$25,000 exemption for tangible personal property, and 9) limits
571	annual increases in assessments of nonhomestead real property.
572	Further, this revision 10) requires the Legislature to limit the
573	authority of local governments other than school districts to
574	increase property taxes, and 11) requires all county property
575	appraisers to be elected.
576	In more detail, this revision:
577	1.  Requires the Legislature to increase the state sales
578	and use tax by 1 percent and requires the Legislature to
579	appropriate revenues resulting from the increase to reducing the
580	required local effort for school districts.
581	2.  Increases the homestead exemption by providing an
582	additional $25,000 homestead exemption for the portion of the
583	assessed value above $50,000 up to $75,000.  This exemption does
584	not apply to school taxes.
585	3.  Exempts certain low-income seniors from ad valorem tax
586	on their homes. Persons 65 or older whose household income is
587	less than $23,604, adjusted annually for inflation, will be
588	totally exempt from ad valorem taxes, including school taxes, on
589	their homestead property.
590	4.  Provides an increased exemption for first-time Florida
591	homebuyers beginning in 2008. First-time homebuyers in Florida
592	who qualify for homestead exemption will be eligible for an
593	additional exemption equal to 25 percent of the assessed value
594	of their new home, not to exceed 25 percent of the county median
595	homestead just value for the prior year. The amount of the
596	exemption will decrease each year by the amount of the home's
597	Save Our Homes benefit. When the amount of the home's Save Our
598	Homes benefit meets or exceeds this exemption, the exemption is
599	lost. This exemption also is available to 2007 first-time
600	homebuyers who qualify for homestead exemption January 1, 2008.
601	This exemption does not apply to school taxes.
602	5.  Provides for the transfer of accumulated Save Our Homes
603	benefits. Homestead property owners will be able to transfer
604	their Save Our Homes benefit to a new homestead within two years
605	of relinquishing their previous homestead exemption; except, if
606	the new homestead is established on January 1, 2008, the
607	previous homestead must have been relinquished in 2007. If the
608	new homestead has a higher just value than the old one, the
609	entire benefit can be transferred; if the new homestead has a
610	lower just value, the amount of benefit transferred will be
611	reduced in proportion of the just value of the new homestead to
612	the just value of the old homestead. The transferred benefit may
613	not exceed $1 million. This provision does not apply to school
614	taxes.
615	6.  Provides for assessing certain rent-restricted
616	affordable housing property as provided by general law. This
617	provision will not apply to school taxes.
618	7.  Provides for assessing certain waterfront property used
619	for commercial fishing, commercial water-dependent activities,
620	and public access as provided by general law. This provision
621	will not apply to school taxes.
622	8.  Limits increases in assessments each year for all
623	property other than homestead property to the lower of 3 percent
624	or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.
625	9.  Authorizes an exemption from ad valorem taxes of
626	$25,000 of assessed value of tangible personal property. This
627	provision applies to all tax levies.
628	10.  Requires the Legislature to limit the authority of
629	counties, municipalities, and special districts to increase ad
630	valorem taxes.
631	11.  Requires each county to have an elected property
632
633	======= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T =======
634	Remove line(s) 2-19, and insert:
635	A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 1, 3, 4, 6,
636	and 9 of Article VII and Section 1 of Article VIII and the
637	creation of Sections 27, 28, and 29 of Article XII of the State
638	Constitution, to provide for increasing the state sales and use
639	tax rate and applying revenues from the increase to reducing
640	required local effort for school districts, to require an
641	exemption from ad valorem taxation for tangible personal
642	property, to provide for the transfer of the accrued benefit
643	from the limitation on the assessed value of homestead property,
644	to provide for assessing rent-restricted affordable housing and
645	commercial and public-access waterfront property by general law,
646	to increase the homestead exemption, to create an additional
647	homestead exemption for first-time homestead property owners, to
648	provide a complete homestead exemption for low-income seniors,
649	to require the Legislature to limit county, municipality, and
650	special district authority to increase ad valorem taxes, to
651	require each county to have an elected property appraiser, to
652	require the Legislature to increase the sales and use tax rate
653	by 1 percent and appropriate revenues resulting from the
654	increase to any required local effort for school districts, and
655	to provide an effective date if such

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.