HJR 7D

1	House Joint Resolution
2	A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 1 and
3	8 of Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4
4	of Article IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and
5	12 of Article VII and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of
6	Article XII, and the creation of Section 19 of Article
7	VII, Section 28 of Article X, and Section 27 of Article
8	XII of the State Constitution to prohibit ad valorem
9	taxation of real estate and tangible personal property and
10	repeal provisions relating to such taxation to conform,
11	provide for revising the state sales and use tax rate to
12	generate revenues equal to total sales and use tax and ad
13	valorem tax revenues with a cap of 10 percent, limit sales
14	tax exemptions, provide for temporary emergency local
15	option sales tax increases, and direct revenues to the
16	state, counties, municipalities, and school districts,
17	protect existing indebtedness secured by revenues from ad
18	valorem taxes on real estate and tangible personal
19	property, and provide an effective date.
20
21	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23	That the following amendments to Sections 1 and 8 of
24	Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4 of Article
25	IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 of Article VII
26	and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of Article XII, and the
27	creation of Section 19 of Article VII, Section 28 of Article X,
28	and Section 27 of Article XII of the State Constitution are
29	agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this state
30	for approval or rejection at the next general election or at an
31	earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that
32	purpose:
33	ARTICLE VII
34	FINANCE AND TAXATION
35	SECTION 1.  Taxation; appropriations; state expenses; state
36	revenue limitation.--
37	(a)  No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law. No
38	state ad valorem taxes shall be levied upon real estate or
39	tangible personal property. All other forms of taxation shall be
40	preempted to the state except as provided by general law.
41	(b)  Motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, trailers, trailer
42	coaches and mobile homes, as defined by law, shall be subject to
43	a license tax for their operation in the amounts and for the
44	purposes prescribed by law, but shall not be subject to ad
45	valorem taxes.
46	(c)  No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in
47	pursuance of appropriation made by law.
48	(d)  Provision shall be made by law for raising sufficient
49	revenue to defray the expenses of the state for each fiscal
50	period.
51	(e)  Except as provided herein, state revenues collected
52	for any fiscal year shall be limited to state revenues allowed
53	under this subsection for the prior fiscal year plus an
54	adjustment for growth. As used in this subsection, "growth"
55	means an amount equal to the average annual rate of growth in
56	Florida personal income over the most recent twenty quarters
57	times the state revenues allowed under this subsection for the
58	prior fiscal year. For the 1995-1996 fiscal year, the state
59	revenues allowed under this subsection for the prior fiscal year
60	shall equal the state revenues collected for the 1994-1995
61	fiscal year. Florida personal income shall be determined by the
62	legislature, from information available from the United States
63	Department of Commerce or its successor on the first day of
64	February prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. State
65	revenues collected for any fiscal year in excess of this
66	limitation shall be transferred to the budget stabilization fund
67	until the fund reaches the maximum balance specified in Section
68	19(g) of Article III, and thereafter shall be refunded to
69	taxpayers as provided by general law. State revenues allowed
70	under this subsection for any fiscal year may be increased by a
71	two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the
72	legislature in a separate bill that contains no other subject
73	and that sets forth the dollar amount by which the state
74	revenues allowed will be increased. The vote may not be taken
75	less than seventy-two hours after the third reading of the bill.
76	For purposes of this subsection, "state revenues" means taxes,
77	fees, licenses, and charges for services imposed by the
78	legislature on individuals, businesses, or agencies outside
79	state government. However, "state revenues" does not include:
80	revenues that are necessary to meet the requirements set forth
81	in documents authorizing the issuance of bonds by the state;
82	revenues that are used to provide matching funds for the federal
83	Medicaid program with the exception of the revenues used to
84	support the Public Medical Assistance Trust Fund or its
85	successor program and with the exception of state matching funds
86	used to fund elective expansions made after July 1, 1994;
87	proceeds from the state lottery returned as prizes; receipts of
88	the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund; balances carried forward
89	from prior fiscal years; taxes, licenses, fees, and charges for
90	services imposed by local, regional, or school district
91	governing bodies; or revenue from taxes, licenses, fees, and
92	charges for services required to be imposed by any amendment or
93	revision to this constitution after July 1, 1994. An adjustment
94	to the revenue limitation shall be made by general law to
95	reflect the fiscal impact of transfers of responsibility for the
96	funding of governmental functions between the state and other
97	levels of government. The legislature shall, by general law,
98	prescribe procedures necessary to administer this subsection.
99	SECTION 2.  Taxes; rate.--All Ad valorem taxation shall be
100	at a uniform rate within each taxing unit, except the taxes on
101	intangible personal property may be at different rates but shall
102	never exceed two mills on the dollar of assessed value;
103	provided, as to any obligations secured by mortgage, deed of
104	trust, or other lien on real estate wherever located, an
105	intangible tax of not more than two mills on the dollar may be
106	levied by law to be in lieu of all other intangible assessments
107	on such obligations.
108	SECTION 3.  Taxes; exemptions.--
109	(a)  All property owned by a municipality and used
110	exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be
111	exempt from taxation. A municipality, owning property outside
112	the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment
113	to the taxing unit in which the property is located. Such
114	portions of property as are used predominantly for educational,
115	literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be
116	exempted by general law from taxation.
117	(b)  There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulatively, to
118	every head of a family residing in this state, household goods
119	and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less
120	than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or
121	person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled,
122	property to the value fixed by general law not less than five
123	hundred dollars.
124	(c)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
125	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
126	subsection and general law, grant community and economic
127	development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and
128	expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law.
129	Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county
130	or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or
131	municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize
132	the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances. An
133	exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real
134	property made by or for the use of a new business and
135	improvements to real property related to the expansion of an
136	existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal
137	property of such new business and tangible personal property
138	related to the expansion of an existing business. The amount or
139	limits of the amount of such exemption shall be specified by
140	general law. The period of time for which such exemption may be
141	granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business
142	shall be determined by general law. The authority to grant such
143	exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by
144	the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable
145	by referendum as provided by general law.
146	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
147	therein, there may be granted an ad valorem tax exemption to a
148	renewable energy source device and to real property on which
149	such device is installed and operated, to the value fixed by
150	general law not to exceed the original cost of the device, and
151	for the period of time fixed by general law not to exceed ten
152	years.
153	(e)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
154	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
155	subsection and general law, grant historic preservation ad
156	valorem tax exemptions to owners of historic properties. This
157	exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county or
158	municipality. The amount or limits of the amount of this
159	exemption and the requirements for eligible properties must be
160	specified by general law. The period of time for which this
161	exemption may be granted to a property owner shall be determined
162	by general law.
163	SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
164	regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
165	valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
166	(a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
167	to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
168	noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
169	law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
170	(b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
171	held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
172	taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
173	classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
174	(c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
175	Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
176	just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
177	date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
178	provided herein.
179	(1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
180	annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
181	assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
182	a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
183	year.
184	b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
185	urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
186	successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
187	reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
188	Labor Statistics.
189	(2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
190	(3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
191	law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
192	January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, the homestead shall
193	be assessed as provided herein.
194	(4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
195	as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
196	homestead. That assessment shall only change as provided herein.
197	(5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
198	homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
199	law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
200	addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
201	assessed as provided herein.
202	(6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
203	property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
204	(7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
205	of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
206	unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
207	decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
208	provisions of this amendment.
209	(d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
210	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
211	counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
212	historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
213	character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
214	only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
215	requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
216	general law.
217	(e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
218	provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
219	property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
220	that property which results from the construction or
221	reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
222	living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
223	or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
224	if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
225	living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
226	reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
227	(1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
228	construction or reconstruction of the property.
229	(2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
230	property as improved.
231	SECTION 6.  Homestead exemptions.--
232	(a)  Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
233	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
234	owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
235	shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
236	special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of five thousand
237	dollars, upon establishment of right thereto in the manner
238	prescribed by law. The real estate may be held by legal or
239	equitable title, by the entireties, jointly, in common, as a
240	condominium, or indirectly by stock ownership or membership
241	representing the owner's or member's proprietary interest in a
242	corporation owning a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of
243	ninety-eight years.
244	(b)  Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
245	individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
246	unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
247	assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
248	or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
249	which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
250	value of the property.
251	(c)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
252	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of twenty-
253	five thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate
254	for each school district levy. By general law and subject to
255	conditions specified therein, the exemption for all other levies
256	may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand
257	dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner
258	has attained age sixty-five or is totally and permanently
259	disabled and if the owner is not entitled to the exemption
260	provided in subsection (d).
261	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
262	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of the
263	following amounts of assessed value of real estate for each levy
264	other than those of school districts: fifteen thousand dollars
265	with respect to 1980 assessments; twenty thousand dollars with
266	respect to 1981 assessments; twenty-five thousand dollars with
267	respect to assessments for 1982 and each year thereafter.
268	However, such increase shall not apply with respect to any
269	assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in
270	compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency
271	designated by general law. This subsection shall stand repealed
272	on the effective date of any amendment to section 4 which
273	provides for the assessment of homestead property at a specified
274	percentage of its just value.
275	(e)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
276	therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
277	permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
278	levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
279	amount established by general law.
280	(f)  The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or
281	municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies
282	and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant an
283	additional homestead tax exemption not exceeding fifty thousand
284	dollars to any person who has the legal or equitable title to
285	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
286	owner and who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
287	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed twenty
288	thousand dollars. The general law must allow counties and
289	municipalities to grant this additional exemption, within the
290	limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in
291	the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the
292	periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this
293	subsection for changes in the cost of living.
294	(g)  Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially
295	or totally permanently disabled shall receive a discount from
296	the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead
297	property the veteran owns and resides in if the disability was
298	combat related, the veteran was a resident of this state at the
299	time of entering the military service of the United States, and
300	the veteran was honorably discharged upon separation from
301	military service. The discount shall be in a percentage equal to
302	the percentage of the veteran's permanent, service-connected
303	disability as determined by the United States Department of
304	Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount granted by this
305	subsection, an applicant must submit to the county property
306	appraiser, by March 1, proof of residency at the time of
307	entering military service, an official letter from the United
308	States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the percentage of
309	the veteran's service-connected disability and such evidence
310	that reasonably identifies the disability as combat related, and
311	a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge. If the property
312	appraiser denies the request for a discount, the appraiser must
313	notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial,
314	and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature may, by general
315	law, waive the annual application requirement in subsequent
316	years. This subsection shall take effect December 7, 2006, is
317	self-executing, and does not require implementing legislation.
318	SECTION 8.  Aid to local governments.--State funds may be
319	appropriated to the several counties, school districts,
320	municipalities or special districts upon such conditions as may
321	be provided by general law. These conditions may include the use
322	of relative ad valorem assessment levels determined by a state
323	agency designated by general law.
324	SECTION 9.  Local taxes.--
325	(a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
326	and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
327	valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
328	taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
329	intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this
330	constitution.
331	(b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
332	payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
333	two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
334	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
335	shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
336	assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property:
337	for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
338	ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
339	management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
340	west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
341	for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
342	state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
343	authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
344	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
345	county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
346	authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
347	for municipal purposes.
348	SECTION 12.  Local bonds.--Counties, school districts,
349	municipalities, special districts and local governmental bodies
350	with taxing powers may issue bonds, certificates of indebtedness
351	or any form of tax anticipation certificates, payable from ad
352	valorem taxation and maturing more than twelve months after
353	issuance only:
354	(a)  to finance or refinance capital projects authorized by
355	law and only when approved by vote of the electors who are
356	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation; or
357	(b)  to refund outstanding bonds and interest and
358	redemption premium thereon at a lower net average interest cost
359	rate.
360	SECTION 19.  Revised state sales and use tax; first year
361	revenue neutrality; distribution to counties, municipalities,
362	and school districts.--As provided by general law, the rate of
363	the state tax on sales, use, and other transactions shall be
364	revised to generate in the first year after this section takes
365	effect the same amount of revenues as the aggregate total
366	revenues generated from such tax and ad valorem taxes in the
367	year immediately preceding the date this section takes effect.
368	Thereafter, the revised rate shall be adjusted each year by the
369	lesser of 3 percent or the percentage change that year in the
370	Consumer Price Index as compiled by the United States Department
371	of Labor; however, the rate may not exceed 10 percent. Revenues
372	from the revised sales and use tax shall be distributed to the
373	state, counties, municipalities, and school districts as
374	provided by general law. As provided by general law, only food,
375	medicine, and clothing with a retail price of less than twenty-
376	five dollars may be exempt from the sales tax. As provided by
377	general law, an elected taxing authority may, by supermajority
378	vote (majority plus 1), adopt an ordinance levying an additional
379	local option sales tax of 0.3 percent solely for emergency
380	purposes. The ordinance shall be effective only upon approval by
381	the voters in a referendum held solely for purposes of approval
382	or rejection of the ordinance. The criteria for determination of
383	an emergency shall be as provided by general law; and the
384	ordinance, if approved, shall be effective only for the duration
385	of the emergency.
386	ARTICLE VIII
387	LOCAL GOVERNMENT
388	SECTION 1.  Counties.--
389	(a)  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  The state shall be divided by
390	law into political subdivisions called counties. Counties may be
391	created, abolished or changed by law, with provision for payment
392	or apportionment of the public debt.
393	(b)  COUNTY FUNDS.  The care, custody and method of
394	disbursing county funds shall be provided by general law.
395	(c)  GOVERNMENT.  Pursuant to general or special law, a
396	county government may be established by charter which shall be
397	adopted, amended or repealed only upon vote of the electors of
398	the county in a special election called for that purpose.
399	(d)  COUNTY OFFICERS.  There shall be elected by the
400	electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a
401	tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections,
402	and a clerk of the circuit court; except, when provided by
403	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors
404	of the county, any county officer may be chosen in another
405	manner therein specified, or any county office may be abolished
406	when all the duties of the office prescribed by general law are
407	transferred to another office. When not otherwise provided by
408	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors,
409	the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex officio clerk of the
410	board of county commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian
411	of all county funds.
412	(e)  COMMISSIONERS.  Except when otherwise provided by
413	county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a
414	board of county commissioners composed of five or seven members
415	serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial
416	census the board of county commissioners shall divide the county
417	into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in
418	population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each
419	district shall be elected as provided by law.
420	(f)  NON-CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties not operating under
421	county charters shall have such power of self-government as is
422	provided by general or special law. The board of county
423	commissioners of a county not operating under a charter may
424	enact, in a manner prescribed by general law, county ordinances
425	not inconsistent with general or special law, but an ordinance
426	in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective
427	within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.
428	(g)  CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties operating under county
429	charters shall have all powers of local self-government not
430	inconsistent with general law, or with special law approved by
431	vote of the electors. The governing body of a county operating
432	under a charter may enact county ordinances not inconsistent
433	with general law. The charter shall provide which shall prevail
434	in the event of conflict between county and municipal
435	ordinances.
436	(h)  TAXES; LIMITATION.  Property situate within
437	municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services
438	rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the
439	property or residents in unincorporated areas.
440	(h)(i)  COUNTY ORDINANCES.  Each county ordinance shall be
441	filed with the custodian of state records and shall become
442	effective at such time thereafter as is provided by general law.
443	(i)(j)  VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES.  Persons violating county
444	ordinances shall be prosecuted and punished as provided by law.
445	(j)(k)  COUNTY SEAT.  In every county there shall be a
446	county seat at which shall be located the principal offices and
447	permanent records of all county officers. The county seat may
448	not be moved except as provided by general law. Branch offices
449	for the conduct of county business may be established elsewhere
450	in the county by resolution of the governing body of the county
451	in the manner prescribed by law. No instrument shall be deemed
452	recorded until filed at the county seat, or a branch office
453	designated by the governing body of the county for the recording
454	of instruments, according to law.
455	ARTICLE IX
456	EDUCATION
457	SECTION 4.  School districts; school boards.--
458	(a)  Each county shall constitute a school district;
459	provided, two or more contiguous counties, upon vote of the
460	electors of each county pursuant to law, may be combined into
461	one school district. In each school district there shall be a
462	school board composed of five or more members chosen by vote of
463	the electors in a nonpartisan election for appropriately
464	staggered terms of four years, as provided by law.
465	(b)  The school board shall operate, control and supervise
466	all free public schools within the school district and determine
467	the rate of school district taxes within the limits prescribed
468	herein. Two or more school districts may operate and finance
469	joint educational programs.
470	ARTICLE X
471	MISCELLANEOUS
472	SECTION 28.  Protection of bondholder's rights to
473	indebtedness secured by ad valorem tax revenues.--The state
474	assumes the responsibility for and guarantees the repayment of
475	any indebtedness, existing on March 1, 2007, of any taxing
476	authority secured by a pledge of revenues from ad valorem taxes
477	imposed on real estate and tangible personal property.
478	ARTICLE XII
479	SCHEDULE
480	SECTION 2.  Property taxes; millages.--Tax millages
481	authorized in counties, municipalities and special districts, on
482	the date this revision becomes effective, may be continued until
483	reduced by law.
484	SECTION 15.  Special district taxes.--Ad valorem taxing
485	power vested by law in special districts existing when this
486	revision becomes effective shall not be abrogated by Section
487	9(b) of Article VII herein, but such powers, except to the
488	extent necessary to pay outstanding debts, may be restricted or
489	withdrawn by law.
490	SECTION 19.  Renewable energy source property.--The
491	amendment to Section 3 of Article VII, relating to an exemption
492	for a renewable energy source device and real property on which
493	such device is installed, if adopted at the special election in
494	October 1980, shall take effect January 1, 1981.
495	SECTION 22.  Historic property exemption and
496	assessment.--The amendments to Sections 3 and 4 of Article VII
497	relating to ad valorem tax exemption for, and assessment of,
498	historic property shall take effect January 1, 1999.
499	SECTION 26.  Increased homestead exemption.--The amendment
500	to Section 6 of Article VII increasing the maximum additional
501	amount of the homestead exemption for low-income seniors shall
502	take effect January 1, 2007.
503	SECTION 27.  Real estate and tangible personal property ad
504	valorem tax repeal.--This section shall take effect upon
505	approval by the electors. The amendments to Sections 1 and 8 of
506	Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4 of Article
507	IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 of Article VII
508	and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of Article XII, and the
509	creation of Section 19 of Article VII and Section 28 of Article
510	X of the State Constitution shall take effect January 1 of the
511	year following approval by the electors, except that any ad
512	valorem tax assessments existing on such date necessary to repay
513	any indebtedness secured by a pledge of revenues from ad valorem
514	taxes on real estate and tangible personal property are hereby
515	preserved.
516	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
517	placed on the ballot:
518	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
519	ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, AND 19;
520	ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1;
521	ARTICLE IX, SECTION 4;
522	ARTICLE X, SECTION 28;
523	ARTICLE XII, SECTIONS 2, 15, 19, 22, 26, AND 27
524	AD VALOREM TAX REPEAL; REVISED STATE SALES TAX, ANNUAL
525	ADJUSTMENT, CAP, DISTRIBUTION; BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
526	PROTECTION.--Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to
527	prohibit ad valorem taxes on real estate and tangible personal
528	property and repeal provisions relating to such taxation to
529	conform; to provide for revising by general law the state sales
530	and use tax rate to generate in the first year after enactment
531	revenues equal to the total revenues from the sales and use tax
532	and ad valorem taxes in the year preceding enactment, adjust the
533	rate each year by the lesser of 3 percent or the percentage
534	change in the Consumer Price Index, impose a 10-percent limit on
535	the rate, limit sales tax exemptions to food, medicine, and
536	clothing costing less than $25, provide for temporary emergency
537	local option sales tax increases, and provide for distributing
538	revenues to the state, counties, municipalities, and school
539	districts; and to provide for state assumption of responsibility
540	for, and to guarantee repayment of, existing indebtedness
541	secured by a pledge of revenues secured by ad valorem taxes on
542	real and tangible personal property. Such provisions shall take
543	effect January 1 of the year following approval by the electors,
544	except that any ad valorem tax assessments existing on such date
545	necessary to repay any indebtedness secured by a pledge of
546	revenues from ad valorem taxes on real estate and tangible
547	personal property are preserved.

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