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Senate Joint Resolution

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A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section

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Section 9 of Article VII and the creation of a new section

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in Article XII of the State Constitution to standardize

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the maximum millage rate within the state for water-

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management purposes and to provide an effective date if

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such change is adopted.

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Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article VII and

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the creation of a new section in Article XII of the State

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Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors

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of this state for approval or rejection at the next general

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election or at an earlier special election specifically

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authorized by law for that purpose:

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ARTICLE VII

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FINANCE AND TAXATION

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     SECTION 9.  Local taxes.-

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     (a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,

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and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad

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valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other

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taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on

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intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this

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constitution.

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     (b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the

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payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than two

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years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the owners

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of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation, shall not

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be levied in excess of the following millages upon the assessed

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value of real estate and tangible personal property: for all

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county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes, ten

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mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water management

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purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying west of the

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line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill; for water

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management purposes for the remaining portions of the state, 1.0

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mill; and for all other special districts a millage authorized by

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law approved by vote of the electors who are owners of freeholds

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therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A county furnishing

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municipal services may, to the extent authorized by law, levy

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additional taxes within the limits fixed for municipal purposes.

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ARTICLE XII

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SCHEDULE

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     Statewide maximum millage rate for water management

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purposes.--The amendment to Section 9 of Article VII removing an

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exception to the statewide maximum millage rate for water-

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management purposes which applies within the northwest portion of

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the state shall take effect January 1, 2009.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be

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placed on the ballot:

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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

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ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9

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ARTICLE XII

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     LOCAL TAXES.--Proposing an amendment to the State

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Constitution, effective January 1, 2009, to remove the limit on

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ad valorem taxes of 0.05 mill for water-management purposes which

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applies only to the northwest portion of the state and thereby

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allow the 1-mill limit applicable to the remainder of the state

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to apply statewide.