1

Senate Joint Resolution

2

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 9 of

3

Article VII of the State Constitution to limit the total

4

property tax that may be levied on any parcel of real

5

property to 1.35 percent of the property's highest taxable

6

value, to distribute tax revenues that exceed this cap in

7

accordance with general law, and to exempt from this cap

8

taxes levied for the payment of bonds and taxes that are

9

imposed for a period of 2 years or less.

10

11

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

12

13

     That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article VII of

14

the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the

15

electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next

16

general election or at an earlier special election specifically

17

authorized by law for that purpose:

18

ARTICLE VII

19

FINANCE AND TAXATION

20

     SECTION 9.  Local taxes.-

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this

26

constitution.

27

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

28

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

29

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

30

of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation, shall not

31

be levied in excess of the following millages upon the assessed

32

value of real estate and tangible personal property: for all

33

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

34

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

35

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

36

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

37

management purposes for the remaining portions of the state, 1.0

38

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

39

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

40

therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A county furnishing

41

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

42

additional taxes within the limits fixed for municipal purposes.

43

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this

44

constitution, the maximum amount of all ad valorem taxes

45

collected by counties, school districts, municipalities, and

46

special districts on any parcel of real property may not, when

47

combined, exceed 1.35 percent of the parcel's highest taxable

48

value. The term "taxable value" means the value of real property

49

to which millage rates are applied. The distribution of any tax

50

revenues derived from parcels for which the combined ad valorem

51

tax levies exceed 1.35 percent of the parcel's highest taxable

52

value shall be determined by general law. This limitation does

53

not apply to ad valorem taxes levied for the payment of bonds

54

issued pursuant to Section 12 of this Article or levied for

55

periods of 2 years or less when authorized by a vote of the

56

electors.

57

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be

58

placed on the ballot:

59

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

60

ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9

61

     PROPERTY TAX CAP.--Proposing an amendment to the State

62

Constitution to limit the total property tax that may be levied

63

on any parcel of real property to 1.35 percent of the property's

64

highest taxable value, distribute tax revenues that exceed this

65

cap in accordance with general law, and exempt from this cap

66

taxes levied for the payment of bonds and taxes that are imposed

67

for a period of 2 years or less when authorized by a vote of the

68

electors.