For weeks, local officials have talked about how city and county services could be reduced if Florida voters approve Amendment 3, a statewide property tax amendment.
During a Seminole Board of County Commission meeting, county staff presented findings on what could change if the amendment passes, including the effects of a 20% reduction in revenue. Officials discussed possible shorter library hours, cuts to community programs, less time to fill potholes and reductions in public transit.
“We are in the education business every single day, we are not in the lobbying business, and we are not in the shifting a vote business, we are in the education business,” said Andria Herr, chair of the Seminole County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Jay Zembower said the county was spending taxpayer money to examine the potential effects of the amendment, but said the work was meant to inform the public.
“Unfortunately (we are) spending a lot of taxpayer dollars digging into this to bring this forward, but it is rightfully done to educate our public,” Zembower said.
Aubrey Jewett, a politics professor at the University of Central Florida, said taxpayer dollars can be used to research an issue and present facts, but governments cannot use public money to campaign for or against a ballot measure.
“If you are spending taxpayer money and it can be deemed ‘campaigning’ or targeted advertising of some sort, you are just not allowed to do it,” Jewett said.
Jewett said presentations, mailers and social media posts by local governments are allowed as long as they do not promote voting for or against an issue.
“We want voters to be informed when they are being asked to make these decisions,” Jewett said.
Seminole County officials said they are also researching alternative funding sources that could supplement some of the lost revenue if Amendment 3 passes.
“We are accountable to our taxpayers and if there are opportunities to cut taxes and be more efficient, we are going to do it,” Herr said. “If our taxpayers want us to maintain services at a level that the new reduced property tax will not support, then we will find the legal way to do that within the tax code provided by the state.”
The county has not made substantial changes yet, but officials said they are preparing for adjustments no matter how voters decide. Amendment 3 will appear on ballots statewide on Nov. 3.
Read the full article by Sarah Winkelmann on Spectrum News 13