As the November 6 election approaches, Florida voters are hearing more and more about the proposed constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot. For Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) members, casting the “right” vote on at least one of the amendments may involve some serious mind games.
In the 2010 election, FHBA waged a massive campaign to get members to “Vot No on 4″ as “that” Amendment 4 would have instituted the nice sounding but potentially devastating concept of “Hometown Democracy.”
Thankfully the proposal that would have put comp plan and land use changes to a voter referendum went down in flames, most likely never to return. Now FHBA is asking members to vote “Yes” on the 2012 version of Amendment 4 with its pro-homeowner, pro-growth provisions that can help revitalize our struggling industry.
Amendment 4 Does Three Things:
1. Reduces the annual increases in assessments on non-homestead property to 5% (from 10%)
2. Provides first time home buyers (who have not clamined homestead exemption in the last three years) an additional, five year property tax exemption; and
3. Allows the Legislature to end the “recapture” concept, ensuring that homeowners will not pay higher property taxes if there assessed value goes down.
Put these provisions together and FHBA and its members can be confident that Amendment 4 is the right property tax reform plan for Florida. To learn more visit www.floridataxpayersfirst.com
