Spending Limit Proposal for Indian River

Yesterday our Indian River legislative delegation floated an idea to limit county spending to population and CPI combined (family income). The proposal is an attempt to limit property tax increases on homeowners, renters, and business owners who desperately need relief. The bill must be supported by the state legislature and then voted on by local residents by a super-majority, 3/5 vote.

Below is the first version of the bill. We welcome your comments and know public input will help us shape the fairest bill possible for voters to decide.

A bill to be entitled
An Act relating to Indian River County; limiting
Annual increases in Indian River County’s operating
Budget; providing for exceptions to the limitation;
Requiring a referendum; providing an effective date.

Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

Section 1. Limitation on increases in the county’s operating budget.—Except as provided herein, annual increases in Indian River County’s operating budget shall not exceed the percentage increase in the county’s population, as determined by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research’s latest “Florida Estimates of Population,” plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index as provided in s.193.155(1)(b). This limitation in annual increases in the county’s operating budget may be overcome by a finding of necessity due to emergency or critical need approved by a super-majority vote of the county commission.

Section 2. Referendum.—
(1) In conjunction with the general election held in November 2008, and in accordance with the general laws governing elections, the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections shall conduct a referendum of qualified electors of the county for the purpose of posing the following question:

Limitation on Annual Increases in Indian River County’s Operating Budget

Shall annual increases in Indian River County’s operating budget be limited to the percentage change in the county’s population plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index unless the county commission finds, by a supermajority vote, that exceeding the limitation is necessary due to emergency or critical need?

Yes
No

(2) “Qualified elector” means a person who is registered to vote in a general election held in Indian River County.

Section 3. This act shall take effect only upon its approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors of the county voting in a referendum held in accordance with section 2, except that this section and section 2 shall take effect upon becoming a law.


http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5214757,00.html