Meeting About Constitutional Amendment # 5

[stephendare]

Stephen
I wanted to make you aware of a debate/meeting here in Jacksonville regarding Constitutional Amendment #5.

Monday, August 4th, 1:00 p.m. at FCCJ Advanced Tech Center.

What is Constitutional Amendment # 5?

[Traveller]

Amendment #5

Official Title:
Eliminating State Required School Property Tax and Replacing with Equivalent State Revenues to Fund Education

Official Ballot Summary:
Replacing state required school property taxes with state revenues generating an equivalent hold harmless amount for schools through one or more of the following options: repealing sales tax exemptions not specifically excluded; increasing sales tax rate up to one percentage point; spending reductions; other revenue options created by the legislature. Limiting subject matter of laws granting future exemptions. Limiting annual increases in assessment of non-homestead real property. Lowering property tax millage rate for schools. 
 
Sponsor:
Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

http://www.votesmartflorida.org/mx/hm.asp?id=nov08_Amendment5

[uptowngirl]

I am all for that! After all everyone should pay their fair share right? Not just property owners

[KenFSU]

Wow.  Does anyone trust Tallahassee to divvy up money for the separate school systems?

Totally beat me to it.

[Lunican]

Just to clarify, this is an amendment to the Florida constitution, not the U.S. constitution.

So what is the impetus for doing this?

[uptowngirl]

Wouldn't it be the city/county governments getting the money that currently goes to schools and a new sales tax being created or a current one being upped to pay for schools? This would in theory close the gap on city budget shortfalls?

[Traveller]

Amendment #5 is off the ballot for now.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's been dubbed the tax swap amendment, because it raises one type of tax, and lowers another.  But Thursday, a Tallahassee judge called the amendment misleading, and said it needs to be rewritten before you can vote on it.

http://www.fox30online.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=ec98038f-6953-4a58-80c5-cbacb5d2be31&rss=10

[RiversideGator]

It should be on the ballot.  This is nothing more than an attempt by the teacher's unions to thwart the will of the people.  Yes on 5!   

[Lunican]

Why yes on 5?

[Driven1]

it will be back on the ballot - already being appealed as we speak.  y yes on 5?  let's not get into that.  it should be obvious.

[Lunican]

It's obvious all the usual suspects are lining up to support it, but they haven't said why yet.

[downtownparks]

As the parent of a student in public school, I am not sure I like the thought of not knowing where our educational funding comes from. If you own property, you pay for schools. Period.

[brainstormer]

It's proven that uneducated children leads to unemployment and then more crime.  There are so many hypocrites in this state.  How can you complain about the crime rate and then refuse to properly fund education?  Florida already ranks dead last compared to other US states in our per student spending.  You might as well start building a new jail because you are going to need it.

[jaxnative]

Are there any statistics available that show an increase in student success rates at higher spending per student?

[JeffreyS]

Do you really need stats to show you do not want to be the 50th state in education funding.