Item 6A
AGENDA ITEM #6A
JULY 12, 2004
RESOLUTION NO. 04-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH OPPOSING AN
AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD
RAISE FLORIDA'S HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO $50,000
WHEREAS, Florida's property tax continues to be a strong source of revenue for most
local governments; and
~" WHEREAS, Florida currently has a homestead exemption in which $25,000 can be
deducted from the assessed value of a primary residence, for the purposes of paying property tax;
and
WHEREAS, in 1992, Florida's voters approved the Save Our Homes amendment, which
limits the increase in the assessed value of a primary residence to no more than 3 percent a yeaz
"" or the amount of the consumer price index (CPI), whichever is less; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, Florida voters approved an additional constitutional amendment
"'"" that allows cities and counties to give an additional $25,000 homestead exemption to low income
senior citizens; and
WHEREAS, efforts aze currently underway, by a group called Families for Lower
Property Taxes, to place an amendment on the November 2004 general election ballot that would
increase Florida's current $25,000 homestead exemption to $50,000; and
WHEREAS, if this amendment is approved, the City of Atlantic Beach would suffer a
loss of approximately $285,000 and would be forced to respond to this loss by reducing vital city
services to :its citizens, or by raising other fees and taxes to continue these vital services.
WHEREAS, this amendment would have a greater impact on local governments who are
at or neaz the 10 mil cap for ad valorem taxes and would not be able to raise their property taxes
to make up for this loss in revenue; and
WHEREAS, this amendment negatively impacts non-homesteaded residential properties
and commercial properties that do not receive any homestead exemption, because they would-
face higher property taxes if the millage rate were to increase; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF ATLANTIC
_ BEACH:
Section 1. That the City of Atlantic Beach opposes the Homestead Exemption
amendment and urges its citizens not to sign petitions supporting its placement on the November
ballot.
~•
AGENDA ITEM #6A
JULY 12, 2004
Section 2. That the City of Atlantic Beach urges voters to oppose this initiative on the
November general election ballot.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Atlantic Beach, this Day of ,
2004
JOHN S. MESERVE
Mayor
Approved as to form and correctness:
ALAN C. JENSEN, ESQUIRE
City Attorney
ATTEST:
MAUREEN KING, CMC
City Clerk
~~
~~
~RIDA LEAGUE OF C
Memorandum
AGENDA ITEAZ #6A
JULY 12, 2004
TO: Key Officials
FROM: John Charles Thomas, Director
Legislative and Public Affairs
RE: Proposed Constitution Amendment to Increase the Homestead
Exemption
DATE: July 1, 2004
The Executive Committee of the Florida League of Cities recently voted to oppose
the effort to raise Florida's homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 because
of its impact on city revenues.
Attached is a draft resolution for your city's consideration, should you wish to
adopt a resolution.
For additional information, please feel free to contact me at the League or visit
www.truthabouthomestead. com
Attachment
!~ 301 South Bronough Street • Post Office Box 1757 • Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757
elephone (850) 222-9684 • Suncom 278-5331 • Fax (850) 222-3806 • Website:www.flcities.com